Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-05-06
Has He an Understanding With
Big Men Of His Party7
STATESMAN AND POLITICIAN
According 60 Washington Talk Tie
VIII he - strong Presidential
Candidate In 1904


rent here about Mr.. Reed and his do
termination to quilt Congress and prao-
tlcc law In New York. lie was tired
Of the spcakcrship. had achieved all
the distinction that he cared for. aa
Speaker. and realized that there was
no chance for his nomination for the
presidency In 1900. 10 he concluded
to trim hir sails TO catch the brcczcs
In 1906 Five years IL not n long time
to wait for the presidency. AZ the end
" that time he will have become a full.
ncdgcd citizen OF the greatest ntnts %
tho linton. In point Of votes In tho
nominating conventions and the cicc-
,orai college; - In the convention. aud
20 In the college.
scycnty.two votes handed to him by
his powerful friend. Thomas g. platti
the support Of Maine also, for aud lang
sync. and perhaps all ~ New England.
In which section he Ia universally adj
mircd.
There IN n report. furthermore. that
Mt Jckyl island recently he Informed
senator Hanna. chairman Of the ma
tionni committee. that he would resign
~ speaker. but would not be a candl-
date for the presidency In 1900. against
AFR. Mckinley.
Some political shnrpu here 70 further
and assume that one Of the conHidcra-
lions Of this contract was that Mr.
Reed should have the ohio delegation
In is0t
II Air. Reed entered into "a compact
~ this kind. II " probably the FIRST time
he ever stopped to do such a thing. for
his friends have always admired him
most Tot his Independence % character.
In 1896 leading Republican bosses of "A
certain Northwestern State journcycd
10 Portland. Maine. and offered Mr.
Reed the support OF the delegation IN
the H. Louis convention " he would
agree TO nominate a certain man to a
cabinet portfolio. IN case Of his election
not be questioned Mr.. Reed received
them politely. and after Few common
place remarks ON the state of tho wca-
thor. the chairman Of the delegation
moppcd his brow aud stated the nature
Of their efrnnd.
Mr.. Reeds reply was characteristics
Of the mani
"uentlenien." he drawled, you have
come too far. you should have got on
at Canton"
But aside from thu rufnor W n bar
ter and sale al Jckyl island there IL
scarcely n doubt that. In deciding 10
become u citizen Of New York state.
Mr. Reed was Hoannlnn tho political
horizon.
Thomas n. Reed was tho central
figure ~ interest In Congress.
where he has always been recoK.
nixcd as remarkable character.
Az mon meet In that boiy ON CONF
mon level Reputation counts Tor Moth
Inn, but previous experience may be
worth much 90 n new member
Mr.. Reed hnd received q training that
nttcd him for public life. No was grad.
uatcd from li0wdoln College and had
served with distinction In both branch.
- % the legislature ~ hln state. lie
Tor several etrH tho solicitor ~ his
native city and for four years Just
previous IN his election 10 Congress he
was the attorney general " Maine. lie
had fully established his hiEh reputa-
ton Ms lawyer ana nH public acr-
want In his native state, when In 1870
AT the afv OF ~, he was elected to
Congress. Fortunately Tor new mum-
Dor. Mr, Reed had tho opportunity ~
distinguishing himself ut the very out.
set Of his career In the House. ilo vas
assigned % membership on the special
committee 10 investigate the elections
~ 1876 In certain Southern states. The
electoral commission had declared tho
election Of Hayes, but the conditions
nncctinr the election N certain Nom.
beers from those Htatcr Hoolnci 10 de-
mnnd further investigation. Tho whole
matter of tho liayen-Tildcn contest IN
that locality came before this commit.
tee OF which Hon. clarknon n. Potter
OF New York was chairman and which
Included In It's membership many 81 tho
nhleat men of the House. Mr.. Reed WIS
urged 10 take a place on the committee
by prominent Republicans " New Eng
land. lie accepted with reluctance for
he had little sympathy for the uayos
administration and had not looked with
entis" approval uppn the events follow.
inE the presidential election OF lSid.
which finally placed Hayes IN the
white liouac. HIS services on this
Committee, however; served TO display
~ man of original thought and
courageous action. The Houre thorcaf,
ter recognized him az q man OF Unusual
power lie took the front rank as d
deea'er and parllam..n'arian.
Mr.. Reefs service on Important com
mltloes and his acquaintance with tho
General business OF the House brDught
under his consideration a wide ranEr
OF public questions. and atili further
equipped him FOR the leadornhlp which
he was destined soon ~ exercise 10
had a thorough knowledFc VI method.
OF procedure and of parliamentary
law, and he received the compliment
while Yet comparatively new member
~ considerable support for Tho
SpeakerHhip In the contest which r..
suited In tho election u Gonorul Kelfer
In the fuFty-fevonth cOnguan
In that 'unHrcsr, which WIS tho only
Republican conFrcan In Afr. Reeds firat
twelve years ~ service. he was an
pointed chairman of the judiciary COM
mittec. aud In subsequent oonlTunres
prior 10 his election M speaker In 1853.
he was his party'a candidate for that
office.
During all these YEARS Mr.. Reod'n
position az leader 81 the party forcpn.
his peculiar abilities aud his unique
personality made him the most COM
rplcuour hgure Of the House. lie WAS
surrounded By q large number ~ able
men OF both parties, including many
who had been or afterward became
prominent In the public service. hut
hts pre-cmlnence was unquestioncd.
For many years Mr., Reed was a
member Of tho ways and means COM
miitec and was prominent lr tho op-
position 10 the various tnrin ana n
nancinl measures prepared BY the Dem
ocraiic majority ~ the committee. Ills
SKIN In exposing tho wenknclrea and
falnciea ~ these bills and Ia lighting
their parliamentary progress contrib
uted % their ultimate defeat Mr. Reed
never entered olnboratcly into the do