Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-15
The Twelve Fatal to the Cleveland
and the Mills Accumulation

The Washington spondent Of the
liable ia his statements, says that the Ad-
mlnstration leaders would like to know
how Democratic members Of the House
propose to vote -en the Mills bill. They
are losing confidence in the sta wing powers
of their own men. Five or six weeks ago,
when the Press was the first newspaper
in the country to tell its readers that there
was real danger that the Mills bill might
be passed by the House, the Democratic
managers thought they knew where they
stood The most careful canvass that
could be made of the House by both sides
disclosed only nine Democrats who could
be depended on to remain true to the
Randall flag. This was a much smaller
number than had been counted when the
bill was first reported, but all the rest
were wavcring under Administration in
huence and the party whip. Three Re
pubicans were counted as certain to vote
for the bill aud several more were con
sidered more than likely to help pass it.
But things have changed in the last few
weeks. The Administration got some of
its most eiicctual work in before the bill
was reported and Just after, but the
constituents of members have been taking
n hand since, and the effect of their pro
tests il seen on every side. The number
of Democratic representatives. who will
not--and by this j. meant men who can
not be brihed or driven or frightened
vote for the Mills bin in it. present form
Is now twelve, and there are iom oj 4 20
more whose votes against it can hardly
be considered doubtful. That's enough
To defeat it. But there are more than
thirty Democratic members who viii
certainly vote to amend the bill in i'm
portant particulars, and the most of them
will pool their issues aud vote for the
same amendments. This means that free
wool, free lumber probably since the
representatives of the Pine districts of the
South are discovered that their people
DO not jc ire the removal of the duty on
lumber free salt, and many other
II.
But these twelve who will vote against
the bill and the thirty who will vote to
amend il are not the only ones about
whom the Democratic leaders are now In
doubt. They fear that there are many
Others whom they could not hold up to /
the rack Qn the finest test. They have
been saying nothing because they have
desired To avoid the annoyance of Admin |
istration aud party pressure and in the |
hope that the matter will in some way he
disposed of without its being necessary
for them to bolt the party policy or place
themselves in antagonism to the Admins
tration.
Cleveland is using all his official power
including the appointing and veto power to
drive the measure through the House, in
much the same manner that President |
Franklin Pierce did to carry the Missouri |
compromise through Congress, which /
proved se fatalto the prestige and strength
of his party. Pierce and his associates did |
that to please the slave holders lust as
Cleveland is now pushing his programme
to secure the united support of the Bour-
bons aud British Free Traders. As sure
rs November comes he will then see the
grave he is now digging for himself and |
his unpatriotc devices. He may or he /
may not he able to crush Samuel Randall |
and those who think and act with him. |
But the Republican party and the Ameri- |
can sentiment of the country will he an
impregnable barrier to his wild crusade /
against American interests.