The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-17
SPEAKER REED.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The recollection of Thomas Il. Reed to
the Speakership of the house of repre-
sentatives was proper tribute to the
ability and broad craftsmanship of the
masterfu commoner who discharged the
duties of this position so acceptaDly in
previous congresses. Resourceful, fear
less and singularly endowed to preside
over the popular branch of congress, the
country has the assurance thar under his
direction the business of the house will be
conducted with dispatch and that the VIII
of the majority will be formulated in
legislation as it should be under demo-
cratic government. None will dispute the
primacy of Mr.. Reed in the counsels Of
his party, and none will challenge the
wisdom of the Republican representa-
tives in again elevating him to the speak
ership. They could have taken no other
action without disqualification and with
out defeating the choice of an overwhelm
ing majority of Republican voters.
-:i:-
Mr.. Reed has been in public life for
thirty years, and in every sphere of duty
to which he has been assigned he has dis
played signal ability and adaptability.
His constituency have wisely kept him in
congress for more than twenty years.
giving to the nation during an extremely
important period of its history one of the
most accomplished parliamentarians the
country has produced. 1t is said
that imitation is the sincerest flattery.
The truth of the aphorism was forcefully
illustrated when the Democrats of the
house adopted his famous quorum-count-
Ing ruling enforced by him against siren
uous Democratic protestation in the Fifty
first congress. The ruling was founded
upon common sense ana without its
courageous execution the house would
have remained subject to the VeXatious
~ "a Al mil
postpone or defeat important legislation.
An admiring biogra pher OF the speaker,
writing in the New York Tribune, OBJ
serves as to this brilliant passage in Mr..
Reeds career: Seven years have passed
since the majority of the house was
emancipated from the bondage of the
minority by the bold act of a firm and
courageous speaker and the member who
should stand up in that body today ana
propose to restore the old order of things
would be regarded with plying derision."
This ruling is sufficiently illustrative of
the fibre, trmness, courage and knOwl-
edge of the fundamental principles of
statecraft which have characterized Mr..
Reed while administering the responsible
trust of the speakership; and these are
traits which compel the respect of parti-
san foes when the resentments of the mo-
ment have cooled. The resolution of
thanks unanimously passed at the close
Oh the last congress was Il heartfelt lttOS-
milton of Nh Reeds impartiality and
ability as presiding officer and of his
sterling statesmanship
No living Republican has been more in
fluential than Speaker Reed in moulding
the politics of his party. Gifted with con-
Vincing, trenchant and epigrammatiC
speech, he has long been an invaluable
champion of Republlcanism, and his
addresses have contributed powerfully to
Republican success. His presentation of
political issues is of a character which
arrests attention and sways the judgment.
Few American statesmen have eXcelicd
him in keenness of retort when the eX-
gencies of debate require the use of this
sharp weapon. His self pOise in every
emergency of debate is admirable FL has
the quality of great leader whether mis-
party be in the majority or in the mi
nority He is certain to play a manly ana
useful role in the present congress.