New-York tribune., 1899-08-23
THOMAS B. REED RESIGNS.
CLOSE OF A NOTABLE CAREER IN
CONGRESS.
rEE Ex-sPEAKER's RESIGNATION Ac-
cEprEp BY THE GOVERNOR OF
MAINE. TO TAKE EFFECT
SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 4
AuS,,sta Me-. Aug 22-The resignation OF
,rboras B Reed as Representative in Congress
rom the Ist District OF Maine was received and
accented by Governor Powers to-day. It is TO
take effect on September 4. Mr. Reeds letter Is
as follows
hereby resign the position Of member OF
Congress from the Ist District OF Maine. to take
effect on this date September 4 Very truly
YOURS T. 2. REED.
To the Governor OF Maine, Augusta. Ne.
A native OF Maine Thomas Brackett Reed has
carried the New England characteristics of energy.
self-reliance and laborious attention TO duty
through his entire life Born in Portland, on
October IS 1899. he educated in the public
schools OF his native city and at Bowdoin College,
where ne was graduated In 1860. He taught for a
time in the Portland High School, meanwhile
studying law. AT the age OF twenty-four he went
10 California where he taught school and prac-
ticed law but he returned home within year.
II 1854 he appointed Acting Assistant Pay
master IN the Navy and assigned 10 the gunooat
sibvl which patrolled the Tennessee. Cumberland
and Mississippi rivers until the close OF the war
on his return 70 Portland Mr. REED was admitted
10 the bar and entered earnestly into the work OF
his profession But within three years ne was
without warning nominated for a seat in the Maine
House of Representatives. He Immediately took a
p-ou1trent place in that body, and after serving
two terms was elected Attorney General OF Maine.
He was then only thirty years Of age. He held
the office for three years and then sought 10
return 10 his professional career in order 20 acheVe
financial success But the people Of Maine would
not have II So and insisted that he take sun
hirher Office al their hands. In 1876 ne became a
candidate for Congress and from 1877 until the
,rAsant time the Portland district has never had
snv other Representative in Congress than Thomas
p Reed ,..,
Il did not take long time 10 establish his repu-
ta-ion and leadership In the House and IN ms sec
ond term he was appointed member OF lhe 'u,
dietary Committee. AS early as 1851 ne received
some votes in the caucus for Speaker, athough ns
had been only four years IN Congress fo2r yI yea
L1e se Vel as again in sS7. But both Of those
Houses were Democratic and II was not uLn.l- - ~
that ne assumed the Speakers chalI' "a "a G I'm
tbis Once whose honors rank only second N II- I
portance 70 thC Sc OF the frta.uelss ar-,1ra ION
Reed has made his great and deseTveu bich
nv the met hods OF parliamentary procedure
~ enforced ne made the House much more o4s-
nihed body, and made the will OF the peoRl9,t ctias
man II had ever been made before by ms l1lii @
that members who Were physicaIly pFeseHs iyosaIf
not be considered absent, he DrouSnt on ~,
from the Democrats the epitAets o. osIT-, and
srvrart" bat II proved benehcenl rfIu' u
prevented the blocking OF leglsIati0n, Sr g BIZ
presided with dignity. power ana conlrnAhHs aC1 =
f-v His strength Of character his rare anty an, nv
us purity of motives together with ms
will nave made him recognized as d P..s.oj PoMe,aGj -
Iss5Ar and caused him TO be prominently mentioned
e. - endidate for the Presidency n 1Seo - =.
Parsonglly Mr Reed is most loved by tnose 9 Wn9
-, biT1 best He is bubbling over with good
humor and good fellowship; ne has ready WI s anG
keen sarcasm In ordinary % T; Trs;r,arkabIe
<i11d ~ Information. broad reading, g. srohs, Pene
rating mind and a keen power OF loglcaI ahdy s's
and anayuca1 @ s1no,jnced that Mr. Reed would
retire from Congress and practise law IN th4s CITY