The Washington herald., 1915-01-18
HISTORY BUILDERS
How Speaker Reed Impressed Samuel
]. Tilden.
written Expressly for The Washington HeraldO
By DIR. Z. J. EDWARDS,

Nhrlttcn EoTTeaHiy Tor The washington HerAld.l
By DIR. z. J. EDWARDS.
In the recently published life of Thomas
B. Reed-better known as Speaker
Reed'-which was written by his long
time friend and political associate, Sam
uel w. Mccall. one chapter is devoted
to Mr.. Reeds prominent association
with the investigating committee, COM
monty known as the Potter committee,
which was authorized by the Lower
House of Congress to make investigation
into the Presidential election of 1876.
It is now forgotten by many who were
associated with Mr.. Reed, and it is un-
known to the present generation, that
Reed clinched a reputation which he
gained in the early months OF his first
service in the Lower House of Congress
by what he said and did at the sessions
OF this committee, supplemented by the
minority report which he wrote.
This committee of which the late
Clarkson n. Potter, brother of Bishop
Potter. OF New York. was the chairman,
held many sessions in New York City.
There was no member of the committee
whose name was less familiar to the
public than was that of Mr.. Reed. He
was appointed by Speaker Samuel ].
Randall, one Of the minority or Republic
an members of the committee and such
appoir rtment Of a member then serving
his first term is good proof of the rep
utation which Mr.. Reed had gained in
the House of Representatives.
1t was my duty to attend the sessions
OF this committee in New York, and
upon the morning of the first meeting
l was especially interested in the Demo-
cratic members. Among them was Col.
William r. Morrison, afterward chair
man of the ways and means committee:
Judge MacMahon, OF Ohio, now an Un
familiar name, but in those days es-
teemed as one of the keenest and ablest
lawyers in the House; Joseph c. S.
Blackburn, the eccentric and magnani-
nous Representative of one OF the Ken
lucky districts, and Gen. Benjamin f.
Butler. These were all men of national
influence and reputation. II was not
until the second session of the COM
mittee, that l began to take notice OF
the young Republican from Maine.
Thomas B. Reed. He was the youngest
member of the committee and all of
his associates on that committee had
served several terms In the House of Rep
resentatives.
This young man from Maine began to
dominate the committee. He had the ad
vantage which the right of crOss-exam-
ination of witnesses gave. lie pillor-
led two of the most important witnesses,
one Of whom was the nephew and con-
fidential secretary of Samuel J. Tilden.
This crOss-eNamination was intensely in
teresting. made all the more so by Mr..
Reeds manner. his drawing and nasal
voice and by the wit and irony which
he injected into his questions.
1t was not however, until Mr.. Tilden,
himself. appeared before the committee
that the most impressive, lOng-to-be-re-
membered scene occurred. There stood
the Democracy's candidate for President
who was declared by the electoral COM
mission to have lost the Presidency by
one vote and who at that time was the
great personal and intellectual force in
the party. He stood at the head of the
table near the chairman. Mr.. Potter. His
face was like that OF a craven image
There was not an emotion expressed upon
his countenance except severity. He
slowly looked at one and another of the
members of the committee until at last
ms glance fell upon Mr.. Reed, who sat
the other end of the table.
Reeds posture and the expression OF
his face were worthy of a painter He
leaned forward upon the table. resting
his forearms upon it. Part of the time
his chin was supported by his right
hand. His eyes were partially closed.
There was an indescribable expression
of Gu .osity, of searching study and
withstanding these manifestations, he
showed by his manner that he recOg-
nized the intellectual greatness OF Tilden.
Thus these two men faced one another.
Gov. Tilden scarcely took his eyes away
from Mr. Reed. while the latter main
tanned his position and his scrutinizing
glance until the examination was over
The examination was not prolonged.
Lov. Tilden simply testified that he had
had no completely in the cipher dis
patches or in the transaction to which
they related. Each Cf these two men af-
ter the session was over spoke with a
curious mixture of admiration and re-
serve of the other and Mr.. Tilden was
reported afterwaTd to have indicated
.Leed Ps the future leader of his party.
Copyright, 1915, by p J. Edwards. All rights
rrss1Ted.)
Tomorrow Dr. Edwards will tell How
a