New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-28
WHERE SPEAKER REED Is NEEDED.

II IL true that the Vice President as presiding
officer of the Senate cannot speak, cannot vote
unless there happens to he tie, cannot appoint
committees. cannot even call whom he may
please to the chair as his substitute But II the
Mace were filled at this time by man Of genius!
Who can guess what might come To pass II
Thomas b Reed were to preside over the Sen
ate for month: 1t has been his greatest tn
umph that he has put an end to the imposSibilliy
Of legislation in IN unwcldy House. service
possby even greater 10 the country and to the
Republican party might be rendered by the
man who could make legislation possible in the
Senate.
There is a curious parallclism Of obstacles
10 be overcome The rules Of the House had
been shaped for many years with view to the
protection Of the minority. 1t was well that the
minority should be protected, until it came to
defeat all legislation and to block all pubnc
business Then Speaker Reed brought his clear
intelligence to bear on the problem, ana INC
power of minority to beat majority ana 10
deprive the people of their right 10 govern
through the Representatives they had selected.
suddenly vanished. 1t has been verltable rcvo-
luton and in behalf Of the rights and interests
of the people, and no one can guess now Dene-
fetal ii may prove to be in the end. But This
was but one-half the Legislative reform when
the Nation finds necessary. Speaker Reed
knows better than any other man in the coun'
try that the paralysis Of legislation has It's prin-
cipal seat in the Senate, and that II Is In vain
that vitality Is given to the House If men AT
the other end of the Capitol can continue to DEFY
the public Will.
1t is In the power of Speaker Reed to pnt life
into the Senate TO break its paralysis. ana 10
make 1t once more a genuine law-making BODY.
Not one word from him has been received TO IN
dictate that he would be willing to undertake so
great task or that he knows how Ii could Ike
performed, and yet 1t is perfectly safe TO say
that Mr. Reed. if he were the presiding officer
of the Senate would very soon terminate paraly-
SIS make legislation possible and restore the
supremacy Of the Will Of the people There Is
needed not so much change OF rules as a
change Of the spirit in which the old rules ana
customs are applied. For example. the ancient
law Of courtesy needs the light Of n little com
nonsense; 1t can never be courtesy for one man
to deprive all the rest Of the Senators Of their
right to do their duty and to get public business
transacted.
If Speaker Reed would consent TO be can
didate for Vce-Prcsldcnt, he would not only
help the party which he ,oves, but he would I'M
dcrtake as great and valuable service for the
country as that which he rendered in breaking
the power Of a minority to block all legislation
In the House lie might quickly make 1t nj
terly impossible for one man 10 talk the Senate
or the country TO death. or for single dis
honest prctence Of desire 10 submit some re-
marks" to delay public business Indefinitely, OF
for a minute minority Of five Senators 10 dictate
10 more than forty-lvc members Of that body
There is no other man in the country so qualified
as Speaker Reed by pluck. sound sense. and th'
enthusiastic backing Of the people. TO put an emf
to legislative paralysis in the upper house, and
If he should consent TO be candidate for Vice
President the millions would Instantly appre
ciatc the exceptional fitness OF the selection.