The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14
MIR. Henry DeplOres the Efforts of
Speaker in n False Position.
NEITHER CAR NOR TYRANT
AND DOES NOT INTEND TO EMBAR-
RASS MKINLEY ADMINISTRATION.
w. ID. Bynum Fails to See President
Coffin, Who Is Seeking a Pardon.
Journal

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-Speaker Reed
has become very sensitive 10 the attacks
made on him in which he is characterized
as car and tryrant and called a usurper
of the privileges and prerogatives of the
members of the House, and attempting on
his own motion TO direct legislation. Speak
ing on the subject Representative Henry, of
Indiana, to-day said: These charges do
Speaker Reed a great injustice. In throw
ing his influence against legislation other
than that absolutely necessary for the
carrying of the government, Mr.. Reed is
simply executing the will of the majority
and the policy of his party. Members fully
understand this, and it would be courageous
for them to assume the responsibility them
selves for the nonpassage of bills in which
they and their constituents are interested,
instead of making a scapegoat of the speak
err The Republican members of the House
owe it to themselves and TO their party to
hold up Mr.. Reeds hands instead of con-
tributing to making his position more diff
cult than it would naturally be- instead of
encouraging wholesale attacks on him and
placing him in a false position before the
country
Mr.. Reeds friends are at great pains just
er has no intention of embarrassing the in
coming administration by half-hearted sup
port or covert antagonism. but that he will
give the executive branch of the govern
ment his cordial cooperation. He does not
intend to fall down and worship at the
shrine of Mckinley nor to ask any favors
therefrom for himself or his friends, but
he considers himself quite as much Re-
publican as the President-elect, and is every
whit as anxious to see his party and its
policies succeed. He will, therefore, do the
very best that lies in his power to make the
next four years triumph of Republican
ideas In doing this he modestly sets up
the plea that he is speaking not only for
himself alone, but for the Republican party
as represented in the popular branch OF
| Congress. Furthermore, if reelected
speaker next month it will be with the dis
tinct unders standing that in carrying out the
programme to restrict legislation TO tariff
matters he will be executing the policy of
| the party, and not the individual will of
| Speaker Reed. He is getting heartily sick
| of the 'cZar' indictment, and is entering
| vigorous protest against the accusations of
members who are trying TO make their
constituents and country at large believe
they are the victims of his tyranny.
Mr. Bynum started back to Indianapolis
| this evening he has been over to the Phil
| adephia mint on an official inspection tour.
| and stopped over in Washington for day
to inquire at the White House what prog
ress the President had made with regard
| to the petition for the pardon of Francis
| Coffin. Somewhat TO his disappointment
| he found that Mr.. Cleveland had gone down
| the Potomac duck-huntinS expedition,
and would not be back until tomorrow
morning.
Representative Steele expects to add
$S25, 900 TO the appropriation for the Soldiers
| Home at Marion, Ind. He says there are
| needed improvements and repairs which
would cost that much, and that thereafter
| only a small annual allowance for main
| tenance would be required.