The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-29
Reed for Second Place.

nomination OF William Mckinley Tor
president as foregone conclusion, "a
cry is again raised for the placing on
| the ticket of Thomas B. Reed as the
Republican candidate for vice-presi-
| dent. 1t Is argued that the peculiar
| conditions which now obtain and which
threaten to continue in the United
| States senate by reason of the suprem-
acy of a radical free silver and Popu-
listic coalition make it obligatory upon
the Republican party, If it would after
| next March possess the power to exc
| cute it's policy of tariff restoration, to
place in the chair Of the senate man
with Mr.. Reeds courage, audacity, par
| liamentary experience and resolution
in favor of the reformation of the an
| tiquated rules which govern that MOTOR
iously unsatisfactory body. 1t is point
ed out that Mr. Reed has often ex-
pressed a wish to hold the reins over
| the senate, and 1t will not be doubted
that II any Republican now In public
life could by sheer force of will power
and dominating personality achieve the
wished for TRANSPORTATION of the senate
as parliamentary body, he could.
Again. the vice presidency would in
| Mr.. Reeds hands be lifted up from the
which it has in late years fallen, and
| restored to it's original rank as the
second greatest Office in the nation, and
q stepping stone to the presidency it
self. There can be little doubt that
were Mr.. Reed to conquer the senate as
he conquered the Fifty-first congress,
the people of this nation, at the expira-
tion. of the Mckinley administration,
would turn to him with substantial
unanimity and invite him to be Nc
Kinley's successor. Mr.. Reed, 1t should
be remembered. is still comparatively
new to the people in the sense of a
man aspiring to the first place within
the nations gift. Until the death of
Blaine he was necessarily obscured
from the view of the great bulk Of his
party outside Of New England. His
popularity now in the country generally
rests mainly upon his one achievement
Of introducing business-like methods
into the parliamentary government of
the house Of representatives. Though
his immediate friends and neighbors
have for more than decade recognized
him as the peer of any living statesman.
1t cannot be said that he has been re-
vealed in such an aspect to the entire
country for longer period than four
or five years.
1t follows therefore, that the nomina-
tion at st. Louis Of another than he for
president could not be fairly inter-
preted as implying that he may not
yet, in due season. be called to the
| chief magistracy of the republic. 1t is
to be remembered that Mckinley has
been twice previously convention
fayOrite, whereas the vote for Reed
next June will be his first entry as a
presidential possibility. Rarely has it
happened that the highest nomination
has been won at the first attempt by
men of prominence in the nation. In
cases which seem to disprove this as
sertion it will be found that the success
full candidates were almost invariably
Of the dark horse variety, the case Of
General Harrison in 1883 being the only
exception that we now recall. If Mr..
Reed would consent to accept the NOM
ination for vice president in the event
Of his failure to secure the nomination
for the presidency, 1t would bring into
the ensuing campaign every element Of
the partys strength; it would assure
an overwhelming triumph at the No
vember polls; and it would very likely
be the means Of ifas.aiifss to to the present
speaker still further promotion in the
fulness of time, besides again elevating
the vice presidency to a dignity becom-
ing to the second highest post in the
greatest government on earth.