The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-09

opening of the first regular session of the
Fifty-sizth congress.
There is Congressman Serene b. Payne.
who is looking out fer the place. and james
S. Sherman. of New York. who has what il
called a Chance"
Ambitious Illinois brings out it's two can
didates in Congressman Joseph G. Cannon.
of DaavfiIe. and Albert J. Hopkins, Of
Aurora. Both of these gentlemen have
served In congress, Cannon having entered
in the Fifty-fourth house. as also did Hop
kins.
A man who IS very strong is General
Grosvenor, of Ohio, who was the spokes-
man for President Mckinley on the floor
of the house. GrosyeIIor has. been in Wash
ington since 1896, and has a very large fol-
lowing among the Mckinley republicans,
besides great influence among government
officials
General David B. Henderson was promt
nently mentioned yesterday on the streets
of Washington and anther man, William
Hepburn. was also frequently talked about.
Hepburn entered congress- from Clarinda,
Iowa, in 1925, and Henderson came to rep
resent his state in the Fifty-feurth house.
One of the objections to Grovesnor is said
to be that he is specially Offensive to Platt
because of the invictfve the oliioan hurled
at Platt in answer to. the attacks the latter
made upon Mckinley in 1896.
The Piatt man is said to be Serene E.
Payne, of Auburn, who succeeded the late
Nelson Dingley as chairman of the house
committee on ways and means.
Though Congressman Sherman has
sought to be agreeable to both Piatt and
anti -Platt leareds at the same time, the
fact that Congressman James J. Belden
and other Piatt haters are backing him,
and induced him to retire as United States
general appraiser to run for speaker, has
not helped him to secure the support of the
boss"
There is the rumor of political swap
which hints at Reed for the republican
candidate for 1900. Platt's preference is for
Congressman Payne. of Auburn. and
Reeds preference is for Sherman, of New
York, but the democrats, who are watch
ing things closely, say that Reed will go
over to Platt's man If Plat will throw his
influence in for Reed so that he will have
a chance for the white house year hence.
All this is political gossip and you must
not set it down in the back of the Bible as
Bible truth but 1t was the talk yester-
day in Wall street and tho talk in front
of Capitol Hill, and we poor mortals can
listen and think.
Thomas b. Reed the man whose retire.
ment occasions so much stir, was born in
Portland. Me-, in the fall of 1899. If he
lives on until October he will be 60 years
old. His birthplace is ore of the oldest in
the state and is only a few doors from
Longfellow's old home. which by the way,
was built by one of Reeds ancestors. Reed
tausht school and got money enough to-
gether in some way to go to Bowdom COL
lege. Here he partly worked his way
though getting along as well as he could
His family were good New Englanders,
who had enough money for themselves, but
not enough to give to a big, straping boy
for book learin" Reed wanted to learn,
SO he got the money for himself.
When he graduated in 1860 he went TO
California. and here he was admitted to
the bar, doing very good work, but he long
ed to get back home, so he returned to
Portland and commenced practices; but
there was very little money in it. Then be-
gan his political career. He was MEM
Der of the state house of representatives
in 1SGS-'G9 and a member of the state SEN
ate in 1870. In 1S70-'71'72 he was attorney
general of Maine, and for the next five
years was city solicitor. He was elected
for the Forty-flfth congress in 1871 and has
been in congress ever since. He was made
speaker of tho houze in December, 1893.
and from that time on his public career IS
we'll known.
Thomas r. Reed is an excellent example
a
politics without getting rich. Living in
Washington during tho sessions of co gress
and in Portland the rest of the year. and
working hard all the time. ne has succeed
cd in fixing himself so that he Is we'll OFT,
but nothing more. In fact the money ques-
ton is orc of the reasons for his retire
meat from tho leadership The income is
$50, COO and is too great to be refused, on
account of his family.
Tho law firm which Mr.. Reed will become
the head of In the fall Is the firm of Simp-
son. Thatcher and Barnum, which does
business at 10 Wall street. Tho trm mas
made overtures to Mr.. Resd for some time
but it is only recently that he arrived there
one morning and told them that he had
Concluded to join them.
The firm with which the speaker has
identified himself was formed fifteen years
ago. 1t consists of John w. Simpson.
Thomas Thatcher, William M. Barhum ana
Phillip G. Bartlett.
Mr.. Simpson is a son-in law of the late
George |. Seney, and has been for years
counsel for the Manhattan Trust and 9TH
or corporations. as we'll as for Moore &
Sehley and other Wall street brokers.
Thomas Thatcher is san of the late Pro-
fessor Thatcher, of Yale university. He is
a graduate of the university and of the
law school and has been frequently talked
of for United States judgeship
William FL. Barnum Is also Yale man,
having been n class mate or Frank IL.
plat. son of Senator Thomas c. Platt, and
member of the law firm of Tracy, Board
man e. Platt Mr.. Barnum was a son or
tho late Senator Barnum. for many years
democratic leader in Connecticut. Mf.
bartlett is still another Yale man.
The SPEAKER is said to have been assured
Of an income of $4,000 a year, and his
friends say that it will amount to $4,000
more.
Mr.. Reed has not yet decided whether he
will lease a house in New York at fTst or
not. He is very hesitant about giving up
tho beautiful residence at Portland. and he
wishes to keep hts cottage at Grand Beach,
No for summer outings. His wife and
douehter. Miss Kitty Reed, are, however,
very fond of his society. and very fond OF
home life, so the SPEAKER finds himself hes
itating between one of New York's palace
hotels and a residence on Fifth avenus!
Ono thing is certain. He will bring his
library to New York. ana this means that
Gotham will become the home OF the finest
law library in the United States.
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