The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-09
TOM REEDS MISTAKE
He Thinks He Made One Great
Error.
1T WAS IN HIS DO NOTHING POLICY
Hut This Ultra Conservative Plan for Con-
Eress Was by the Advice of His Friends.

WASHINGTON, May s. - Special -
| Speaker Reed is naturally much disap-
pointed at the outcome Of his campaign
| for the presidency a few months ago the
speakers friends were very confident that
he would be tho choice of his party this
year for the highest office in the govern
ment When congress assembled last Do
cember and Mr.. Reed was triumphantly
elected speaker, few observers foresaw that
in four or five months he would fall SO far
to the rear AS II presidential quantity. The
great personality of the man, his admitted
intellectual force, his past leadership, the
friendship of some Of the most powerful
politicians In the country and the vast
power lying in his hands a. the chief spirit
of the house OF Representatives gave ev-
cry one a right To think that If MIR. Reed
did not actually become the nominee of
his party he would be we'll up i'm the
halloting Now il is not improbable that
his name will he withdrawn.
Keen disappointment.
While the Speakers friends were not
long since very confident of the outcome.
l happen q know, and have already re-
ported in these dispatches, that Mr.. Reed
himself has never had anything more than
hope. He has never felt anything approach
ing confidence. At the same time he feels
keen disappointment at the sorry showing
made by the canvass in his behalf and is
particularly sad because Of the result in
several of the New England states. where
IL Is admitted the speaker has not Jared as
well as had been expected. Mr. Reed now
admits in conversation with his friends
that be made one great mistake Of policy
when he first came 10 Washington last
winter When he announced an ultra con
servativo policy in the management Of the
house 10y saying that the country would
approve this congress rs much for what il
did not do Us for what il did do, the first
biunder was committed. Mr. Reed an
nounced this policy upon the advice of
friends. He was not originally in favor of
IL, but yielded To their arguments and rep
resentations. Now he wishes he had not
Speaker Reed realizes that he had come
TO occupy certain place in the imagina-
tons and affections OF the people. He
was looked up To almost universally as the |
man of action, as the man of courage, as
the man who taught the house of repre- |
sentatives how To do business, as the man |
Of construction. The congress met with /
the country in distress Hard times were |
still upon the people There was de-
lnand for relief, for action of some sort, /
and even though the conditions at this
capital were such rs to make successful /
legislation well nigh impossible--on ac-
'ount OF the peculiar composition of the
senate and with "a Democrat in the White
iouse-still an effort TO afford relief
through the house OF representatives would
nave relieved Mr. Reed of his share of the
Had he taken the initiative
md pushed through some measures de.
igned 10 improve the condition of affairs
he people would have applaudcd him,
wen though failure marked the effort I'm
mother department of the government
Nj this the speaker now perceivcs when
{ l. too late.