Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-12-18
r &y = r II IT 4 = II Il il Il i !:
= ;. CHAMP Il N s'sssss,., :. ns..ss. ss't.s + : :
:. CLARKS & Mot Notable msns.s ss,ssts t. t. :. !.
~ r~~~ M Thomas Bracket
Fl AA LIN Reed @1aaa@ e
!: II II II !: II II II = Il = Il II x3

ing the coal strike brought him such
eclat that most people concluded that
all obstacles had been removed from
his path, so far as the nomination is
concerned, but suddenly, as a bolt from
the blue sky, came the Michener epistle
to the Hoosiers, thirty copies of which
he sent out simultaneously, to ascer-
tain, apparently for his own informa-
tion, how the presidential land lies in
Indiana.
Michener is an experienced politician,
and his abnormal appetite for informa-
ton just at this juncture has aroused
suspicion in certain quarters indeed,
tn many quarters. His letter seems to
place Senator Marcus A. Hanna
squarely in the field as a candidate.
The junior senator from Ohio says no,
but probably subsequent events will
show that the coy senator is in the
condition of the bashful maiden "who,
vowing she would ne'er consent, con-
sented." The chances are that General
Michener will not have to tender the
nomination to Senator Hanna as often
as Mark Antony proffered the crown
to mighty Julius. Whatever Michen-
er'S intention and whatever the final
outcome, there is no question but what
the immediate effect Is to start the
Hanna talk again. The astonishing
thing about it is that General Michen-
er claims that his investigations show
that, counting Senator Fairbanks out
of the running, it would be nip and
tuck between Colonel Roosevelt and
the Buckeye boss in Indiana. 1t had
been Grated around that Teddy was in
yincible ION the banks of the Wa
BASH" Now the chances are that Gen
eral Michener is not the only states
man out Of job, to use the famous
phrase of John James ingalls,, who is
quietly feeling the public pulse.
Michener has been caught in the act,
that's all, and if many of them are
feeling the public pulse then it goes
without saying that Colonel Roosevelt
had better sleep with one eye open and
his hand on his gun from now till the
day when the nominating convention
meets. Otherwise his name is likely to
be Dennis. But here is the mysterious
Michener letter:
Washington, D. c., Nov 7, 1902
Hon. Ind:
My Dear Sir-It is believed here that
Senator Hanna will try to get the presi-
Dental nomination in 1904 and that he ex-
poets the support Of Indiana. Some of the
presidents friends are little uneasy
about it. Do you think that Hanna could
take Indiana away from Roosevelt or
Fairbanks? Kindly let me have your
views by next mail If at all convenient.
With kindest regards, yours truly,
L. T. MICHENER.
Mr.. Sherman on Mr.. Reed.
When great man dies, usually the
world is flooded with fulsome and un-
becoming eulogy. 1t would not be far
out of the way to call it senseless eulo-
gy. That the Hon. Thomas Bracket
Reed was a great man there can be no
question; that the usual amount of full
some eulogy will be written about him
is altogether probable. The house did
the unusual thing Of adjourning out of
respect to him, a private citizen. 1t
was an honor worthily bestowed. The
Hon. James S. Sherman of New York
offered the resolutions, which are in the
very best taste and the very best Eng
lish and which neither overstate nor
understate Mr.. Reeds status, and he
prefaced these resolutions with a few
words which for good taste and truth
fulness of utterance have rarely been
excelled. All in all, Mr.. Sherman's was
q literary performance of which the
house may well be proud. Indeed, if
the spirits Of the mighty dead take any
eognizance Of the affairs of this lower
world Mr.. Reed himself must have been
proud of the work of his friend Mr..
Sherman said:
Mr.. Speaker, the life of ex-Speaker
Reed ended yesterday. Its span measured
many years less than the allotted life of
man, and yet there was within it so much
of moment that his fame became great
and will be lasting. He was citizen of
my state since his retirement from public
life, although it was as a representative
from the state of Maine that he rendered
his service to the public, and it is in the
state of Maine that he will have his final
resting place.
To have served with Mr.. Reed was an
honor; to have been in close touch with
him an inspiration; to have enjoyed his
confidence and his friendship a delight
He was SO great, his service to his coun-
try so valuable, that it seems to me we
may fitly depart from what is the usual
custom of the house when one not in pub
ic life dies. l therefore, Mr.. Speaker, Of
Ter the resolutions which send to the
clerk.
The resolutions presented BY Mr.
Sherman were as follows:
Resolved, That the following minute be
spread upon the record of the house of
representatives:
Hon. Thomas Bracket Reed died in
Washington Dec. 7, 1902. For twenty-five
years he had been member of this
house, for six years its speaker His
service terminated with the Fifty-fifth
congress. Within this chamber the scene
of his life's great activities was laid.
Here he rendered services to his country
which placed him in the front rank of
American craftsmanship. Here he ex-
hibited characteristics which compelled
respect and won admiration. Forceful
ability intrinsic worth. strength of char
acter. brought him popular fame and con-
gressional leadership. In him depth and
breadth of intellect, with full and well
rounded development had produced a
giant who lowered above his fellows and
impressed them with his power and his
wisdom
A distinguished statesman, a lofty pa
triot, cultured scholar, an incisive writ
er, unique orator. an unmatched de-
batter, master of logic. wit, satire, the
most famous of the worlds parliamentary
ans, the great and representative citizen
Of the American republic has gone into
history.
Timely Words.
Hon. Perry s. Heath, once assistant
postmaster general, is now editor of
the Salt Lake Tribune. Perry has
ideas and is not afraid to express them
In vigorous English. I most heartily
commend to every thoughtful Amer
lean citizen of whatever party the fol-
lowing extract from his paper:
Again there is agitation at Washington
Of the subject of improving the classified
service of the government. Means have
been provided for the selection of clerks
In the executive departments, but no de-
cent or practical means have been pro-
vided for getting rid Of incompetent or
incapacitated clerks. Although not adj
mitted by those responsible for the pres
ent condition, the federal government foi
years has had and now has the most des-
picable form of civil pension list. Two
or three cabinet officers are reported to
be In favor of some action which will at