The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-21
REED,s REFINEMENT IN DOUBT.

The Hon. Loren Fletcher of Minnesota
has caused CONSERVATION among the can
didates for speaker and their friends, by
stating that he is by no means certain
that Mr. Reed has definitely made up his
mind to retire from Congress. Mr..
Fletcher is a member of Congress. and
for a number of years has been regarded
as Mr.. Reeds closest friend in Washing
ton His statement, therefore. has more
weight than similar statement from any
other member Of Congress would have.
Ever since the report was published
that Mr.. Reed mad decided TO resign from
Congress and accept a partnership in a
New York law firm which would pay him
$1,000 a year, there has been very lively
campaign an progress for the speakership.
There are five or six candidates. and there
may be a half a dozen more before the
campaign is ended-that is, if Mr.. Reed
determines 10 leave public life.
Mr. Reed practically admitted before he
started for Europe that he had decided 70
retire from Congress, but something may
have occurred since then to cause dim 10
change his mind. Ii is known that he is
anxious TO be the nominee Of his party for
President next year, and within the last
week or two something may have oc-
CURED TO lead him to believe that he
stands a chance for the nomination, pro
vided he remains in Congress. accepts the
speakership and shapes legislation in re-
spect TO Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines.
The statement made by Mr.. Fletcher
will disturb and trouble not only
the candidates for speaker and
their numerous friends, but also
who have announced that they have de-
cided to take a hand in the speakership
fight They are against Mr.. Sherman,
Mr.. Hopkins. MIR. Henderson and Mr..
Payne as they were against Mr.. Reed, be
cause the wife of no one of them, in their
| opinion, is qualified to do justice to the
office of speaker from the standpoint of
society. They want a man in the office
of speaker who will give fine dinners and
parties, and who has a wife who regards
society as the beginning and end of all
| that is worth living for.
| They point out that the speaker is paid
| 5000 year more than a member of the
House or a senator simply that he may
make his house a sort of center for so
cley. Mr. Reed never gave any attention
to balls, dinners and parties, because
neither he nor his wife had any liking for
them, and consequently they were not
popular with society people. If they had
kept the punch bowl full all the while and
the Ice cream freezer in a condition of per
nicious activity the petticoated politicians
and the wives and daughters of the new
ly rich people who make up Washington
society would have thought that Mr.. Reed
was the best and dearest speaker who evei
| presided over the House, but, as the
| Reeds didn't do any entertaining of con
| sequence, the report that he would not b'
candidate for reelection to the speak
ership was received by Washington so
ciety with unsurpassed feelings of joy.
And it's disappointment would be great
it should turn out that Mr.. Reed has de
cided to remain in Congress and be a can
dldate for speaker. Even that million
aire congressman. Dalzen of Pennsylva
mia, will be disappointed, because it il
said that the society folks have determines
TO make him their candidate for speaker
on the ground that he would spend hi
entire salary ard much more in maxim,
them have good time.