The Washington times., 1902-12-07
CAREER OF THE LATE
THOMAS BRACKETT REED

ldUMAO bhAChEI IL REED
Thomas Brackett Reed was born Octo-
Der so. 1889. in Portland. Me. He re-
ceived his early education in the com
mon schools Of his native city. and al
the ase Of seventeen entered Bowdoin
College. from which institution he was
graduated in 1860. While a student a;
the college he won the highest honors
and prize for excellence in English
composition. Four years after his grad
uation Mr.. Reed was a school teacher,
at the same time studying law and pre-
pairing for his admission TO the bar.
Before he had completed his course.
however. he was appointed acting as
sistant paymaster of the United States
Navy, serving on the "tin-clad" Sybil.
which patrolled uueventfuly on the
Tennessee, Cumberland. and Mississippi
Rivers.
Mr.. Reed never boastod Of his war
record. but frequently joked Of his ex-
Periences He remained in the service.
however, until November q, 1865. when
he returned to Portland. Again taking
up his legal studies. he was admitted
10 the bar and entered upon the prac-
tice of his profession. Three years later
he was elected as a Republican to the
lower house Of the Maine Legislature.
where. in the course OF his first term.
he succeeded in having passed a bill
giving a superior court to tho county
OF Cumberland In 1869 he was
reelected to the house and in 1870 was
chosen state senator, from which POSI-
tion ne was elevated the same year TO
the position OF attorney general Of his
State. He retired from Office after an
efficient service and in 1873 and for four
years thereafter was solicitor for the
city Of Portland.
First Term in Congress.
In the faH election in 1876 Mr. Reed
was a candidate for Congress and was
successful. He took his seat ir the For
ty-fifth Congress and was brought into
prominence by a speeCh-One OF the two
formal ones which he ever deliyered-in
which he argued against the payment Of
damages by the United States for in
juries TO William and Mary College al
the hands OF United States troops in the
civil war The subsequent policy OF the
Government in relation to war claims
was largely determined by the defeat OF
this measure. to which Mr. Reed signal
~ contributed.
Mr.. Reed was reelected 20 each sue
ceeding Congress. and in 1895 resigned
after having been elected to the Fifty
sixth Congress. In the Forty-sixth Con
gress his skill as a debater first began
TO be generally recognized. especially so
in a speech which he delivered in de-
fense OF United States marshals at eIcc-
tions in the South In the Forty-seventh
Congress he was chairman OF the judi
ciary Committee and introduced the bill
which provided for the distribution OF
the balance Of the Geneva awards. His
influence each year becoming more
strongly marked, the leadership of his
party in the House was finally conceded
10 him and In the Forty-ninth and Fif-
tieth Congresses the complimentary
nomination Tor the speakership was
rendered to him by the Republican.
Election to Speake-ship.
In the Fifty-fTst Congress the Ropub-
llcans obtained control OF the House by
a small majority, and Mr. Reed was
elected Speaker on the first ballot. In
the first days Of his administration Of
the Office much opposition was made by
the minority to the enforcement Of
what Mr. Reed believed to be his right
to count members in the House as par
ticipating in vote. despite their re-
iusal to exercise that privilege. The