The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-01-15

WASHINGTON LETTER.
Union Special Correspondence.

w WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1891.
An intimate friend Of Speaker
Reed is authority for the statement
that Blaine is now helping along
Harrison's boom, and that in case
Harrison or some other friend OF
Blaine cannot be nominated, Blaine
is then willing to take the nomina-
ton himself in 1892. Speaker
Reed loomed up as prominent
presidential possibility when he
overturned the precedent of one
hundred years and counted a
quorum in the house of represent
atives whether they voted or not.
Since then his identification with
the Mckinley bill, and his actions
towards Individual members of his
party in the house have practically
eliminated him from the race, and
it is possible that he is now taking
steps looking towards the defeat Of
Blaine in 1892, and is thus respon-
sible for coupling his name with
the promotion of Harrison's inter-
est in order to effect that purpose.
If it was fully established that
Blaine was working to secure the
nomination of Harrison perhaps
nothing else would make him more
unpopular with the Republican
leaders and Republicans in various
parts of the country. Everything
connected with the Harrison adj
ministration, unless it is something
that is opposed to that administra-
ton, is unpopular, and Blaine is
individually too shrewd to allow
anything of that kind to occur. -.
That. Harrison is Jealous of the
popularity Of the big and brainy
Tom Reed there can be no doubt.
He appointed the most obnoxious
man in Reeds home to the most
important position in his district
that he had in his gift. The COL
lector of customs whom he ap-
pointed has always been the most
bitter foe Tom Reed had in the
whole State of Maine. Harrison
is now pursuing his fight upon
Reed with the most aggressive
tactics within his. power because
Reed loomed up as a bigger man
in the Republican party than the
president. There is a deal of
! petty selfshness and spite work
going on in the White House
characteristic of the Harrison
family, and if the Republican
party goes to pieces during the
four years of Harrison's admins
tration the president can be blamed
for the largest share Of it.
While the Republican party is
divided on many topics, and it is
almost impossible to get them to.
gether on any one subject, the
Democracy are standing like a
rock. There must be some cause
for the Republican dissension.
Perhaps it is the fact that the Re-
publican leaders are too often
identified with large corporate in
terests which are opposed to the
general welfare of the poorer
classes. Perhaps, we say, this
may be the case. Certain it is that
there are votes on certain meas
ures that are hard to account for.
and the recent turning over in the
senate when a large number of sill.
yer senators voted to take up the
financial bill, which the ma GRITTY
of the party are opposed to, indi.
Gates that people we're interested
unduly by being large owners OF
silver mines and silver companies,
Of course it is impossible to de.
feat jobbery of any kind by politi
cal lines, and the Democrats make
the professions of honesty and pub
lish them right and left, while the
Republicans do not seem to think
it necessary to deny the assertions
of dishonesty which are often put
upon them. It is probably the
case that the Democrats protest toe
much, as whenever any pecula.
tons or stealings are discovered, il
is generally found that the Demo
Gratis are walking off with the
lions share. ...~.s. -.
The trouble is there are toe
many leaders in the senate, anc
none are willing to concede to any
one man the shaping of plan Of
campaign, either in public bust
ness or patty management, that
would tend to success. With the
present condition of affairs it is not
at all likely the Republicans viii
be united by the beginning of the
next presidential campaign. A
great deal of this blame can be
placed upon the lack Of interest.
or rather the fact that the presi