New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-26
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
MEN AND AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL.
TALK WITH SENATOR EDMUHDs ABOUT THE
RECENT ELECTIONS. THE TARIFF LAW AND
THE ELECTIONS BILL-MAJoR MKIN-

LEY NOT CAST DOWN-A MA
| TIoNAL ART GALLERY.
Washington, Nov. Ex-senator Edmunds, OF
| Vermont, never appears to 50 much advantage rs
| III his own house. There he is gracious, genial,
kindly resembling in no way the austere states
man pictured III opposition newspapers. ! saw
him this afternoon In his library. in his comfort
eblc house on Massachusetts-avc. IL is one of the
best lighted and ventilated houses in TIE city.
The sun streams in at every window, flooding the
house with light and warmth. The Senator was
never in better health lie does not look day
older than he did ten years ago Dressed III
rough tweed frock suit with his long, SLIM nristo-
cratic hands gently claspng and unclasping, he
sat az his library desk and talked in n quiet.
| occasionally sarcastic, way about current issues.
| asked the Senator first about the election and
the reasons for the result "Ees." said he, "we
have had en- election. We have been bsstinadoed
upon both feet. but there is no reason for any
Republican to he discouraged concerning the future
Of the party and the result of the next Presidential
year When asked TO give his reasons for this
result. he said that he could only reply in the
language Of Shakespeare that he could give reasons
as plenty as blaclberrios if need he. TO this
] said Your reasons are so numerous that it,
practically amounts to the fect in your opinion
that there was no great underlying reason p
| No." said the Senator, there not. There
was, if you please, "A complication of local issues
which produced the result. I think tic fact TINT
the result was so sweeping is in itself ono of
the most encouraging features, for when you come
10 examine the result YOU will find there has
been no change in the sentiment OF the people.
There has been falling-oT of the Republican vote
through the dissatisfaction with local candidates,
but there has not been per cent Of change in
81 in oNO - bo afS
The Senator then went to say that the clec
tons simply show that the Republicans must he
careful in nominating people who are not oh
cctcd 10 by their people in Pennsylvania
the State would have been carried without any
trouble if an unfortunate nomination had not
been forced upon the party. Without going into
the details OF the various State elections, the
Senator said that in Vermont the Democrats did
not Increase their strength. but number Of Re
publican voters simply stayed AT home The
Senator continued; II the Republican party the
next Presidential year nominntes the President or
any Of the half dozen men who arc now
prominent in the courscls of the party there is 10
reason 10 suppose that will not then poll the
full strength Of tie party. and consequently be
victorious.
Then, You do not think that the Mckinley
Tariff Jill bad anything 70 do with the result"
No. do not in any way In some communi-
ties where the frce-trade element predominaIcs
there some excitement produced 10y the mark
ing mp OF prices, which was wholly uniustifiahc,
because it is not possible for any one a. know
within twelve and possibly twenty-four months
whether the recent Tariff bill will produce an IN
crease Of prices or the reverse There has been
no time 10 determine anything under this bill
The Senator regretted that sugar had been PLACED
f,.. iii Il, tHn ,ly
produced. as far as he could see, was TO make a
present Of the tax 10 the foreign producer Tie
money derived frou this tax Is now gone from
the Treasury but thc price ~ sugar remains the
same 1t was the SINE with tea and coffee. Two
years ago he had proposed 10 remove this taN from
sugar when the slgar-producng countries would
agree 70 receive from us, free OF duty, such ari-
cles OF our manufacture as would afford a COM
pensation for 'hc remission of this tax. The Sen
ator was glad 10 see last winter that Mr. blaine
adopted this view and urged IL upon the Finance
Committee Yet several Western members could
not wait TO make this arrangement with the com
tries interested, and so in their haste they put
this article on the free list, thereby taking mill
ions from the Treasury without tho slightest com
persstion Now that these countries have this
concession there Is reason why they should
give us anything
The Senator was ssked IL he thought The Demo
Gratis in the next House with their large majority
would he apt 70 make mistakes. lie said In re
PLY: | think the tendency of the Democrats after
this first flush Of victory is over will lie toward
conservatism Al least do not think much OF
a campaign conducted upon the mistakes Of thc
enemy | much prefer 70 assume that the enemy
will make no mistakes and To conduct our cam
poign accordingly
! esked Mr. Edmunds If he thought that the So
called Force bill would be passed by the Senate
this winter.
"This measure" said he. Is unjustly called the
Force bill There is no force in II. II would
have been passed undoubtedly, az the last session
if H. had not been for arrangement made by
Senator Quay with certain Democrats 10 give the
Tariff bill preference This bill will probably be
passed this winter. H. aims to accomplish nothing
except what is RIGHT, and the outcry against it
from Democratic sources is unwarnntcd
"Do you think such a measure Is practical
Has not Congress before sought to SECURE the
counting of the Republican vote In the South
through National lcgslation?'
Senator Edmunds said he thought the measure
a practical one " I am sure said he. that IL
would he possible TO find in both parties in tho
South men who will certify honestly TO the result
Of the elections men who If appointed 10 the re-
sponsible places Of inspectors would see that the
votes were east as intended and only one vote
from each voter put In tie b0ot-box. and that
the result afterward should not be ialsiicd. |
believe IN every community you will find men who
while they might wink al or ignore fraud OF this
character when committed by others In the inter
csts Of their party. have yet consccnces which
would not permit them 20 sully their own hands
with such work. All that this bill seeks 10
compsh is the honest registry Of an election
suit No one ought 10 OBJECT TO that
The Senator said that in Parliamentary election
disputes in England IL had been found ont long
ago that il was impossible 10 try judcially such
disputed political questions by Parliamentary COM
mittees. All Parliamentary election contests now
go TO the courts, Parliament reservng the right Of
control through appeal. Such questions in Eng
land now satisfactorily settled by tie courts,
and no one questioned the means employed 10