Evening star., 1898-11-12
A Matter of Speculation in Political
Circles.
OPPOSES ADMINISTRATORS POLICY
Necessity for the Establishment of
Cordial Relations.
TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION

There IS some interest in speculation as
to the attitude that Will he assumed hv
Speaker Reed both at the coming session Of
Congress AMI In the Fifty-sxth Mr Reed
las been practically silent since the Name
| election. and has had very little TO say
since the war with Spain began. HIS atti-
tude toward questions now uppermost in
the public mind is well understood. He is
not a believer in the policy that the admin
lstration has Bow adopted in the matter Of
the acquisition of territory. He opposed
the war or any sort of interference between
Spain and her colonies. He opposed the an
EeXation Of Hawaii. He does not believe in
carrying the American flag across salt wa
ter to be planted permanently. He opposed
any attempt at financial legislation Ly This
Congress, and held generally to the idea of
preserving economic conditions which re-
suited Immediately from the establishment
o: republican administration.
Reeds Characteristics.
Reed is not a man to change mis- opinion
when once formed. What he will do with
the drift of events and the trend of public
opinion strongly set against his very firmly
fixed ideas of policy is a question of no
little interest. He is the embodiment of
individual force and power in the repub-
licau party in Congress. No one sufficiently
approaches him even TO present the appear
ance of rivalry, and men follow him who
do not agree with him. In the House,
though but small minority holds views
similar to his the live questions of the
hour, he dominates the whole body. Time
and again the spectacle has been presented
during his career as Speaker of men re-
solving in the cloak rooms to oUDose him
and then en- the floor of the house, under
his eye, hanging their heads and following
him meekly.
Carrying Out an Expansion Policy.
In the next Congress, if not at the closing
session of this, legislation will be demand
ed to give life and force to a policy which
Mr.. Reed has most earnestly opposed. Ex-
paEsion in every direction must attend the
acquisition of territory. Expansion of the
military and naval establishments eXten-
sion Of our relations with foreign powers, a
relaxation and extension of the qualifica-
tions of citizenship, spreading out of our
tariff, internal revenue and shipping laws
and the expansion of the postal system TO
cover new territory and strange class of
people, all of these things will have to be
legislated for. 1t will be required of the
republican Congress that il act in harmony
with the policy of the administration, and
If Mr.. Reed adheres to the attitude be
assumed toward expansion at the very be-
ginning he will be like rock around which
is a surging sea. In the next Congress the
republican majority will be TOO small in
the House TO admit of any factions within
the party, and the demand for legislation
will be too imperative TO admit of the pow
er of resistance being left in any hands
where it will be used to defeat the repub-
lican policy.
If, as Speaker, Mr.. Reed would oppose
the policy of the admins rati0n. his pres
ence in the chair would be an obstacle in
tolerable to the advocates Of expansion.
Yet If he Were derosed because of adher-
ence to his convf2ti rs his lrosenca on the
floor of the House at the head Of a small
band of followers would De a Stll grsa.,r
menace to the measures which hc might
oppose. In the chair he won Il cwc a re-
spous!hiity to his party; on the door. de-
posed, he would he free. If he shou.d de-
termine to resist the policies, which it IS
believed he does not approve, he V, uld. II
standing alone on the floor, so far over-ttp
every enc about him that his power would
still be felt.
Need OF Understandiug.
The realization is forced upon all who
are interested that ccr, ,iaI re.ators mist
be established between Mr.. Reed and lhe
administration, and that an understanding
must be arrived at if serious di1iCultles ere
10 be avoided. The suggestion that he
shall be opposed and lefeated for The
spaahershiD of the HeXt House rs III AL
Vised, and there is no likelihood Of its bc-
ing entertained or followed. 1T is lot to
be assumed that. policy beng a}reaoy
irrevocably adopted. Mr.. Reed VIII resist
its being successfully carried out buJ Il
he should oppose he would b. more danger
Gus to the purp- -ses Of eXplnsiunIs On The
floor than he would be in the chair luless
he had voluntarily retired from the speak
erShip.