Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-24

1t is relief to turn from these matters
to something which pelses New Workers
and pleases other people. There is a sur
prising interest taken IN the prospect Of
former Speaker Thomas B. Reed settling
down in the metropolis. 1t has grown since
his departure for Europe, and an occasional
suggestion from some representative who
does not want to commit himself on the
Speakership that Reed may not retire at
once causes anxious inquiry. New York
really wants Mr.. Reed. However migrate
ful the rest Of the country may have seem
ed to him, he has never lacked appreciation
here. There is feeling that he will add
luSter to his reputation in his new sur
roundings. The town likes to have a big
man of national reputation come and settle
in it. This is a graceful tribute To its own
greatness. Mr. Reed in New York city VIII
get along al right, though some Of its al
ready eminent citizens may not like to be
east in the shadow. But the desire 10 vel
come him and make him at home IS -
general that he IS bound to be pleased. He
Will be simply an ''eX,' yet his friends oe-
lieVe that with his qualities that Will not
stand in his way
Ye- the city is not good place for ''eX5;"
they are swallowed up SO soon In the vor-
tex. y former cabinet member who had
engaged in business here gave an amusing
illustration. Il got my name in the news
papers the other day he said. by attend
ing a meeting Of the board of directors Of
some old ladies' home That made me feel
as though l was in Washington again.
Then when we hold an annual meeting Of
the companies with which l am connected
my name also appears. Once in while
newspaper reporter IS sent down to inter
view mo on some question about which
can't afford to talk. and he asks me- whose
cabinet | was a member OF. and why /
didn't stay. Bur he publishes a paragraph
the next day that eX-Secretary Blank de-
clined 10 be interviewed. and 50 my friends
know that l am Yet alive"
l knew former official in Washington
who held high place. although he was not
a cabinet officer. His name was worth
something to 4 financial Institution. aG1 he
came over TO New York 70 look into he
prospects. He had fondness for seeing
his name in print and for feeling that he
was person of consequence. He declined
the position. A few days later ne told me
about it. I'VE had to consult a lot Of 1eo-
pie he said, and, do you know in two
days l was introduced to seven ex-sone.
things That decided me All of them had
been forgotten. and myself had 10 ask
about most of them. Now l am going out
west, where there won't be so many 'exs
and where I can get my name in the pa
pers occasionally
Roosevelt and the Presidency.
These observations could not apply to Mr..
Reed. but they show that an 'ex' is really
after he becomes an Eek" As to the posi-
bility Of Mr.. Reed ultimately returning to
national politics, have heard half dozen
persons speak of it, but they are speaking
their own minds, aud they look upon the
possibility a remote one. Governor
Roosevelt's friends might not take such a
suggestion in kindly way. The governor,
while he is making Roadway in other dircc-
lions, seems TO be carving out future
which will giv4 the fool-kilier a mission.
The Roosevelt roOter has already appeared,
and is talking about 1904 With hint that
if anything goes wrong in 1900 with the
national administration there Is man al
Albany, and so forth.
One of the upstters asked me If L hal
heard about the Roosevelt movement ia the
west. 1t happens that L had. There Is
club out in Chicago which has already
nominated him. Threa years back great
many Young fellows in the west got INTO
the band wagon for Mckinley when some
of the older politicians were hesItatthg.
Most of them have had their reWdri, and
they were entitled to it. But a considerable
number who did not see the signs of the
times felt the force of the Mck:lley move
ment afterward SO strongly that they at
once set about figuring on nominating tie
| candidate next time with themS7i. II The
| band wagon. That's why they are footing
| the horns for Roosevelt in Chicago now,
| although they haven't got the wagon. 1t
may be that four years from now every
| body will be talking of Roosevelt for PrSsi-
dent. The preSe mt period seems a DreIna-
/ ture one Neverth eless, ] am bound to note
thu evidences that Mr. Roosevelt is MAX
| ing progress toward the presid 9ncy. lit
! tie while ago everybody was calling him
| Teddy" Now 1t is always 1.-The governor"
| or Governor Roosevelt.
| CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.
The Evening Star Will be mailed every
| evening for the week covering the national
peace jubilee to any address in the United