The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-12-11
DEATH CLAIMS REED
Ex-Speaker Of House Of Repre-:
sentativeS Crosses Dark River.
NOTIONAL CHARACTER GONE
His Notable Career as Speaker Gained
for Him the Sobriquet of "Czar."
Brief Sketch of
His Life.

'IQOmaS BTdChelL neeu, l'i A0A
speaker of The house of representa-
tives, and for many years prominent in
public life, died in Washington Sun
day morning at 1910 o'clock, in his
apartments in the Arlington hotel.
The immediate cause Of death was
uraemia.
It was stated that Mr.. Reed had
been suffering from Bright's disease
for some time.
Mr.. Reed was in washington to at
tend some matters in the United
States supreme court. He was at the
capitol on Monday, December 1st, Wis
iting with friends and former asso-
ciates in congress and witnessed the
convening of the ffty-seventh con-
gress. Apparently he was enjoying
good health, but later in the day ne
called a physician and complained OF
illness. He grew worse as the week
advanced, and the end came peace
fully.
Sketch Of His Life.
Thomas Bracket Reed, thirty-first
speaker of the house of representa-
tives. was born October IS, 1889, IN
Portland, Me-, in the common schools
of which city he received his early
education. In 1860 he was graduated
from Bowden, winning one OF the high
est honors of the college, the prize for
excellence in English composition. The
next four years were spent by Mr.
Reed in teaching and in the study OF
law. Before his admission to the bar,
however, he was appointed acting
assistant paymaster Of the United
States navy, serving on the"tin-clad"
Sybil, which patrolled uneventfully on
the Tennessee, Cumberland and Mis-
sissippi rivers. After his discharge IN
1865 Mr.. Reed returned to Portland,
passed the bar, and entered on the
practice of his profession.
Three years later he was elected as
a republican in the legislature cf the
state of Maine. In 1869 he was re-
elected to the house, and in 1870 made
state senator, from which position he
passed to that of attorney general OF
the state the same year. In Aeptem-
Der. 1876, he was elected to the forty
fifth congress Of the United States,
Mr.. Reed was elected to congress
continuously until he finally declined
reelection. In the forty-sixth con-
gress his skill as a debater was recog-
nized, and at this period he made also
a set speech in defense Of the pres
ence of United States marshals at elec-
tions in the south.
His influence finally becoming more
strongly marked, the leadership OF his
party was finally conceded to him, and
in the forty-ninth and fiftieth con-
crosses the complimentary nomination
to the speakership was rendered him
by the republicans. In the ifty-hrst,
that party having attained the ascend
ancy, he was elected speaker on the
first ballot. In the first days OF his ad-
ministration of the Office much oppo-
sition was made by the minority to the
enforcement of what Mr.. Reed believ-
ed his constitutional power to count
members present in the house as to
participating in a vote despite their re-
fusal to use their privilege.
The question of silence constltutlnn
legal absence and the destruction
thereby of a legal quorum was, how
ever, set at rest by the adoption OF new
rules by the house February IA, le9o.
In September Of lle same year Mr..
Reed was reelected to the fifty-second
congress by large majority.
While Mr.. Reed was serving MS
first term as speaker he figured IN
some Of the stormiest scenes ever en-
acted in congress, the democrats, un'
der the leadership of the late Charles
F. Crisp, of Georgia, fighting the en-
forcement of the Reed rules at every
stage. 1t was during this fight that
Mr.. Reed was given the soubriquet OF
"czar."