New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-03
FREE TRADERS FEAR DEFEAT
o1sMAY IN THE RANKS OF THE PREMIER
AN ATTEMPT TO HOLD THE wAvERINo LINES FIRM
NY CAuccs ACTION.

AN ATTEMPT TO HOLD THE wAvERINo LINES FINN
BY CAUCUS ACTION
WASHINGTON. Nav (Specialj.-While Speaker
Carlisle, Premier Mills, Baron Scott ana
other free-trade leaders in the House strive nara
to keep a stiff upper hp' and maintain snow
Of confidence in the success OF the DarK'lnn-
tern" BILL it is daily becoming more apparent tha'
anxiety and fear have usurped the places OF nope
and confidence The speech OF Lannam, OF
Texas to-day was an evidence OF this which aio
not escape the attention Of m n who are carefully
y-stcbin, tbe debate for 10 was regarded a re
Election of the misgivings by which his colleague,
Mr.. Mills, is tortured
Another proof that the confidence OF the Free
Traders is waning was shown to-day. For sew
eral hours a son of the Premier was busy wlth
the circulation of paper on the Democratic sioe'
20 which he obtained O good many signatures,
some of which were affixed with apparent re-
luctance 1t was u call for Democratic caucus
TO be held on Wednesday or Thursday VI next
week to consider and determine what amendments
shall receive Democratic support in the Commlttee
of the Whole. As heretofore indicated IN dis
patches to THE TRIBUNE, several OF the par-
gains made by the Premier" and bis " Dark
Lantern associates with Democratic Representa-
tiyes who favor the preservation Of certain indus
tries in their respective districts have fallen
through. either because tho latter fear that the
majority of the Ways and Means Committee Will
not be able to carry out its contracts. or because
Representatives have become more amenaolo 10
home influences. Thcro not many OF them as
courag eous as Mr.. Rayncr, Of Maryland, who de-
sares that he shall pay no hns 20 scoV
cred by some Of tho Democrats that the bill which
they hailed with exultation when ~ nrSc up
contains os %Ssh sssif IL whk
their constituents are deeply Interested FOR ex-
ample there Ia Mr. Russell OF MASSACHUSETTS,,
who poses Is O Free Trader and has made speecn
In favor Of the bill and yet who Is exertlng al
his influence, with the did OF Domocrdtlc MANU-
facturers In his district to have certain pro-
visions modified.
IL is whispered that besides the consideration
Of amendments the caucus viii be solicited 70
stand firmly together In opposition 70 every
amendment offered by the minority. IL seems
probable, Judging by their past conducNt, ii 10
The last four or five months that Chairman NILS .hi
and his associates will make an attempt OF thls
sort II is not at all probable that they can sue
coed to the extent Of binding all the Democrats
to stand by such an agreement.
Another object Of tic caucus II u see II an
agreement cannot DO reached BY when al Demo-
Gratis will support the bill ultimately, no matter
what may be its shape when 1t comes from the
Committee of the Whole: 500
day by Messrs Wilson, of Minnesota, an rls sf,
born Democrat. and Mr. Lanham; Of Texas while
Il was opposed by McComas, Of Maryland ana
Allen, of Massachusetts. Mr.. McComas IS ma
tive Of Maryland, and ne spoke by authority as
Southern Republican when ne declared tnae N tns
Mills bill is hostile to the interests OF the New
South. and will be resisted to the last by the
seventeen Republican Representatives from the
Southcrn States.