The Washington times., 1902-12-08
REED FEARED FOR
HIS RARE SARCASM
Considered the Most Dangerous Man in the House to At
tack in Debate.

I than $500 or $500 a year" said he with
la chuckle. It'll 7 was appointed acting
assistant paymaster Of the United States
Navy, at salary Of 81 400 with board,
lodgings, uniform. and two servants to
wait on me. That induced an eXtrava-
CANT style of living. which ] have kept
/ up ever since. and which has cost me
/ thousands and thousands Of dollars-for
which the Government ought, In good
conscience. TO recompense me-
Along in the sultry days Of the sum
mer, when the Wilson bin was under
consideration. when any tariff legisla-
lion seemed hopeless, and when the
. Democratic party resomblod a dissolving
view more than anything else, Reed
came to where several free traders were
! sitting and began chatting them uumer-
cifulIy about the condition OF affairs.
After awhile one Of them said: Mr..
Reed. how DO you like the last Repub-
licau Presidential ticket gotten up by
the newspapers2" What is it2" he
lazily asked. Bob Lincoln and Fred
Grant" his friend replied. "Oh, the
deuce" blurted out Reed. ii they
would only add Baby Mckee to it the
thing would De perfect. and away he
went like a three-decker in a surging
sea.
Rebuked Constituents.
when the ex-speaker had not the time
or the inclination to attend 20 some OF
the seeming trivial wants of his con-
stituents. he would often shut them of
with an abrupt bit Of biting sarcasm.
. This was especially true when the citi-
: zens Of Brunswick. Ne. wrote him. ask
81 ing that he use his influence to obtain
some cannon for the purpose OF a sol
diers' monument. The letter found him
overwhelmed with the duties OF the
Speakership, end he answered: Il am
not dealing in old junk just now" The
letter cost him the vote Of Brunswick in
the next district convention.
The opening Of large annex to the
famous Poland Springs had been ar
ranged 10 be one Of the biggest times
the State had known for years. The
governor. Congressman and Senators.
and all the distinguished men OF the
State were to be present. Reed sent his
regrets although he was not thirty miles
away. The night before the fete Clar-
ence Hale. a brother OF the Senator. and
two other friends, sent Reed tele-
gram. urging him to be present His re-
ply was short. Commercial paper re-
quires two good names; only one on
= yours" and he sent the message collect.
e A Biting Allusion.
- When Reeds election was threatened
- by the strength Of Gen. Samuel Ander-
e son. the Democratic candidate in his dis
. trict. and his friends sought TO make
Y him compromise on some point. Reed
r. could not see the seriousness Of the mat
ter. exAA through a bti OF wi.ticism
q and heTcpIed; only one Republican
e can be elected from this district; : am
B. that one" In this same campaign b,
% made a biting allusion to two OF his col
e leagues in the National House saying
r. They never open their mouths without
subracting from the sum OF humai
e knowledge"
After graduating from Bowdoin Col
vs. lege Reed determined to become law
yer. and he started West and brought uI
in California. Here he taught school fol
q $50 per month. and boarded around
o His admission 10 the bar was unique.
, was in 1863. when California was awake
over the legal tender act and gold wai
as important as now. Judge Wallac,
said 10 him. Tom. l hear you want u
be admitted TO the bar" Yes, sir" re-
piled Mr. Reed. is the legal tende
act constitutional" 1T is was the
quick reply. With equal quickness Judg,
4, Wallace replied: You shall be admit
ted"
His First Case.
Reeds first case was before a court il
= san Francisco. His client. Juan Jos,
Garcia, was charged with assault, witt
, intent to murder. and the only defens,
M which Mr Reed could discover was IN,
, good character Of the defendant. who. b!
the way, spoke no English. Garcia. on
a on bail. was allowed 20 sit among III
/ audience. and the witnesses testified tina
one Juan Jose Garcia did this. that. an,
the other. but II so happened that no
body pointed him out
Garcia's character was shown to b.
-e excellent. but the crime was proven be
yond 9 doubt Then came the speeche
e Of the attorneys and the charge Of tn
30 judge. When the latter was over Mr.
la Reed asked the court 20 add to his charg
"a that proof that Juan Jose Garcia ha
j. committed a crime was not proof agains
ia any particular Juan Jose Garcia, an
g. that, therefore, Garcia must be acquit
ted
J. The district attorney aftcrward n yer
Ia distinguish Judge. sprang 10 his fee
s. and protested. The court hesitated
D., gave the instruction in a half-hearte
a fashion. and the jury went out. Ate
" an hour it came back for more instruc
ie tious. Mr. Reed then improved the oc
casion. Why" said he may it pleas
N your honor would any man dare say tina
- proof that John Smith had committed
crime vas proof against any partlcula
John smith, The court allowed that
on would not, and Juan Jose Garcia wa
e. free.
4: First Public Speech.
ly His first public appearance as