Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-11

az possible, although he never declined
TO fulnl hts dudes at these functions, OIL
pey the dsbt of gratitude to friends.
He was fond OF fun Of all sorts, espe-
cially OF the Kind found at the dinners OF
the Gridiron club in Washington, which
were always held under the ban Of secre
cy. IL was here that he won tile prize
ana proudly won the badge for eating
the largest amount Of beef at q sitting
This. too, within a few months Of the
presidential convention OF 1896, at which
he was to be q candidate, whereat his CD.
ponents, In public press and private arSu-
msnt, held up in sbashed horror the un-
disnified act as unbscor,ing to the aspir.
ant to the chief magstracy of a grea,
nation.
But this did not affect his peace or di-
minish his appetite for good things, ply
f1cal or mental. Simple and strsightfor-
ware himself. he hated pretentiousness as
he did hypocrisy. He never played poll
tics, and he often frightened his political
supporters by what they considered lack
OF tact. STILL while he was overbea ring
and sarcastic at times. he never condos
cended to bully or to tosdy to any above
or beneath him.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS.
In a symposium of opinions as to hi.
characteristics from representative men
OF Maine some years ago, the following
were samples Of more than 100 individ-
usl expressions:
Utter fearlessness. true Americans
good common sense. faculty of saying
the right thing at the right time. love
for country. personal integrity. ability
to lead. originality, rspartce and lrmness.
self-reliance, executive ability. manliness.
Independence and stability. self-suf1ioient
aggressiveness; great forensic ability,
magnificent manhood, quckness in per-
On Mt
control, good Judgment. unique original
lily, knowledge OF right. courage i'll boy
hood and manhood. resemblance to Lin
coin In regard of the common people,
faculty of hitting the nail on the head.
he is a man sticks to his own opinion.
best all-round man in the nation, a man
who doesn't have to explain. staying
qualities, incisive earnersnrss and SINGER
ity, mental and moral honesty. Reedism-
he does not copy.
HIS FIRST COURT CASE
At the close Of the Civil War he re-
turned to Portland, and was admitted to
the Cumberland bar.
His first case was before a court in
San Francisco. His client. Juan Jose
Garcia, was charged with assault with in
tent to murder and the only defence
which Mr.. Reed could discover was the
good character Of the defendant, who, by
the way. spoke no English.
Garcia being out on bail was allowed
to sit among the audience, and the wit
nesses testified that one Jose Garcia did
this, that and the other. but it so hap
pcned that nobody pointed him out. Gar
cia's character was shown to be excellent,
but the crime WAS proved beyond a doubt.
Then came he speeches Of the attorney.
and the charge Of the judge. When the
latter was over Mr. Reed asked the court
adj To
Jose Garcia had committed crime was
not proof against any particular Juan
Jose Garcia, and that, therefore. Garcia
must be acquitted.
The district attorney, sfterward a very
distinguished judge, sprang to his feet and
protested. Tie court hestated, gave tho
instruction in halfway fashion, and the
jury went out. After an hour they came
back for more instructions.
Mr.. Reed then improved the occasion.
why, said he, may it please your
honor would any man dare TO say that
proof that John Smith had committed
crime was proof against any particular
John SMITH The court allowed that
it would not, and Juan Jose Garcia went
free.
INCIDENT IN MAINE COURT.
When acting as county attorney Of
Cumberland county, he was trying a
man one day for a minor offence and the
respondents lawyer called his client to
the stand.
When it came the county attorneys
turn to cross examine, he pulled himself
up and walked over, with infinite DELHI
GRAFTON, to the edge of the bar. in front
Of tho witness stand. Th- prisoner looked
at him moment and thon said: Hello,
Tom There WAS ripple through the
court room, which the judge seemed loath
a r. La hts .,t. 81. ,...t.
and pounding gavcl of the sheriff,
BE you goin to question me?" asked
the man grave nod WAS his answer.
and Mr.. Reed leaned forward and start
ed to speak but the prisoner interrupted
him, and calmly turning to the Judge.
remarked: Yes. jedge, did it. m ready
to take the medicine now"
Later his angry counsel confronted him
and asked why he had behaved so
You don't know me and YOU don't know
Tom Reed. Now ! know Tom and he
knows me, and didn't want ter so ter
Thomaston for lile. so | thought I'd
kinder let me down easy. Why, that man
could make stone talk" And tn.
prisoner walked or to jail confident that
he was lucky in escaping State prison.
his BEST SAYINGS.
Compared with the conservative, com
mon sense of Allison, the single tariff
strain on which Nj klnley concentrated his
argument Benjamin, Hsrrison's cold and
clear cut sentences, Mr.. reeds words
came like the blows of a slcdg. hammer.
and they carried conviction. There was
Wit a : well wisdom, and his sarcastic
sentences cut like a two-edsed sword. lie
seemed to know the weakest points in
every man $ armor and was tho most dan
cerous man in the House to tackle in de-
bate.
For instance, there was William NJ.
Springer Of Illinois. He would spend days
In pre- pairing great speeches. only to have
himself turned into laughing stock by
one Of Mr.. Reeds repartee..
one day in the FIfticth Congress, Mr..
Springer was making one OF his thunder
GUS orations. He had announced a posi-
ton which he thought could not be contro-
verted, and he closed his statement CON
corning II with the well-known and badly
worn quotation; THAT, gentlemen Is my
position. believe it is r!sht and / would
"a ther bc right than be President
You will never he either" retorted Mr.
Reed and the -ublimity of feeling to
which Mr., Springer had raised the House
was turned into the ridiculous by Mr.
Reed and the Illinois statesman sat down
In disgust,
In speaking of his early congressional
experience not long ago, he said that dur
ing his hrst days in the House he felt
like a ny in a bowl of molasses; there
was plenty OF sweetness. but no light"
And later on he denned the word states
man" saying that "a statesman is sue
ressful politician who is dead"
His speeches bristled with epigrams and
his bon mots were freely scattered among
hi, fellows, who seized upon them with