The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-05

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THOMAS B. REED.
GLOW He Looked at the Beginning of His
Congressional Career.)
thority as ruthlessly as the car of Rus
STA controls his broad domain. Speaker
Reed has often been called the car
but there is vast difference between
the real car and the man who rules our
house of representatives.
The car of Russia was born to pow
er; and by divine right yields that
power as long as he lives. The speaker
of the house of representatives exer-
cises complete power within his legisla-
tive domain; but that powers conferred
upon him by majority of the house
of representatives. Whenever at any
time the speaker goes beyond that
which is deemed right and proper by
the majority he may be deposed and
another representative be elected in his
place. Therefore it must be under
stood that so long as Speaker Reed ex-
erts such wonderful power in the ma
tional house of representatives he is
simply the mouthpiece of the majority
and his every act has their sanction.
The people are apt to form erroneous
opinions concerning men whose names
are seen in print. If half the stories
in criticism of big Tom Reed were true,
the people might we'll believe him to be
sort of hobgoblin or other fearsome
creature. But, as matter of fact, his
individuality is such that he is really
lovable character.
This great man from the Pine Tree
state is not an accident, but growth.
When he first came to congress he was
On par with every other representa-
tive of the people. At that time he at
tracted attention only because he was
large man physically. His large round
head was covered with crop of silky.
auburn hair, and on his upper lip there
grew delicate little boyish mustache.
To-day he is bald, without mustache,
and his general appearance in some de-
gree warranted the jocular appellation
which was given him by Amos Cum
mings, .'the moon-faced car"
During all the years of his continu-
Gus service Mr.. Reed increased in
strength, and every year he more and
more commanded attention for his in
| tellectual abilities. AS he grew in
| knowledge of parliamentary law and
legislative procedures he assumed
| prominence in all debates. Moreover,
it became apparent to all Of mis- asso-
| ciates that he was growing man and O
strong man, whose arguments usually
| demonstrated that he was reaching cor
| rect conclusions. His fellow repre-
| sentatives began to consult him and
seek his advice Oh all important occa-
sions, so that after lapse of years he
gradually grew into the confidence of
the strong men of his party, until lead
ership was given him by election to the
| speakership.
| AS the leading republican member of
the committee on ways and means, in
the Forty-ninth and Fifty-frst con-
crosses, Mr.. Reed was recognized as the
floor leader of his party. When the:
| Fifty-irst congress convened, with a
small republican majority, Mr.. Reed
was candidate for the speakership.
| The other candidates were Mr.: Burrows,
of Michigan; Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa,
and Maj. Mckinley, of Ohio. The con-
test was warm one for about ten days,
and when the republican caucus met
Mr.. Reed had majority over all, and
was elected speaker. Very soon after
assuming the chair he made rule con-
corning quorum of the house of rep
resentatives which excited a bitter con-
troversy of a virulent partisan char
acter. He claimed that under the con-
stitution of the United States when.
there was quorum visible the house
| could do business. Previous to that
time it had been generally understood:
that there must be, quorum present
and voting"
Mr.. Reed maintained that it was only
necessary to have quorum "present."
Therefore although the minority men,
bers were present and declined to vote,
MIR. Reed called those present by name
| and caused the clerk to mark them,
down as present and not voting" But
the mere fact that they were present
made up the quorum, which is a major
ity of the house, and business proceed
ed. Two or three years afterwards this
Interpretation of the constitution was
Endorsed by the supreme court of the
United States, and also by the demo-
cratic purity when it had majority in
the house of representatives: IT,.
| When Mr.. Reed, as speaker of, the
house of representatives, announced
the chairmen and members of the COM
mittees of the house, he appointed Maj.
Mckinley chairman of the committee
On ways and MEANS A tariff bill was
passed which was called the Mckinley
bill. All bills of that character are
named after the chairmen of the COM
mittees in which they originate. AL
though Speaker Reed was the recog-
nized leader of his party the Mckinley
bill was spoken of SO often in print that
the reputation of Maj. Mckinley be-
came national. and that fact was large
~ instrumental in bringing about his
subsequent election a. governor Of