The Indianapolis journal., 1902-12-08

the way. when Mr.. Reed Is next in Boston
1 would like to see him." a few weeks
later Mr.. Reed was in Boston and was IN
troduced TO Colonel Clapp, very conserva-
tive man AS they parted the Boston man
said: Mr.. Reed, we want you in Congress
to represent New England, so whenever L
can be OF use TO you let me know. Mr..
Reed did not need to let Colonel Clapp
know, as his interests in campaigns were
always looked after.
Mr.. Reed did not get on we'll with Presi-
dent Hayes. He kept his enemies In the
Offices or neglected to notice his sugges-
tiOns regarding appointments. When Gen.
Garfield was elected Mr.. Reed had his way
about the filling of vacancies and being
nothing of politician, he made himself no
end of trouble. Telling friend of these
troubles. in a half-comic manner, he said:
I'm Biddeford two men were making
hard fight for the postoffice. SO / selected
a first-class man who was not a candidate.
The two fellows are fighting me and the
man / put in can't do anything" The lis
he had told him that President Hayes was
the best friend he had by not letting him
name an official.
HIS MISFORTUNE.
II was Mr.. Reeds misfortune TO be "at
outs" with prominent men in his party at
home. In 1879 he decided that he must go
to the Senate as Mr. Hamlin's successor,
who would not again be candidate. Be-
fore the election came by the Legislature
of 1881 he withdrew, but he laid his defeat
to Mr.. Blaine and was openly at war with
Senators Hale and Frye, the other candi-
dates, both of whom soon entered the Sem
ate. 1t was quite as much due to his dis
like of these senator's that he made the
issue in 1880 with President Harrison over
the Portland collectorship- General harri-
son followed the precedent OF years and
accepted the selection of the senators,
whereat the speaker was angry and re-
mained so.
AS years passed Mr.. Reed radically
changed his manner of speaking. In the
Greenback campaign OF ISIS. when that
craze swept over Maine, Mr.. Reed had the
stumper Horr. of Michigan. with him-a
most humorous and sarcastic speaker.
After a large meeting he asked a news
paper man and friend. What did you think
of our speeches last night?" As they were
brilliant and sarcastic expositions of the
folly of GreenbackiSm, with ludicrous ref
erences to the leaders, the friend replied
that las a saint he was highly edited, but
the ungodiy went away mad, and 1t Is the
ungodly you are seeking" He was silent
ly thoughtful a minute and replied: You
always was sort of fool but fools are
sometimes wise. | think you are right. "
different key. Four years later Mr..
Reeds campaign speeches were philosoph-
ical discussions, but clearly and simply
put that people always listened. In one
meeting In 1873 in Greenback stronghold
a Greenback orator rose to dispute some
figures relative to the finances. Mr.. Reed
promptly took up the official report and
corroborated his statement The orator
remarked that his books were in his grip
at the hotel. Yes" said Mr.. Reed, you
fellows carry your mi9nformation with
you and leave your Information in your
grips" In 1879 Mr.. Reed took part In the
campaign against General Butler in Massa-
chusetts and sent to those turbulent
places where the ordinary orator would
be drowned out with noise. In one of those
meetings he had just begun when the in
terruptiOns started. He stopped speaking
walked to the end of the platform next to
the gallery where the disturbers sat- and
pointing to them said: You have been
hired to come here to break up my meeting
here I'm Massachusetts the birthplace OF
free speech-here under the shadow OF
Bunker Hill monument. You are traitors
TO the men who made Massachusetts, IA
nous / bid you be SILENT A storm OF
applause followed and there was no further
interruption
AS his worth was appreciated and as his
fame increased the First district in Maine
came to admire the man. From running
behind his ticket in 1880 he came to lead II
Isin 1880. Democrats by the hundreds voted
for him because he was q statesman OF
whom they were proud, a man of the high
est integrity. who could always be trusted.
To those personal friends of his early
days who were friends without hope OF
reward he was always the kind and ever
loving man. The great distance which
came between them because of his brilliant
career was forgotten when they met anC
they went back to the days when his firs
battles were fought. All in all, these ole
Iriends never expect to see his like