The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-12
DEMOCRATS FIXING UP z
FOR THE TINE WHEN !
WILL BE IN PowERs
Mills will Not Run For Speaker, Pre-
ferring to BE the Leader of
the House.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

gressmen that the next house will be
Democratic by a decisive majority.
The Republicans virtually concede it
by talking about an "off year" cleo
ton, and all the individual as well as
general plans of the future by Demo
Gratis are predicated upon such an ex-
pected outcome of the fall campaign.
Hence, on the Republican side little
is said as to the legislation of the flu
ture. their energy being concentrated
in the efforts to so manage affairs as
to make in this congress deep i'm
press on the Legislative record. Again
nothing is said, by aspiring members,
or others. as to their chances of pro-
motion to important committees or
chairmanships which is usually sub
iect of quiet discussion when the flu
ture is thought to give promise of any
material success.
With the democrats, however, things
are essentially different and one and
ali look and talk as if the results of
the coming elections have already
been settled in their favor, too great
is the confidence on the present mi
nority side of the house. Descending
from general political victory they
come to matters of individual ambi-
tod, as almost every one expects or
considers himself entitled to legisla-
tive preferment. OF course nothing
can be said with absolute accuracy,
but, as far as future actions can be
determined by present thought, two
things are settled.
l. Mills of Texas will not enter the
race for the speakership, it being his
preference to again assume the chair
manship of the ways and means com
mittee and the leadership of the
house. This action on his part has
been largely induced from the fact
that it will give him the opportunity
to mold the tariff legislation of the
next congress, for it is generally con-
ceded that the Democrats if in power
will endeavor to undo the legislation
of this character accomplished during
the present congress under Republic
can dictation.
2. 1t is the better opinion among
influential Democratic members that
the next speaker if chosen from their
ranks should be northern man.
There are, however, several able men
from the South who would fill the
position with honor and prove con-
sentative, even more conservative than
| those gentlemen from the North who
have aspirations in this direction, for
it is hardly reasonable to expect the
human mind not to instigate methods
of retaliation, call it retribution,
after the series of perfor-
mances gwen by Reed of Maine.
Either Bynum OF Indiana or Springer
of Illinois would make the Republicans
Jump and dance after the manner that
both of these gentlemen have had to
practice in this session whenever Reed
pulled the string. There is almost a
general agreement among Democrats
that the man best fitted by nature
and artificial requirements for the
place is Judge Crisp of Georgia, who
is comparatively new man in legis-
lation, his congressional service hav-
ing been limited to six years.
But, as said, it is considered a part
of political wisdom to confne the Sc
lection to the northern representation
to aborate the we'll known criticisms
about Confederate brigadiers and the
control of the government. This
political ostracism of men OF charac-
ter and brains compares badly with
the magnanimity of Grant as displayed
at Appomattox, but, perhapsit is only
the natural difference between one
big mind and many little ones. 1t is
condition, however, that confronts
the Southern representatives; they
seem willing to PROSTATE individual
ambition and preferment before the
welfare of the people and country,
content to be more lowly, if personally
more powerful instrumentalities i'll
national legislation.
The democrats still have confidence
in the opposition to defeat any ma
tional election law scheme the repub-
licans may get up. OF course to do
bulS lGlD Iuu5b UO lldu llOll iOPuiuiiN"h
quarters. That it will be forthcoming
there ,ems to be no doubt. Men OF
judgment in the republican party look
upon the plan dictated by Reed as
two-edged, like to cut into republican
ranks as we'll as democrats. They say,
speaking of its political effects from
their standpoint, that it would prove
an instrument of powerful good under
exceptional circumstances, but how
potent for evil should those circum-
stances be reversed, which means that
all would be we'll with the republi-
cans holding the sword, but should
the Democrats get possession OF the
weapon? But there is yet another
strong reason why the scheme is
likely to fail. Blaine is against it.
The most prominent factor in the
party of Capitalization and by nature
of an aggressive temperament, the
Maine man has always recognized the
futility of governmental control in
local elections, and opposed it. He
was the power that smothered the
force bill, as Randall was simply an in
strumentality in that victory. Had
M I II. l..