The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-05-13

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THOMAS B. REED.
GLOW He Looked at the Beginning of His
Congressional Career)
thority as ruthlessIy as the car of Rus
STA controls his broad domain. Speaker
Reed has often been called the car
because of his determined character;
but there is 4 vast difference between
the real car and the man who rules our
house of representatives.
The czar 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 powerisc 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
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
- &c ha C
q 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 a
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 his asso-
ciates that he was growing man and a
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-
slons, so that after a 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-first congress convened, with
small republican majority, Mr.. Reed
was a 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 a 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 a quorum of the house of rep
resentatives which excited bitter con-
troversy of 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 a quorum present
and voting"
Mr.. Reed maintained that it was only
necessary to have quorum present"