The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-02

stand that the ~president-elect was pre-
pared to extend TO him his most dis
tinguished consideration, and look upon
him as of his very great and good
friends. How we'll Mr.. Hanna sue
ceeded rs a diplomat is known only
to a very limited circle. Concerning
the speaker and his probable attitude
toward President Mckinley L have
some interesting information.
MI. Reed will not go out of his
way to advance Mr.. McKinley's cause,
and on the other hand. ne will throw
no obstacles in the path of its easy and
smooth progress" So said n of the
speakers few confidential friends to
me today. Mr.. Reed hopes to see
the next administration a success and
the country enjoying a high measure
of prosperity, not for the sake of the
head of the administration, blu be-
cause he is a Republican, continued
this friend of Reeds.
In congress and after the next pres
ident retired from congressional life,
the relations between the two men
were always pleasant. but they were
never intimate or of the cordial char
acter which marked the relations be-
tween Reed and Hit or Lodge. or
between Mckinley and Dingley. 1t is
a fact that Mr.. Reed feels sore. not
BECAUSE he was defeated and McKin-
ley was the successful man. but be-
cause of h methods which the friends
of the latter employed to bring about
his success. Mr.. Reed might have en-
ployed some of these methods himself,
but he steadfastly refused.
During the campaign preceding the
nomination, Mr.. Reed was in a curious
state of mind" his close friend went
on to say. There were times when
n thought of being the successful
candidate and receiving the nomina-
ton was absolutely distasteful to him.
1t was not that he feared the respon-
sibility which that involved. but be-
cause he dreaded whether. if elected,
his administration would give the
country the peace and prosperity which
it so ardently craved. He knew the
difficulties which the new administra-
ton will have to meet.
After st. Louis he was strongly
tempted to abandon public life. His
personal desire was to go TO New York
and make money for his very charming
daughter, and Mrs. Reed added the
weight of her influence to his own in
clination. But his close friends dis
suaded him. They pointed out that if
he retired then it would be said by his
enemies that he could not meet defeat
gracefully, and that charge would cloud
MS reputation. 1t was also feared by
his warm friends in Maine that his re-
tirement would send a Democrat to
congress in his place.
These things had their weight with
Mr.. Reed. He accepted a renomina-
ton and took an active part in the
campaign. 1t O. some persuasion to
induce him to go upon the stump.
When he did he spoke for the Republic
an party, not for Mr.. Mckinley.
Mr.. Reed and National Chairman
Hanna met a couple of weeks ago, but
there was no conversation between
them save in the presence of others.
Mr.. Hanna called on Mr.. Reed. and
Mr.. Reed did not call on Mr.. Hanna.
If the administration wants him they
go to them. That expresses in a SEN
tence the attitude which Mr.. Reed will
maintain toward the ley administra-
ton. Mr.. Reed is speaker of the
house. He has no favOrs to ask, but
he has bounties TO bestow. The presi-
dem will need him more than he needs
the president. Some of Mr.. Reeds
friends believe that if it were possible.
White House encouragement would be
given to his opponents to prevent his
reelection TO the speakership. Such a
thing, however, is not possible, and Mr..
Reed knows he will be speaker of the
next house. In that position his power
is so great hat he feels he can die
tate and need have no fear of being
dictated to."-Walter Wellman in Chi
cagO TimeS-Herald.