The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-16
REED IS CONGRESS
And the Congress is Reed, Says
Representative Vincent.
The Member From the Fifth
District Comedies Prosperity.
Thinks it Cannot Last Without the
Restoration of Silver = Will At
tend the Fall. Festival With
His Family.

His Family.
Congressman w. D. Vincent of Clay
Center is in the city, having attended the
conference of state officers and members
of the Populist state executive committee
to discuss the campaign policy of the
party.
Mr. Vincent does not believe that the
basis of the political contest in the next
campaign will be different in any i'm
portant particulars from that upon which
the last battle was fought.
While there are a great many import
ant questions before the people," he said
to a Journal reporter, in my opinion the
to which is attached the greatest i'm
portance is that of silver. 1 cannot con-
cieve of any subject more important nor
one which so much involves the interests
Of the masses in this country
To-day we are experiencing an era of
high prices induced by short crops
abroad There are some men in this
country who assert that the gold stand
ard administration has done all this for
the country, but they will, L think, soon
realize the folly of such claims and admit
the truth concerning the conditions which
now surround US.
could the present unusual conditions of
prosperity exist permanently. In my judg-
ment prosperity of a permanent character
can be brought about by the solution of
the financial question, in the manner de-
manded by the Populists and allied forces
in this country. 1 candidly believe that
the free coinage of silver at an acceptable
ratio would bring all of these results.
The present financial policy of this
iG
vicious and benefits certain elements of
our population. The common people are
not benefited; those to whom benefits
come under our present policies of gov
eminent are the people who control the
wealth of this country. The financial
policy is like the Dingley bill. 1t is pro-
mulgated as a panacea for the ills of the
working masses in the United States,
when as a matter of fact it is responsible
for all of their misfortunes. The theory
of protective tariff as advocated by the
supporters OF that policy is a good one,
but the operation of the principle is vast
ly different from what they would have
us believe.
THE Dingley bill has been heralded as
4 measure of great Importance TO the
people of the west. have studied the
Jill with considerable care, but I cannot
now recall a singel instance where it will.
benefit the people of the west. It carries
no benefits to the people of Kansas, and
none for the common people anywhere.
Asked how he enjoyed his work in
gress. Mr.. Vincent said:
I like Washington. 1t is a beautiful
and a great city. I like the official work,
but am inclined to the opinion that the
result would have been just the same had
all OF the members remained at home and
permitted Speaker Reed to run things.
Congress is a machine in Reeds hands.
He is chairman of the committee rules
and every time any changes are made he
manages to absorb a little more power.
The Republican majority is compelled to
do as Reed says. Without his influence
it is impossible to get a bill through con-
gress. There are a good many members
of the house who have plenty of cloak
room backbone and while there declare
their intention of fighting Reed and de-
handing reform along those lines. They
don't mean it, though, because the mo-
ment they return to the floor of the
house Reed becomes their dictator.
The speaker of the house of congress
holds power which may sometime be-
come dangerous. 1t will become an issue
in the political arena. No monarch was
ever more oppressive to his subjects than
is Reed to the members of congress. His
word is law, and those members who de-
sire favOrs at his hands realize that they
must obey his orders.
Il had one experience with Reed my
self" continued Mr.. Vincent. About p
COO pension bills had been introduced, and
I prepared a resolution providing for the
appointment of committee on invalid
pensions. Reed had declined to name any
committees. but I thought the professed
friendship of Reed and his party for the
old soldiers might induce them to take
up the pension claims. One day a gen
tleman from Mississippi had presented
resolution pertaining to some local mat
ter upon which unanimous consent had
been given. The resolution was mislaid
10y the celrk and the author of the reso-
luton sat down. While the clerk was
searching for the resolution 1 asked unan-
imous consent to present my resolution.
Reed did not recognize me, but 1 assum-
ed that he did. He listened attentively to
what 1 said concerning the resolution.
which was carried to the clerks desk by
page. AS the page approached Reed
leaned over his desk and received the
resolution with his own hands. He read
1t over carefully, then motioned to Con-