New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-19
VOL. KILL. NO. 1869.
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA
TO srRADDLE THE TARIFF OR BE BEATEN
ME-. RANDALL on MR.. wATrEEsoN-AN III li'ND
MANIFEsrO-THE CAUCUS PRo"hAN'N'
Try TEIF0RGPH THE TRtRtNEl

,t,N1ErsYo-TuE CAUCUS PROGRAMME
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIRIN,l
WASHINGTON March 1S.-Ihe sltualoh Vi .no
Democrotic marty in the House is daily becoming
more dlsagreeahe to the members OF po'n ido'ioi''
Carlisle Morrison and their followers have gone 700
for 20 retreat. The Morrison bill is before the
Uonso the Speaker has made his speech to the
Free Trade Club, and Henry Watterson, after
long conference with the free trade
leaders. Yesterday issued in their name.
the manifesto published in to-days TRIBUNE.
After all these declarations not only is retreat I'M
possible but graceful surrender. even lor the
sake of party harmony seems impractcaoie. But
unless somebody surTenders a party split appears
to be inevitable
Will Mr.. Randall and his followers yieldf They
protest that they will not and it is evident that
the publication of the Watterson manifesto mas
produced an effect the reverse of what was eX'
pected. Mr. Randall smiled grimly after reading
that production and it Is reported, remarked that
Mr.. Watterson had for two three years been try
ing TO read him out of the Democratic party, but
that he had not the power to succeed in that en-
terprise 1t is also reported that Mr. Randah VIII
oot oppose the consideration of the Morrison DILL
but will content himself with voting against
IL in Committee of Whole and IN the
House. Some of his followers declare,
however. that they will cast no vote in favor OF
the bill at any stage and that they Will never SUD-
nit to caucus dictation in regard to It, Several OF
them say that they will not attend such caucus
At all.
Ex Governor Curtin thinks that ii will be a skel-
,ton caucus. Mr. Hoblitzell, of Maryland, said:
"They will have good time buldozing me.
will 90 into a caucus, but will not be driven by
ANYBODY" A New-York Representative says that
the opposition to the Morrison bill is stronger now
than il was before Carlisle made his free-trade
speech last Saturday night.
Mr.. wATTERsoN's MANIFESTO CONDEMNED.
Some of the free-trade Democrats are disposed TO
regard Mr.. Watterson's manifesto as ill-tlmed and
C1pyise. Senator Pugh declares that no Democrat
should be ruled out of the party for opinions sake,
and that the caucus should be for fair
and free exchange of views, all acting
for the best interests of the party.
Senator Garland deprecates the violence of the
factionists and thinks that calm discussion and
Judgment should prevail. Others say that the
extreme and intolerant of the free traders
has given Randall and his friends an advantage
and enables them to stand before the country in
the attitude of Democrats who insist on no ultl-
matum but are seeking the party's good.
One Democratic Senator to-day said: These cX-
tremists have thrown away our chances to elect a
President" and another remarked: Carlisle had
no business to attend that free trade dinner"
Representative Ermentrout, of Pennsylvania, IS
not sure that the Democratic party has not already
placed itself in position to receive good whip
ping. He does not see what can be done to prevent
defeat.
Colonel Morrison and his friends scout the
idea of a conference. A caucus is what they de-
mand, and they will consent to nothing else. Mr.
Iurd said to-day that the caucus will not be held
until next week probably on Tuesday.
CARLISLE TO LEAD IN THE CAUCUS.
According to the programme, as now arranged, /
Speaker Carlisle Will take the initiative in the \
caucus by offering resolution declaring that the +
Morrison bill should be adopted as party measure
and vigorously pushed in the House. This resolu- /
ton il is understood, he viii support in earnest
speech. taking the ground that the Democratic |
Representatives are pledged to tariff reform, that
in the election of a Speaker that issue they re-
newed the pledges to their constituents, and that
Tor them 70 halt, retreat, or surrender would be |
piece of folly for which the people would never |
forgive them. Such speech by the Speaker OF the |
House il is expected, Will not only strengthen the
ranks of the tariff reformers, hut viii draw many |
recruits from the opposing faction.
FREE TRADE DEMOCRATS DOUBTFUL.
Some Democrats however, who supported Mr..
Carlisle for Speaker say privately that while they
approve the Morrison bill a step in the right di-
rection and viii for it, if necessary, they will
oppose its consideration at this session. because
lDtS 10 uol UcLtNc IL BOOu pii - POAi'J A'A 'IO
Democrats to meddle with the taIif on the eve of
n Presidential contest What these men viii do in
the caucus is uncertain. If all of them should
unite with the Randall faction, Messrs. Carlisle and
Morrison might unexpectedly find themselves in
Despite the prevailing uncertainty, one OF two
things seem tOleraby certain. The first is that, if
the Morrison bill is pushed at all. IL will be a
Democratic party measure, pure and simple.
In that case, It's passage by the House IS
fairly probable. A Democrat said to-day
that one reason for the postpOnement of the
until next week is that a Democratic mass meeting
j. 10 be held in New-YOrl on Friday evening to be
by Mr. Dorsheimer and other prominent
Congressman, which will adopt resolutions approv-
ing the Morrison bill a Democratic party meas
ure These speeches and resolutions it seems to be
expected win give the bill an impetus which will
send it through the caucus with flying colors.
DprCInTNrTTl CTPAIVC