The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-16

There Is a great deal OF absurd talk In
the Democratic press about a possible
clash between the administration and
Speaker Reed, These predictions are
largely creatures Of the Imagination and
are inspired by hope that revolt led
by Reed against certain administration
measures might divide the Republican
party into factions, and lead to an inter-
necine strife which would disturb the
harmony of the party for years to come,
Without stopping to consider what Mr.,
Reed would hope to gain for himself by
such course, these Democratic figurers
are planning it ali out for him, The fact
that Speaker Reed does not favor Ha-
wailan annexation and refuses to discuss
other features OF the Presidents mes
mage with newspaper reporters is the
small basis on which their gigantic hope
is based.
II the Democratic editors who are so
industrlously engaged in this sort of
speculation win study Speaker Reeds
character, they will feel like turning
their talents to some other work than
that of trying to convince themselves
that the Republican party is on the verge
of a split In a single sentence the
Washington Post, an Independent paper,
expresses wha; everybody knows to be
true when 1t says that "Mr. Reed is in
capable OF sacrificing the unity of his
party, by rlsking the triumph Of the OPP
position, and the ascendency of prIncl-
pies and policies which he condemns FOR
the mere qualification of personal feel
Ing"
The fact is, however, there is not the
slightest evidence that there is any per-
sonal feeling, nor any basis for believing
that Speaker Reed is not loyal TO the ad-
mlnlstration, even though he may differ
from it on one or two matters. THIS
loyalty has already been tested as the
whole country knows The Washington
contemporary referred to above, in COM
mentlng on an article in the St Louis
Republic, calls the western papers at
tentlon to this test in the following lam
guage:
The belief that fight between the
speaker and the President Is impendlng' or
that the speaker Contemplates action TO-
ward the administration that would be as
disastrous to the party as that lnterneclne
strife that was provoked by the hmnltlonsS
OF Blaine Is not encouraged by lhc reGpru
= of tIttG l'ouurpgE. 'Inlt
session was called for the purpose OF pass
ing a tariff bill and for two or three minor
The president did not wish Congress to
remain long In session, and MI Reed, AT
The cost OF any amount OF harsh criticism,
some Of It from his political brethren
stood by and with the President IN the ei-
fort TO carry out his programme. Ihc
tariff bill went through the house with
comparatively little debate. and the house
promptly passed two or three other meas.
ires recommended by the Pres'deht, Rha
then the house waited In ldleness. It's COM
mittees not appointed week after week
sldered the tariff, Meanwhile the speaker
was nssailed by the opposition ana Dy
some of the Republican congressman LOT
his "do-nothlng policy"
ministratior and Mr.. Reed met u as Few
men would have done. Had he desired TO
get up u factlonal fight; had he wished TO
annoy the President, then was ms opp9t-
| tunity. lie had only TO name the commit
| tees. and let the house proceed TO business
| In order TO show that the Administrations
| wishes could not influence his OFFICIAL acts.
| If our st, Louis contemporary Will glance
| Mt the record OF the extra session, 1t VIII
| see that its hope for u disastrous fight Is
| not well grounded. Mr.. Reed Is party
man; he looks first to the interests OF ms
party, and never makes the mistake OF
surprising that his personal feelings or
| political ambitions are paramount
THIS correctly represents the political
character OF Mr.. Reed, and the Demo-
cratic newspapers that are hoping for
war between him and the President are
engaged in idle speculation.