Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-06
REED OPPOSED TO M'K|N[EY.
THE Ex-CzAR WILL NOT HELP THE
PRESIDENT In THE COM
ING CAMPAIGN.
MAY SPEAK AGAINST HIM.
IS PERSONALLY ANTAGONIsTIC TO
THE OHIO MAN,
And is Also Opposed, Like Many
other Republicans, to the Policy
of ImperiaIism-Ap Interesting
Chapter of Political History Dat
ing From 1896 - Was Always
Against the President.


A special telegram from Washington
to the Plttsburg Dispatch tells this in
teresting political story:
Former Speaker Thomas, B. Reed
will not lift his drawing, but impress
slye nasal voice in behalf of the re-
election OF President Mckinley. This
statement comes from a prominent
member of the Republican committee
who is actively engaged in promoting
the interests of Mckinley and Roose-
Welt. It is sustained by declarations
by the former Speaker himself. Those
who are not aware of the extent of the
feeling between Mr.. Reed and Presi-
dent Mckinley have never credited the
reports that the former Speaker would
take the stump.
Mr.. Reeds silence will be apologized
for on the ground that he differs with
the Administration on its expansion
policy. That, however, is not the real
personal antipathy toward Mr.. MeKin-
ley that he would, perhaps, go out OF
his way to give aid to the enemies of
the Republican party. rather than lift
his finger to promote the success of
any public or private enterprise in
which Mr.. Mckinley might be bene-
ficiary.
The Disappointment of 1896.
Now that Mr.. Reed has withdrawn
from politics and is said to be rapidly
accommodating a fortune as advisory
counsel to railroad, insurance and 9TH
er corporations, it is in order to re-
late a few incidents to show why the
big man from Maine is SO vindictive
toward Mckinley.
At st. Louis, four years ago, Mr..
Reed was an aggressive and confident
candidate for the Presidential nominal
ton. He remained in Washington dur
ing the convention, but was in direct
communication with his political
friends in st. Louis. The very few per-
sons who were admitted to the Speak
er's private apartments in the Shore
ham Hotel will never forget the dra-
matte scene there enacted when the in
formation came that Mckinley had
been nominated. Mr.. Reed, with a
burst OF indignation, rage and disap-
pointment, poured out TRADE of per-
sonal abuse upon his successful rival.
The language he employed to describe
how Mckinley and his managers had
acted was not at all like the choice cpl
grammatic and dignifed expressions
which usually characterized his utter
ances. They revealed traits of charac-
ter in the man which were previously
unknown to some of those present on
that occasion. Not only did he abuse
Mckinley and his managers, but he
also named conspicuous members in the
Republican party in the South and
West as being traitors to his cause and
selling themselves and their influence
to Mark Hanna and the great financial
corporations behind him.
Always Against the President.
Time has not wiped out the hatred
which Mr.. Reed then felt for President
Mckinley. During the period Mr. Reed
remained in Congress after McKinley's
election he never lost an opportunity to
emphasize his personal hostility to every
project which originated with the Chief
Executive. He Stunned the White House
as he would plague spot, and he an
tagonized every measure in which he
fancied the President had either a pr
sonal or political interest. Those who
had Mr.. Reeds confidence know that he
was as bitterly opposed to the United
States going to war with Spain as SEN
ator Hale or any of the most pronounced
Spanish sympathizers. Fortunately for
Mr.. Reed, he positively and emphatically
declined to allow himself to be quoted
on the subject, Notwithstanding that all
sorts of ingenious contrivances were re-
sorted to to extract from him his Views
on the subject.
On the occasion of the Presidents pro-
clamation declaring war against Spain
a Washington correspondent of a we'll
known newspaper was requested to OBJ
tain for publication a statement or some
comments from Mr.. Reed. Mr. Reed re-
ceived his visitor with his usual sarcas-
tic but none the less friendly greeting
and listened with a quizzical smile upon
his broad round face while the corre-
epondent explained the object of his
mission
Believed Expansion Fatal.
AS on previous occasions, Mr.. Reed de-
eiined to be interviewed, and with in
creasing f1rmness impressed up his Wis
itor his reasons for not desiring to be
quoted at that particular time Being
thoroughly convinced that Mr. Reed
meant what he said the correspondent
expressed his regret that the American
people were to be deprived of the light
which the then Speaker might throw upon
the subject.
Subsequently Mr.. Reed relented so far
as to say that, while he emphaticaly OBJ
jected to having his name mentioned he
would venture a few timely suggestions
for the information and guidance of the
correspondent which the latter might
adopt as his own. Whereupon Mr. Reed
INDEBTED beautifully, instructively and
with all of his inimitable figures of ex-
preston. He denounced the Spanish pol
icy of the administration from beginning
n end and ad ,5fsactarS Of q lyi,,,l-