The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-20
PUBLIC WELFARE FIRST.
Speaker Reed Not Using Office to
: Make Votes.
COUNTRY'S GOOD NEVER SUBOR-
DINATED TO PERSONAL ENDS.

Presidential Candidate-Courageou
Appropriations, While Mark Hanna
Distributes Vice Presidencies With
Lavish Hand,
Washington, April ia great deal
of curiosity is expressed by visitors in
Washington as to how Speaker Reed feels
and acts, now that he is candidate for
the Presidency, and is so much under
the scrutiny of the eyes of the public.
All sorts Of absurd stories are sent ut
by writers who ought to know better,
setting forth how the Speaker has be-
come, fguratively speaking, afraid of his
| own shadow. These writers recall the
so-called "rod of iron" with which he
ruled the Fifty-frst Congress, and then
contrast it with the gentler days of this
Congress, attributing the cause, with
logic truly childish, to the alleged state
OF timidity into which they imagine Mr..
Reed to have fallen.
Or course the fact that the Democrats
Of the Fifty-first Congress, almost equal
numerically to the Republicans-set out
to rule oraaruin, whereas the small Demo-
cratic minority of this Congress are gen
| tie as doves, are facts entirely overlooked
| by those who assume to undertand tho
| Speakers mental state at the present
tune.
| 1t Is sufficient to say that in the Fifty
first Congress, Mr.. Reed put the Demo
cratic side of the school in order for good
and all. In this Congress he has had
very different task, viz: to prevent the
| unwielding and inexperienced Republi-
can majority from running away with
itself. That has required courage as
high, though not as conspicuous as the
tanning of the Democrats in 1890. 1.-THE
Speaker of the House has stood like a
CANOE" was the testimony given by an
eminent Democratic leader, Mr.. Dookery
Of Missouri, in recent debate in the
| House.
| How much this means will be under
stood after a moments reflection. The
House of Representatives is like the
'central' of great telephone system.
Its lines run into every part Of the ooun-
try. A constituency calls up it's mem Der
and asks why certain appropriation
desired in the district, has not been OBJ.
| 'tained.
"Speaker Reed won't allow me a
chance to bring the matter up" is the
reply of tho member, who does not wish
to shoulder the burden himself, and Is
not courageous enough to tell his cousti-
| tuents that the government is not getting
revenues enough to meet the daily wants,
and must pay Its appropriations out of
borrowed money.
| 1t will be seen that Mr.. Reed soon gets
q reputation in the DISTRICT for standing
| in the way of their interests. 1t doesn't
take politician to see that the Speaker
of the House will be at disadvantage
soon after when Brother Mark Hanna
drops off the train and in delightful
off hand way, promises the district a
vice-president under certain oontingen-
cies.
No one supposes that the Speaker
credited with being one of the brightest
state of things from the very moment
he took the gavel. Yet he has never
wavered an instant in his determination
to ill the office Of Speaker according to
the demands of the hour, in spirit Of do
ing the best for the country irrespective
of results. Who will doubt that this
course requires a higher and more CON-
stant courage than was necessary to
face the frothing Breckenridges and
Bynums in the Fifty-frsti.
No one who has had experience in poll
tics will fail to see the great temptation
q Speaker must be under to buy dele
gates at the expense Of the national
treasury. OF course lenient and extra
VACANT policy would hurt the party IN
the coming conflict with the Democrats.
But 1T would strengthen MIR. Reed inl-
mesely in the Republican primaries.
And right here is the point where Mr..
Reed as politician di ffers from MANY
other brilliant men. Hs aims to dC
things, not to appear to do uhings HI
Is Republican Speaker, the highest office
of his party in the United States at th,
present time; and he intends so far q.
he is able to put the Republican cohort:
into the battle next November with every
equipment complete, with honor un
tarnished, with hope in every heart. H,
Is not going to trade off their best field
guns and choicest ammunition for vote
for himself as general. If they want hin
for leader, he is ready to lead the as ht
has led on every field for the last siz
years-with success and honor.
i AS to how Mr.. Reed feels personally, il
Is more difficult even for those nearest
him to determine. 1t is his habit to bt
serene. 1t Is n ot to be inferred that {
persistent fly inss dog days would not stil
his soul as it stirs the souls of many 9th
er self-oontained mortals. But in great
conflicts and crises In his political career
he has never shown the least traces OF
, nervousness or excitement. He has al