The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-12-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. u. c.. Nov. 81 1890

WASHINGTON. u. c.. Nov. 81, 1890.
Every Democrat in the country is interested
in Washington this winter. because of the i'm
portant political events certain to occur here
In the first place. the Democratic minority in
Congress, feeling that the policy of their party
has been endorsed by the country. are determin-
ed to resist every attempt of the Republicans to
pass radical political legislation, and they ex-
pect the moral support of every Democrat.
1t is also proposed that the Republicans shall.
if possible. be made to provide for the big de-
ficit in the National Treasury, which their
wasteful and extravagant legislation has made
d certainty for the next fiscal year. instead OF
leaving it for the Democratic House of the
Fifty second Congress to do At least if they
cannot be made to adopt the necessary le gisla-
tion to provide the money to meet this deficit.
the attention of the country can be called to
their refusal or neglect to do so, and the blame
placed where it properly belongs. ft is now ad-
mitted by government officials that by the end
of the next fiscal year our annual payments for
pensions will have reached $9G0.000,0O0.
The struggle which will take place this win
ter between Mr.. Blaine and Speaker Reed for
the control of the Republican party machine
will be decidedly exciting, and Democrats are
very much interested in it, because for one
Mr.. Blaine becomes the dictator of the party's
policy, the Force bill will at once be shelved
fer good and all, and reciprocity, which has in
a sense become Mr.. Blaine's special trade mark,
will be used as salve for the many and griev-
Gus wounds that the Republican party has in
flicted upon the country. If Mr.. Harrison in
his annual message recommends the passage o,
the Force bill, as it is believed here that he
wi IL will hOy ma kar haS
influence with him than MFR. Blaine; but if on
the other hand the message ignores the Force
bill. then it may be presumed that Mr.. Blaine
is still in supreme command at the White
House.
The immense vote cast by the Farmers AL
lance in States which have for many years cen
reliably Republican. has thrown the Republican
leaders into panic. and they are puzzling their
bewildered brains to get up a scheme that will
get back their lost voters. At q conference OF
prominent Republicans held here a few days
ago, MIR. Blaine was deputed to ascertain
whether by making concessions in the shape ol
legislation at this session of Congress the AL
lance men could not be pacitied. and the result
is that confidential agent of Mr.. Blaine's has
been sent to the Northwestern States to confer
with the Alliance leaders. and it is believed by
my informant, who usually knows what he
talks about. that he is authorized to enter into
deal with them if they will agree. in return
for the passage of bill for the flee and unlim'
| tied coinage of silver, or some other bill thai
will largely increase the amount of money il
| circulation. to support the National Republican
| ticket in 1892.
By the way, speaking of the Farmers AL
lance, Representative Outhwaite, of Ohio. saic
| here a day or two ago that if the combination
txyhi hiah h1S hoe or less tal ad al he
| tween the Alliance and the labor organization
of the cities could be brought about. that he be
lieved they could elect the next President.
know that the Alliance people are doing thei
| level best to bring about that combination.
1t is now regarded as so certain that ther
will be an extra session of the Fifty secon'
Congress held in the Spring that several of tn
gentlemen who have announced themselves a
| candidates for Speaker of the next House hav
| opened headquarters here and begun their cam
paign for the position. Only small proper
/ tion of the Democratic majority in the mex
| House are members of the present Congress:
but owing to the nearness of the National C am
paign and the great political interests now Ger
tered at Washington. 1t is expected that nearl
| all of them will be here within the next fe1
weeks. So far the contest for the Speakershi
| is being conducted in the best of humor, and
see no reason why it should not continue to tn
end in the same spirit. except the dispositio
on the part of certain newspapers to make
appear as fight between Governor Hill an
MIR. Cleveland.
Only two of the Republican members of th
House committee on Ways and Means, whic
is responsible for the Mckinley tariff bill. hay
received certificates OF election to the ne1
House. and one of them-Burrows, of Mich
gan-is to have his right to seat contested o
the ground of fraud. The other one is McKel
na of California, who it will be remembers
made minority report against the sugs
schedule of the tariff bill. So that it looks as
none of the men who fathered that bill as
whole received the endorsement of their col
stituents, all of which shows the good sense
the constituents.
Not two years ago, by something over thrt
months, the Republicans took charge of tt
government, finding big surplus in the Trea
ury. Since then our receipts have constant
increased. and yet it is now necessary to col
slider how we may increase the income of Il
government, in order to raise the money
meet its annual expenditures.