The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-11


Speaker of the Fifty-first Congress, il
1890. when he put into effect what
have since become famous as the Reed
rules" No man in public life in re-
cent years was more severaly con-
demned by his enemies and none was
more genuinely admired by his friends.
When he asserted his right to count
a quorum the minority in the House
OF Representatives were indescribably
indignant They defied the Speaker at
every opportunity declaring he had
outraged their rights and had reduced
them to a condition of servitude.
Several of the members denounced the
ruling with the greatest fury, and for
weeks the House was at times almost
a Bedlam They word outrage" was
handled night and day. They were par
ticularly incensed at the special or
ders reported from the Committee on
Rules. composed of the Speaker. the
late President Mckinley and Joseph
G. Cannon, of Illinois, Republicans, and
James H. Blount, of Georgia, and
Benton Mcmillan, of Tennessee, Demo-
Gratis.
Messrs. Reed, Mckinley and Cannon,
being a majority of the committee
were wont to meet in the Speaker S
room alone and draw up the special
orders. The house met at noon. at
1l:55 O'Clock the three would send
for the minority members and record
the votes. One day messenger was
sent for MIR. Mcmillan. 1t was a hot
,Irav. sat 10 n or
by Messrs. Mckinley ana Cannon All
had fans, and Mr.. Reed was in neg
ligee AS Mr.. Mcmillan entered, the
Speaker turned to him, saying:
Good morning, Mac, how do you do!
Take a seat Are you feeling pretty
well this morning? 1 sent for you just
to tell you that Bill. Joe and l are
going to perpetrate the following out
rage upon you and jim
Thereupon he read the new special
order The reading was hardly finish
ed before his messenger opened the
door saying, 1T is IL O'Clock, Mr.
Speaker"
Mr. Reed left the room, entered the
chamber of the House and mounted
the rostrum. At the close of the read
ing of the journal. the new special
order under the Reed rules was
brought out and adopted after TWEEN
motions being debarred.
Mr.. Reed was asked once how he had
felt when he was facing the uproar of
his opponents after his celebrated rul-
ing in the House.
Il was entirely serene" he said. Il
had decided upon my plan of action if
the House refused to sustain me. 1
simply should have left the chair, re-
signed the speakership, left the House
and resigned my seat in Congress. 1
had made up my mind that if political
life consisted in sitting helplessly in
the Speakers chair, and seeing the
majority powerless to pass legislation,
had enough of it, and was ready to
step down and out. When the uprpar
was at its worst / felt Just as any
one would feel If a big creature were
jumping at him. and he knew the ex-
act length and strength of it's chain,
and he felt quite sure of the weapon he
held in his hand"
In one campaign he toured the state
of Maine At one town a strong Dem
ocrat sat in one of the front benches,
and was continually interrupting his
speech Every time this Democrat
asked a question Mr.. Reed stopped and
courteously answered his question, but
at last the Democrat interrupted by
saying, "Oh, go to HI" Mr.. Reed,
without a moments thought, said
that he had Travelled through many
parts of the country, and had always
been most courteously received every
where, but that this was the first time
he had ever been invited to the Demo-
cratic headquarters
Sarcastic himself. Mr. Reed appre-
ciated joke at his own expense. Here
is a story that has never seen the day
light of print, and it illustrates how
well he liked a witticism even if he
was its target One day he was brows-
ing in Guilds dingy book shop. in
Washington. He took up number of
books and finally the novel "Scru-
PIES
What is the price of this?" asked
Mr. Reed
"A dollar sir" replied the old man
rather tartly.
TOO much" said Reed laconically
and laid the book down.
We'll, sir" retorted Guild, who has
a sharp tongue of his own, II don't
know of any law you have passed that
compels you to buy if you don't want
to. Besides. don't see what mem
Der of Congress wants of a book with
that title, anyway"
Reed broke into hearty laugh, and
as ne rolled on down the avenue he
was still smiling at the old mans re.
ply.
Congressman Springer of illinois ir
the House once attempted to destroy
the effect of a point Mr.. Reed hac
made by quoting one of Springers owr
speeches. The charge was inconsist.
ency. More than one American
statesman" said Springer, had founc
himself mistaken in the course of tim,
and changed his views l honor then
for it. AS for me- in the language OF
an eminent American statesman, q
would rather be right than be presi
dent. 'Yaas," drawled Mr.. Reed OF
the instant. But you viii never be
either"
In the spring of 1896 he confideo
TO his friends the belief that he would
be nominated on the first ballot. He
knew what Hanna with his barrel was
DOING, but he did not believe thai
money could defeat him. He felt sure
that the South would be almost. i
not entirely, solid for his nomination
To say that his defeat in the con,
vention and the poor showing that he
there made was a surprise to him does
not express his feelings. He was as.
founded, Disguised and mad clear
clean through.
ITO think" said he to ex-Speakel
Kellogg at the Shoreham Hotel a shorf
ffK1aN ~ 49,