Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-06

All Interest Centering In the Contest
tives.
Special Dispatch to THE EVENING STAR
ST. LOUIS, June 6-All interest naturally centers
In the resolutions committee, where the contest
over the tariff question is being fought. Con-
trary to the expectation OF able leaders Waiter
son defeated Senator German for chairman. This
result seems to have been brought about by the
rather sudden change Of members OF the resolu-
tons committee by several delegations and the
absence OF several German supporters when the
committee organized. AS strange as 1t may ap-
pear, Representative Scott OF Pennsylvania, is CO.
operating with Senator German in this matter.
In conversation with The STAR correspondent
Senator German said that he and scott are labor
ing for a tariff declaration which they feel sure
viii meet the Presidents approval; that is, a
plank based upon the Presidents message
and declaring that tariff reform is neces,
sary, but that 1t must be accomplished
with careful regard TO the labor and industrial in
te-eStS, and that taxation must be reduced to q
oasis necessary ior the support OF the Government
ther cheapenng of the necessities Of life by reduc-
| tion or the tar1f. Henry WattersOn and his crowd
says this does not go far enough; that II is not
emphatic and distinct enough and that the party
must face this one issue and make its fight
squarely or suffer an ignominiOus defeat Very
few even suggest an Endorsement OF the Mills bill,
though WatterSOn Will endeavOr to have a reSOlu-
tion adopted approving the efforts made by the
democrats In the House or Representatives In be-
half OF tariff reform This will meet with stubborn
opposition.
No Agreement Likely To-day.
The Indications at noon are that the resO-
lutionS committee will not be ready to report
before evening, If then. Chairman Barnum Of
the national committee, said to you corrrespon-
dent this morning that he did not believe
the committee could get through to-day. He had
been conferring with the members of the commit
| W a ms a6p and vhaO
the report would be ready. Representative Scott
also says the committee will not get through to-
day. Notwithstanding Senator German was de-
feated for chairman OF the committee, he has sue
ceeded in carrying majority OF the subcommit-
tee OF eleven which was appointed to prepare the
platform. On question OF tariff sQuareIy pre-
senting the two opposing ideas In the Subcommit-
tee, senator German, including himself, had six
sore disappointment to Watterson, who reit-
crates his threat to carry the fight into the con-
vention II defeated in the committee.
SCOTT WORKING FOR GoRMAN.
Scott has been very active In supporting Cor
| man as against Watterson, and he said this morn
ing he was going on the committee on resolutions
| in place Of Mutchler, appointed yesterday, in
| order that he may more efrectually aid in the
Adoption Of what he believed to be a safe and
proper platform. He and German assert that they
want as emphatic tariff declaration as Waiter
son, but they desire phraseoiogy less liable to mis-
construction. 1t is now admitted by members OF
the subcommittee that an earnest and heated
struggle is unavoidable, but the leaders hope to
contne the controversy TO the committee and
avoid carrying 1t to the convention. The import
ance or harmony is being presented to watterson,
but he Is not this mOrntng in a harmOniZlng
humor. The party leaders hope to reach some
compromise on the tariff, but this will require con-
siderable time and talk
the delegations from New York. New jersey and
Connecticut have exerted great influence in pro-
ducng spirit OF caution with regard to the tariff.
They have appealed to the members OF the resolu-
tiOnS committee 10 avoid any declarations In the
platform calculated to alarm the labOring element
In the manufactures, or that would warrant the
republicans in charging free trade upon the party.
DELEGATE GARDNER OF WASHINGTON,
member OF the committee on resolutions, and
also OF the subcommittee to prepare q platform,
says he believes in presenting the tariff issue
squarely; that he would not countenance any,
| thing smacking OF retreat or OF straddling but
ercised to avoid throwing an element OF discord
into the doubtful states; that the vote OF New
ing phrases it must not be imper1ed. In thus ex-
pressing himself Mr.. Gardner but reiterates the
| Keeling OF other delegates from states favoring
tariff reform.
NOT TEST OF TARIFF SENTIMENT
Members of the resolutions committee say the
vote for chairman yesterday was In no sense q
test OF the sentiment on the tariff. Lawrence
Gardner says he voted for German be-
eanss he S,n, likes him personally and re-
trusted with party interests, but he made
no promise, either express or otherwise, to follow
German on the tariff or any other question; that
on all subjects coming before the committee
O'Day, member for Missouri, who also acted for
German, says substantially the same. Scott and
German are placing their dependence on the sub
committee, hut Watterson claims that q majority
OF the full committee are with him and will sus-
tain his views.
CaM't Report BEFORE Night.
The resolutions committee has informed the
convention that they cannot report before night.
which is construed to mean another days session
THE 0lSTRlCT nEI.EG ATES