Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-12-04
THE NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON LETTER.
EFrOm our rerular Corespopdepi.l |

WASHINGTON, ~. u, NOV. "a, loSOs
Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Blaine cannot |
continue their present relations much |
longer, unless there Is radical change |
of mind on the part of one OF them.
That becomes palmer and palmer
every day to those familiar with the In
side workings of the administration.
Mr.. Harrison has finished his message
and il has been shown to every member
of his cabinet, except Mr.. Blaine. The
reason of this action on the part of Mr..
Harrison Is that he has gone directly
contrary to the views OF Mr.. Blaine on
at least two important matters dealt
with by this message and he has delay
ed showing the message to Mr.. Blsine,
fearing that it might cause an open
row between them. or course 1t will
have to be shown to the Secretary OF
State before Congress meets, but there
will be no trouble, so far as Mr.. Blaine
is concerned. He made up his mind
when the Mckinley bill became a. law
that the republican party was doomed
and since that time he has not bother
ed his head with matters outside OF
his hobby, reciprocity.
The leaders of his party have nearly
all turned to him as the Moses to lead
them out of the wilderness, and that Is
what is so calling to Mr.. Harrison,
who wants vindication in the shape of
q denomination; but one of Mr.. Blaine's
warmest and closest personal friends
told me that unless there should come
a great change in the prospects of the
republican party before 1892, Mr.. Blaine
would under no circumstances accept
the nomination one defeat being quite
enough for him.
Unless prominent Government of
fetal is off in his predictions, there will
be vacancy in the Office of Commiss-
ioner of Pensions between this and jan
uary, Mr.. Harrison having fully decid'
ed that Raum shall go.
The Congressional lame ducks among
the repubublicans are all try ing to pick
out something under the government
that will enable them to Keep hold OF
the public teat after the 4th of next
March, but it will be difficult matter
to provide for even small number of
them.
One of the principal occupations of
the republican leaders just now is
stiftening up the political backbones
of the small-fry Congressman as they
get in. About three out of four OF
them want to revise the Mckinley tar
ifflaw at the coming session. That,
the leaders are determined to prevent
If possible.
Several of the candidates for speaker
of the next House have opened head
quarters here, but there are not enough
of the members-elect of the Fifty.sec-
ond Congress yet here to make any
thing like lively contest. But they
will all be here little later, as an ex-
ira session is believed to be almost GER
tain, which will make 1t necessary to
elect the Speaker about nine months
earlier than if there was no meeting
until December next.
The Farmers Alliance and its future
movements Is much discussed by re-
turning Congressman, and many of
them believe that consolidation of it
and the labor organizations will take
place before the next Presidential cam
paign. The republicans fear the organ
ization most, because it antagonizes
the principles of that party most
With two or three exceptions any good
democrat could support the platform
of the alliance.
The fight for free and unlimited sill
yer coinage is to be renewed as soon as
Congress meets and q powerful weapon
in the appointment of successor to
Chairman Conger, of the House COM
mittee on Coinage, Weights and Meas
ures who resigned to go to Brazil as o.
s. minister, is in the hands of Speaker
Reed. Mr.. Reed is one of the bitterest
oponents of free coinage, In the House,
but for all that it Is not certain, al
though it is probable, that he will put
an anti-silver man at the head of that
committee. The committee is said to
be now evenly divided on the question,
80 that in deciding upon the new mem
Der of the committee, Speaker Reed
will really decide whether the commit
tee shall report free coinage bill.
Speaking of Mr.. Reed. the republi-
cans are very much worried because
certain democrats have determined
that democratic committee of the
next House shall investigate the meth.
ods by which he was elected. There II
no contest, nor Is there to be, but 1t il
believed that an investigation in that
district will show up great deal of re-
publican crookedness and the demo
Gratis propose doing it.
Many democrats think the republi
can Congressional apportionment bill
should be opposed on the ground that
the Census has not been correctly tax
en-. Ofcourse, if the republicans car
keep quorum of their own men on
the floor Of the House, no amount, o.
opposition can prevent Its passage, but
itmay not be amiss to show up certain
things about the census.