Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-24

WASHINGTON, July 23.-With a view OF
ascertaining their opinions regarding the
prospects Of the passage of the force Dlli
the Dispdtci correspondent called to-night
on an the Democratic members of the VIZ
giniS delegation now in the city. but ex-
preSions from only four were received. as
onlySthat number could be found. Sena-
tors Barbour and Daniel are out or the
city, and so are all of the Democratic mem
bers of the House except Representatives
OFerrall, Buchanan, Edmunds, and Lester.
COLONEL o'FEREALL.
Colonel OFerrall thinks that the proba-
bility of the bill not passing is increasing
day by day, though he admits that Repuo-
lican appearances are not to DE TOO mucn
relied on. He seems to think that the
business interests of the country VIII De
heard from to an extent that VIII put
check on the schemes OF the radical Re
publicans and the lateness OF the session
and the backward state Of other congress
sional business may prevent action on the
force bill this session.
Colonel OFerrall for the past several
days hos had conversations with Demo,
cratic senators, and several have expressed
the opinion that the prospect OF the pass;
ege OF the bill is lessening each day, ana
one southern senator positively expressed
the belief that the bill would not pass the
the report of the sentiment in klchmonui
regarding the proposed boycott II the bill
should be passed. said that he thought the
Richmond people were rather too mild. For
his own part he believed iii the boycott, and
If tbis infamous bill were forced upon the
people of the South he would favor the
withdrawal of patronage from the North,
and that the South should make IT'S own
goods live on its own products, and keep
- at hnUtA ar inconvenience
or 90 to any cost to buy from Others than
the prosecutors of the South. He thought
the Saith should protect itself. being the
only kind Of protection he really did be-
lieve IN.
Mr.. BUCHANAN.
Representative Buchanan said that the
only way he could form an opinion was
from what he heard and read, and the state
ments were so conflicting that he hardly
knew what the prospects OF the Dill were.
He thought that there were some conser-
vatIve Republican senator's who did not
favor extreme measures, but whether they
would be bold enough to stand up
Independently of any action that the
majority caucus III the Senate might
take on the force bill he was not prepared
to say. 1t looked to him, however. as II
the conservative business element OF the
North might ultimately assert itself, and
in that case IT would have a tendency to
prevent the passage of the bill. he was
gratifed to observe that some OF the
strongest Republican papers In Philadel-
phia were advising the Senate to drop
the bill. There was Philadelphia capital
invested in Virginia, and 1T seemed
to him that the fair-minded businessmen
of the North would not want law ealcu-
lated to impede the industrial development
of the South. Mr.. Buchanan admitted that
the Republicans had the power to pass the
| bill. and If they should decide at the next
| caucus held by the senator's to put the bill
| through he feared that the conservative
Republicans would be whipped into line.
Mr.. EDMUNDs.
Representative Edmunds said he took
no stock In the talk that was being in-
| dulged in to the effect that some OF the
| Republican senators are going to vote
against the bill. He believed they intend
ed TO pass the measure, and added, THE
Republicans have the power, and they are
mean enough to do anything"
! Mr.. LESTER.
Representative Lester could not be seen,
| but friend of his who has talked with
| him says that he is prepared to believe
that the Republicans will probably pass
the bill if they conclude to take it up this
session.
THE OUTLOOK N GENERAL.
The conclusions of the Dispatch CORE
spondent are that the radical Republican
senators will do their utmost to have the
| force bill passed this session, and they are
backed by President Harrison with the
whole power of the Administration, Secre-
tsry Blaine excepted. Until the next Re-
| publican caucus Is held, however, no one
can predict accurately Just what the lead
srs propose 10 do. Undoubtedly ten
| or more of the more conservative Kepub-
| iican senators are throwing every obstacle
possible in the way of the infamous BILL
md for various reasons. Some earnestly
believe that such law would be the worst
experiment. ever tried by their party, and
| others, who would like to see the South
punished, are nevertheless such sticklers
for the present Senate rules that they are
unwilling to order a gag-law in that body
in order to pass this or any other bill.
Still others want to get away from Wash
lington. and do not think it advisable to at
tempt the passage of the bill at this late
stage of tho session. The prospects for
the passage of the bill are poorer now than
lthey were two weeks ago, but 1t would be
risky to express any pronounced opinion
until after the next caucus, as there Is no
telling what changes may occur under the
strong party pressure now being applied.