The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-27
Indiana Democratic Members Hsquieted
by the Outcome Of the Caucus.
An Interview with Commissioner Dudley
Concerning the Trouble Among Wayne
County Republicans-General News.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The Protectionists Well Satisfied-The Wool
and Whisky Bills.


lection Democrats generally that you could con-
ceive," said Mr.. Ermentrout, one of Mr.. Ran
dall's confidential friends and member from
Pennsylvania, in speaking tonight of last
nights caucus. ''You see, the Morrison men
pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for us, and
now we will eat them not, just we please
We are not bound to support the bill, and can
not see what more we could ask"
'Will the fifty seven who voted against the
bill last night oppose 1t when it is up for final
passageP
II cannot say as to that, for do not know
what shape 1t will be in when it eventually
comes up for passage. 1t may be so amended
that even the Morrison men will
refuse to support it. l am almost ready
to anticipate that that will be the case. You see,
we are not any of pledged to support the bill,
but "a bill. Even the Morrison men do not feel
obliged to vote for the Morrison bill There is
wonderful freedom in the matter, and the whole
thing is at sea now"
"'Water, water everywhere, and not drop to
drink That is the situation exactly" said
another Democratic member Eyes, sir there
is free trade, tariff reform and all that, every
where in the majority of the party, and we have
resolved to none of it."
In all circles here to-day the chief topic of
talk was the caucus. Much nervousness was
shown by Morrisons following and lively in
terest evinced by Randall's friends 1t is evident
that the action of the caucus has not settled the
question. Neither side is satisfied to let the
thing alone. The protectonists adhere to their
declarations in the caucus that the Morrison bill
would lose New York. Connecticut New Jersey,
Ohio, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Vir-
ginia and the Carolinas, and lose the presi-
dency beyond all peradventure Carlisle and
Watterson have been roundly denounced by all
the protectionists to-day Mr. Eaton, of Con
necticut, one of the oldest and most influential
members, says Carlsle's speech last night
smacked of Wattersonism, and that Carlisle
either patterned after Watterson, or Watterson
patterned after Carlisle; in any event, both are
guilty of trying to crowd better Democrats out
of the party than they are, and that there are
not enough Carlisles and Wattersons to make
him do thing he don't want to do, OF to read
him out of the party for refusing to do their bid
ding. So there is nothing like harmony yet and
if the Randall men continue talking as they have
to-day, and denouncing the opposite faction,
there never will be harmony.
Mr.. Converse of Ohio one of the leading pro
tectionists, who works with Randall and enjoys
his confidence, says that last nights caucus dem
onstrates beyond any doubt that this
House cannot pass any kind of tariff bill.
THE proceedings of the caucus" said he, ''were
interlarded with Randall victories, and Randalls
influence was seen in every move"
"Will not the amendments that will be made
to the bill in the House make it fr1endsl"
II think NOT he replied; ION the contrary I
am confident the more it is amended the more
friends it will lose As the tariff is largely
local issue, bill revising it would naturally be-
come more Objectionable as it becomes more
complicated"
|. ANOTHER COMBINATION.
There is a rumor that the whisky bond bill
and the bill of Mr.. Converses to restore the duty
of 1867 on wool are to be consolidated with the
hope that one will carry the other through the
House. asked Mr.. Converse what effect the
one would have upon the other, if the whisky
bill was amended by adding the wool bill 1T
would give strength to both measures, undoubt-
edly." he replied. Il understand that
1t will be done. and 1 am sure
it will result in the passage of both measures
and save the whisky BILL which is otherwise
doomed to defeat"
do you think the ffty-seven votes cast
against the Morrison bill in the caucus last
night indicate all the opposition to itl7
mo, do not 1t did not show the full op
position there is to the bill You will see that
there will be many more than ffty-seven votes
cast against the bill whenit is put up for its
| final passage. Thlrty-fve Democratic votes
against it will defeat it if all the Republicans
oppose it"
Judge Holman, the great objector from
Indiana said to your correspondent tonight,
"The caucus amendment reducing the tax on
fruit brandy to 10 cents gallon will be defeated
overwhelmingly in the House. 1t was adopted
merely to catch votes from North Carolina and
California, whose members are largely against
revising the tariff. 1t is true that we do not
derive more than a million and a quarter dol
lars from our fruit brandy tax, yet it will never
do to reduce or abolish that tax
while that on whisky remains where
it is if it does cost nearly as much to collect it
as it is worth. 1t would result in much fraud
being practiced and it would require an army of
| inspectors to see that other spirits were not
made and sold under the name of fruit brandy !"
you evidently believe no good will result
from this caScusP
ut looks that way to me, he replied; II can
not see that this caucus action is of any con
sequence
"What will be the fate of the whisky bill"
'I shall vote for it. but it will be defeated. If
the interest is paid on this bond extension in