The Washington herald., 1920-03-28
LAST Chapter of Missourian's Autobiography
Likely to Attract Great Interest on Eve of
Another Presidential Election - Book
Sparkles With Wit And Proves to Be In
valuable As History of American Politics
From Point of View of One Who Has
Been on Inside" For twenty-five Years.

OF a man, yet to unvarnished
truth Is that when he was not
posing for political effect he vas a
pleasant and companionable ger
t1eman. He, was particularly foe-
bearing toward young memberA
which was decidedly to his credit
In personal appearance Mr. Reed
was unique-a stupendous figure
indeed Brobdfngnagian-a fact
which contributed to his celebrity
and to- his commanding influence
in the House. He was one of the
biggest men j have ever seem
big all over. I have seen taller
persons-for instance, Cyrus A.
SulIaway. of New Hamphire, and
Albert s. Berry. Of Kentucky, each
of whom was feet z inches, and
the Kentucky giant and his wife,
each Of whom was ~ feet liz
inches. i have seen people who
weighed more-the fat woman in
the circus who tipped the scales
at 500 and a colored man who
weighed 720, but none of these
made such an impression of big
ness as Mr.. Reed. He stood feet
inches in his stockings, wore a
No. IL shoe. and weighed almost
300 avoirdupois-thoug once.
upon being asked his weight, he
replied. humorousIy: mo gentle
man ever weighed over 200" He
had the largest human face
ever saw.
Naturally n Marked Man,
Senator John Tyler Morgan, OF
Alabama. dubbed him "the Great
White Gar" a nickname that
stuck and gave the cartoonists a
valuable hint which they worked
for all its was worth. But Mr..
Reed did not need Senator Nor
gan's characterization and the la
bors of the cartoonist to make him
a marked man in any crowd. He
was one of the few men in public
life Vat whom strangers on the
street turned to stare. He had a
massive two-story head, thatched
with thin, hossy. f1aXen hair. a
scant mustache, and a lily white
complexion. This perfect blond
possessed a pair of large, brilliant.
black eyes. which sparkled with
humor and flashed with fire. as
the spirit moved. He had a clear.
strong, resonant voice, with a dis
tinctiye down-East twang, which
hlied the great hall of the House
and could be heard above any up
roar. He was awkward In walk
ing. He said that his forebears
were seafaring folks. and certain
ly there was something in his gait
suggestive of waves and the bill
lows. On his feet ip the full tide
Of speech, with his vast bulk and
vibrant tones. he literally COM
PEELED attention, and drove home
his propositions with the force of
a pile-driver.
He was the best short-speech
maker l ever saw or heard. He
rarely spoke at length. and he did
not believe that anybody else
should do SO. He generally
stopped in FIVE. ten or fifteen min
utes. His speeches were strong
in proportion to their shortness.
That sounds at first like an un-
friendly criticism, but most as
suredly ] am not an unfriendly
critic. His short speeches were of
dynamic quality and il is not in
the constitution of man to digest
too much mental dynamite at one
time.
But perhaps after all Reed and
is following were never better
than by Speaker
risp's remark:
THE unQuestioning loyalty of the
to Reed reminds me Of
he Hindu, who. kneeling in prayer
efore his idol, consoles himself
nth the idea that he knows his God
} ugly and thinks he is great"
Mr.. Clark has written a book of
ornament value to the student of
politics and the Harper's
ave given 1t a fitting dress and