St. Paul daily globe., 1885-11-15
WILL FIGHT RANDALL
The Old Fight by the Morrison Faction
Against the Pennsylvania States
man Resumed.
Randall characterized as the Ablest and
Most Far-Seeing Of Democratic
congressman.
The Attempt to Limit the Functions
of the Chairman of the Appropri-
ations Committee.
Crowds Who Call Upon the President
Zone Way of Getting the
News.
Breezes From the Capital.

News.
BreeZes From the Capital.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-The old Nor
rison-Randall fight is getting well under
way, and many will be the political
bloody noses before the end of it.
Whatever may be his weakness and foibles,
Sam Randall is the ablest and most far
seeing of all the Democrats in the lower
house of congress. Indeed, know of
none now on the Republican side of the
house, either, who can compare with him
in knowledge of parliamentary law
and rulings; or who can COM
pare with him in natural and ac.
quired gifts of craftsmanship. The old
fight is being made upon him in new
guise. Ordinarily the contest would COM
mence with a battle over the speakership
early last spring, the friends of Mr.. Ran
dali, under instructions from that gentle
man, notified Mr.. Carlisle and his friends
that there would be no contest This effort
to harmOniZe the conflicting elements of the
party was spontaneous and honorable, but
it was not made without at least tacit
promise that Mr.. Randall should receive
from the speaker that recognition and cour
tesy which would have been necessarily ac-
corded to him had he been candidate for
the position, and a prominent one, as he
certainly would have been, if at all. Mr..
Randalfs friends take it for granted that
their leader will receive the Craftsmanship
OF the committee on appropriations as the
proper recognition of his eminent status
and ability as the foremost leader of the
party in the East. There has been an
effort made to violate this tacit promise. 1t
has failed. Mr.. Randall is to be the chairman
of the committee on appropriations, and
that question may be considered as settled.
Col. Morrison of Illinois, who acts as the
FIGURE-HEAD FOR MIR. CARLISLE
in his contest with Mr.. Randall, told me to-
day that it is his opinion MI. Randall will
receive that designation, and that ''he I'M
doubtedly deserves that and any other
recognition that his party can show for his
services" But when l asked him what
would be the probable action OF the house
in regard to the proposed limitation OF the
powers of the committee on appropriations,
he said: ''You are the fiftieth man who
has asked me that question in the last fifty
seconds. / have no means of knowing
what the house will do. I am not the
house. l have no influence with the house
and cannot even try to convince the men,
bers that thus and so is right and wrong.
How can know what will be done"
All of that was mere subterfuge. 1t was
an avoidance of the question and it was so
intended. Mr.. Morrison will join in the
fight or direct the fight, to restrict as much
as possible the powers of the appropriations
committee after Mr.. Randall has been ap-
pointed chairman. Since it is acknowl-
edged that Mr.. Randall cannot be ignored
it has has been decided that his authority
must be crippled so far as may be. The
talk about dividing the work OF the COM
mittee on appropriations has for its real OBJ
ject nothing less than an attack upon Mr..
Randall. The scheme is to compel his
house at an early stage of
appropriations is move for the public
good. But it is like many of the sayings of
Col. Ingersoll. What makes those sayings
valuable is the truth that is in them. The
object of the sayings may be wholly bad.
The truth that is in them prevents their be-
ing Infamous. So it is with this scheme to
limit the powers of the committee on ap-
propriations with the avowed purpose of
fastening action upon the bills. Hitherto
the committee on appropriations has wound
its red tape around the speaker and en-
compassed the entire house of representa-
tives. Until the chairman of that commit
tee might choose to either cut or unite
those bands the
HOUSE COULD DO NOTHING.
He could at any time introduce his appro-
priation bills to head off other legislation.
Not only has Mr.. Randall done this but it
has been done for years. Any movement
in the direction Of limiting this dictatorial
power must have for its original object the
public good. The present effort has not
that object. Its real object is to tie Mr..
RandalPs hands. 1t is personal
attack upon Mr.. Randall by Mr.. Car
Isle through his friends. This will un-
doubtedly appear when vote is reached
for the proposed changes. 1t will then be
found to be fair, square, stand-up fight
between the protectionist Democrats and
the tariff revisionists. 1t will be an effort
to make the great Pennsylvania the under
dog in the fight 1t will be an effort to
place the agitators and political communists
astride the form of stricken industry.
There can be no doubt, there should be
no doubt, there is no doubt as to the result.
The Republicans will vote solidly with
those clear-headed honest business men on
the Democratic side of the house, and Mr..
Randall will score another victory. Under
his leadership the Democratic party could
in a short time gain such national ascend
ency as would place it permanently in
power for at least a quarter OF a century.
Under the whip of those who have the
pessimistic ideas of century ago, the party
has met with defeat after defeat, when
it might as well have had victory.
There has been foundation for the
Republican cry that the business inter-
ests of the country made it advisable to
change the
ADMINISTRATION OF AFFAIRS.
The only reason why there has not been
public eXemplifcation of the truth of the
Republican cry is that the president has
been more wise and conservative than his
party. The best way to meet political, as
we'll as other foes, is to acknowledge ones
own weakness to oneself, and then remedy
the defects, whatever they may be. Tariff
agitation, disposition to not let well
enough alone, has made the Democratic
party suffer many defeat 1t should not
do so again. 1t will not do 80 again. Mr..
Randall ought not to have to depend upon
Republican votes to help him in measure
of right 1t is to be regretted that he has
to do so. 1t is my opinion that he will win
the fight that is now well started, and that
it will be the last battle that he will have to
fight with those who should be his natural
allies. You will pardon ME for consuming
so much space on this subject; but it is the
all-importaEt topic of the hour, and should
be we'll known and thoroughly understood
in order to have an understanding of all
that is soon to be done in the national legis
lature.
The crowds which call upon the president
whenever he can be seen are growing
larger. Mr.. Cleveland has to handle the
hands of great many people. True, he is
only an eminent citizen himself, according
to ''Jeffersonian simplicity" whatever that
is but he is also president of the United