The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-07-17

Wash. Dispatcato to Baltimore Sun
eve are on the eve of one of the
greatest political battles ever fought
in Congress remarked Senator Cor
man today. when questioned on the
subject of the federal election bill,
"and it is difficult to predict what the
outcome will be-" The leaders of
both parties are extremely reticent as
to their plans for the future, and each
appears to be waiting to see what the
other proposes to do. IF the Repub-
licans adhere to their apparent inten-
ton to take up the elections bill, there
will be but little chance for any other
legislation during the remainder ofthe
session. The Democrats have already
made up their minds in a general way
. as to what they propose doing. and on
question of endurance they are on
equal terms with their political oppo-
nents. It will not do for the Republi.
cans to protest against any tactics the
Democratic minority may employ, for
the arbitrary rulings of Speaker Reed,
at the dictation of his party's caucus,
have established precedents which
estop them from complaining.
The subject was freely discussed at
the capitol today, and both parties ap-
peared to realize that they will have
to lock horns and fight to a finish.
The debate will probably be conduct
ed under the direction of the commit
tee on privileges and elections. The
Republicans on that committee are
Messrs. Hoar of Massachusetts,, Frye
of Maine, Teller of Colorado, Evarts
of New York, and Spooner of Wis
consin. The Democratic members
are Senators Vance of North Carolina,
Pugh of Alabama, Gray of Delaware,
and Turpie of Indiana. Messrs. Hoar
and Spooner are expected to do the
skirmishing for the majority, but as
the debate progresses all of the big
guns of the Republican party will
probably be brought into action.
Messrs. Vance and Turpie will do
picket duty Tor the minority, and
Senators German, Cockrell, Morgan,
Vest, Harris, Faulkner, VOORHEES,, and
all of the prominent Democrats, are
preparing to take an active part in
the general engagement.
Several plans have been suggested
by the Republicans to bring the
minority to terms. They realize that
if the tariff bill should be called up
first, the Democrats would undertake
to talk the bill into next winter. They
would probably adopt similar tactics
on a proposition to amend the rules so
as to admit of demand for the pre-.
vious question. Those Republicans
who are thirsting for fight propose
to start right in with the elections bill
and remain continuously in session un-
til the minority becomes weary and
surrenders.
There does not seem to be the
slightest prospect of backdown on
the part of the Senate Democrats.
They are better disciplined and more
determined than are their party friends
in the House; hence the contest prom
ises to be stubborn and protracted.
Senator Spooner said late this after
noon the elections bill is to be taken
up in the Senate and it will probably
pass, as a majority of the members
will vote for it. He declined to say
what methods will be adopted by the
majority to force a vote should the
Democrats procrastinate. AS he dis
appeared behind the Senate doors he
smiled and said, "Wait and see"
The Democratic Senators are now
convinced that the Republicans pro-
pose to call up the bill, and they are
making their plans accordingly. At
| late hour this afternoon Senator
German, who is chairman of tn Dem
ocratic caucus committee, said he had
heard it said by certain Republicans
that they do not propose to force the
elections bill in ahead of all other bu-
siness, and in the arrangement of an
| order of business to be followed during
| the remainder of the session Senator
Frye's shipping bills, the river and
harbor, the appropriations and the tar.
iff bills will be.given the preference
over the elections bill. This would
indicate that the Republicans have
some plan in view by which they be-
lieve they can force vote on the elec
tions:: bill in spite of all Democratic
opposition. Democratic Senators, on
the other hand, declare it can only be
put through by resorting to revolu
tionary measures, and in such game
two can play. If the opportunity
arises, the public utterances of several
of the Republican Senators in opposi
tion to the principle involved in the
elections bill will be reproduced. This
will show their inconsistency, but it il
not anticipated that any of them will
scruple to eat their own words an6
vote against all their previous declar
ations