The age-herald., 1899-05-14
To Cope With Democratic Lead
 CT Will be Hard to Find.
TOM REED A LOYAL PARTISAN
Neither Sherman Nor Hopkins Are Considered Competent to Measure Steel With Richardson, Who
 Will Likely Lead Minority

Washington, May 1S.-(SpeciaL)-Th friends of the president who at first hailed the retirement of Speaker Reed as special boon to the administration have now begun to doubt whether it is not the worse thing that could possibly happen. While it is true that the big brainy speaker was not friendly to the administration and while it is also true that he has no special love for the administration or for the presi- dent himself, still MT. Reed is a bitter par tisan and a devoted follower of the re- publican party.
 While he may have thwarted the admin istration In some of its pet schemes, still the president could rely upon him implicit ly and always knew just where to find him in matters of public policy. He is better safeguard to the republican party than any more loyal friend of the president could possibly be and the very antagonism he felt toward the administration gave the public an assurance that no extreme meas ures of the presidents friends, which might secure executive endorsement, could be put into active operation.
 But what is important is the fact that MT. Reed could control the republican majority and keep it in check when it might become totally demoraized under a weaker man. The fear is now expressed that with Reed no longer in the chair to coerce and guide the republicans in the house, the forces there may go to pieces very much as the democrats did in the session of the Fifty-second congress- Either this or else extravagance may run riot and the charge of corruption be made with telling force in the coming campaign. Already the democrats are predicting that such will be the case. They are prepared to see the gates opened and a general raid on the treasury begun. Whatever may be said of Mr. Reed, he guarded the treasury as the apple of his eye. He undoubtedly went too far in this, but at the same time he prevented the opposition from making capital to any great extent out of republi- can extravaganza.
 As far as the situation can be judged in advance, the retirement of Reed is the best thing which which could have happened to the democratic party in the house. There is great danger of the republicans forming combinations with small factions in the op- position and getting through any bill they are mind to. Log rolling will be easy un- der any republican who can be elected if experience counts for any thing. The re- publicans have been held under so long and were under such perfect control of MT. Reed that as long as he were in the chair there was never any danger of their splitting into permanent faction. While Henderson, Hopkins, Cannon, Dalzell, Mer- cer, Payne and Sherman were rivals and leaders to some extent they were all the devoted followers of Reed. The speaker ship fight is now coming on. Each of these men and more, too, will be aspirants for the honor and before it closes there will be quarrels such as that which ensued between Crisp, Mills, Springer and Me Millin, which will not be healed by an cleo tion, but which will continue until factions are formed and division become serious be- tween them. There never was a race for the speakership in which this was not the result There is already some bitterness becoming apparent. The charge of the western men that the election of Sherman means the dominance of Platt and Quay, Is but the opening wedge. Suppose Sher- man to win; Hopkins and Henderson will not fail to see in it the corruption influence of the New York boss. This will be charged in the fight and counter charges will follow as fast as flying leaves.
 Will Make Democrats More Active
 Il must not be forgotten, too, that this change will bring forward the democrats to greater activity in party matters. Should MT. Richardson be chosen as the leader of the minority, MT. sherman, MT. Hopkins or General Henderson will stand but poor chance for victory before this Keen parliamentary lancet. He is the su- perior of any of these men and an equal in parliamentary ability to Reed himself. He could not rattle Reed as he did any man Reed called to the chair. Reed dis missed those with a sheer whom he could not worst in a discussion. He produced a laugh at the enemies expense, but no one else in his party can make use of such tactics. Richardson will be on his metal in the next congress. He will let no op- nOrtllnitV the rlDnblioan speaker in hole. It will be war in the next congress between the democrats and republicans. The latter have only ma jority of thirteen. They will at once begin to increase that majority, but will not be able to swell 1t much. It makes no differ ence what they elect he will not be a match for Richardson. =
 It is by no means certain that Richardson will be the chosen leader of the minority, but MT Bailey's friends say that the Texan will under no conditions assume the active leadership again. It is no invidious com parison to say that Bailey, Richardson, DeArmond or. Bankhead are each more capable parliamentarians than either Sherman or Hopkins.
 MT. Balley's energies will be devoted to the work of being elected to the senate He would make brilliant senator, for in that body his lofty conceptions of the constitution and the prerogatives of the government would be given scope and sink into the public mind. Bailey is not good parliamentary fighter. He thinks on too high a plane to be. He believes in the ir- resistable force of argument not Tn par liamentary dexterity to win cause. He will throw much of his strength to Mr. Bankhead, but much of it will go to Rich ardson. The fight for the minority honor seems to be now between Richardson and Bankhcad.
 From whatever point the retirement of