The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-15
The Keifer-BOyntOn Inquiry Proves to
Have Been a Waste Of Time.
Outline of the Report which the Foreign
Affairs Committee VIII Present on the
LaSker Matter-General Notes.
THE TARIFF QUARREL.
A Steadily Widening Breach iE the Ranks
of the Democracy.

cratic ranks in the House on the tariff question
1t has been the leading theme here yesterday
and to-day. The trouble is growing out of
effort of the friends of the Morrison bill to whip
all the men of the party who believe as Mr.
Randall and that class do into the support of
the measure by adopting it in caucus Such
men as Mr.. Mills, of Texas, have been hard at
work to have a caucus called, and it now looks
like their efforts will be successful, and that the
bill as it now is will be foisted upon all who
enter the caucus. Quite a number of Demo
Gratis who are conservative tariff reformers, and
who oppose the Morrison bill in its present
shape, say that they will not be bound by
caucus that adopts it. Those who
favor a caucus and they are very
many, declare it the only way
to secure and maintain harmony. When eau
Gus was first proposed the tariff reformers felt
confident of their strength, and in their conf
dence preferred to have the bill pass upon its
merits only; but since Mr. Randall has displayed
his strength in defeating consideration of the
whisky bill, they have become fearful, and have
determined, having gone thus far, to push the
question to the last extremity. '"This must be
DONE" said prominent reformer to-day. 1--WE
must push ahead now, whatever happens. What
ever may be the result it is too late to turn back
if we want to, and we do not want to if we could
even if the whole party goes to pieces and
lose the presidency and everything else. What
of thatl We are right; tariff reform is a Demo
cratic principle. Three-fourths of the Demo
Gratis in the country believe in it and will stand
by their principles
If the bill comes out of the caucus with the in
dorsement of the party, as it is very apt to do,
the reformers being in the majority in Demo
cratic ranks, if not in the House, the chances of
its passage are materially increased. One of
Mr.. Randalls supporters, a member from New
York, speaking the subject, said that he was
opposed to the bill and if it was left to pass
upon its merits, he would oppose it with all his
strength: but if it was indorsed by caucus and
became party measure, he would feel himself
bound by this action.
To-day, Representative Connolly of Pennsyl-
vania said that he thought the Democrats ought
to hold caucus and try to harmonic upon the
tariff question, but that if any attempt was
made to whip the protectionists into line it
would fail. "For my part" he said 81 shall be
bound by the instructions of my constituents,
and not by caucus action. There may be
Morrison bill if it is made party measure. but
think majority Of the Pennsylvania and New
Jersey delegations, a number of members from
New York and some from the South, and even.
the West, will vote upon their convictions and
refuse to be whipped into the ranks
'How many do you think, will disregard the
caucus actionl" was asked.
About thirty or forty he replied; II think
forty, but some may weaken AT least thirty
however, will stand firm. There will be an eff
fort to harmonic, but if the reformers are pig
headed, l, for one, will not yield. 1 am now in
communication with my constituents, and 1
shall be governed by their decision
'Will not refusal on the part of the protec-
tionists to regard the action of the caucus result
in split in the party"
II hope not" was the reply. II don't think
the tariff is a party question. 1t is
hard to say, however. I find that
the tariffreform clement is very
strong; a large number of merchants and man
ufacturers throughout the country are in favor
of tariff reform. This strength may be sufficient
to make it party question, and there might be
a rupture"
what effect would this have on the presi-
Dental electionl"
IF there was rupture it would doubtless
hurt us. 1t does not necessarily follow from
what have said" he continued, that l shall
oppose the Morrison bill in its entirety, or that
should vote for it, though this is doubtful |
shall simply follow the instructions of my con
stituents and have but little doubt what they
will be-
Some of the Democrats openly declare that
they will not go into the bill Mr.
Lamb, of Indiana for one says he will not. Mr.
Foran, of Ohio, says if he enters eau
Gus he will treat his Democratic
brethren to piece of his mind on the attempt
to thrust the bill down the throat of the party
Those men, as followers of Mr. Randall, gener-
ally maintain that it is almost suicidal to under
take to coerce men to vote for the bill.
Mr. Mills, of Texas, said to-day that caucus
had not yet been positively determined upon
but there was no doubt that one will be held
and for the purpose of adopting the Morrison
bill as party measure. He thought it would
be held soon.
Inauiry at random from Democrats on both
sides Of the tariff question showed that no call
has yet been issued but the drift of opinion was
that the Morrison men have virtually de-
cided to caucus on the bill if they can see GER
tainty of getting it approved bya majority
There are tariff reformers who openly oppose
caucus on this question as impolitic. One of
these, Western Democrat said to-day that he
would not cOuntenance any movement TO shut
"such men as Eaton Randall and others who