Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Written and compiled for the HERALD !
WASHINGTON, December y, 1sg2.-Nr.
Cleveland will be private citizen until
the Fourth of next March, but lis will is
nevertheless regarded as law by the
democrats in the present Congress, and
they are al this very moment waiting 10
learn his pleasure before deciding upon
their programme for the session, ana
shaking anc quivering for fear that some
of them may be selected as the victim oil
the great mans enmity, as was Speaker
Crisp at the Reformed Club banquet, in
New York, Saturday night-a most
shameful and disgraceful thing 1t was
too. on the part of Mr. Cleveland's friends.
Senators German, Brice and Carlisle, who
went to New York Ostensbly to consult
with members of the democratic National
Committee concerning the Senatorial stu
alton in states in which the control of the
legislatures are stIll IN doubt, really went
there to get Mr.. Cleyelaud's ideas of
what legislation should be taken up and
what let alone by this Congress; and the
result of their visit is to be laid before a
Joint caucus of the democrats of the
House and Senate to be held in few
DAYS. Mr.. Cleveland's New York Reform
Club speech is being carefully studied by
those democrats who are anxious to stand
well with the future dispenser of Federal
patronage, and some of them profess to
be able to read between the lines OF that
speech, which is facetiously referred to
here as "Cleyeland's first message" more
than can be seen by ordinary people.
The demscrats are divided on the
Senatorial question. The radical tariff
smashers who claim Mr.. Cleveland as one
of their number, are in favor Of resort
ing to extraordinary methods to obtain
control of the Senate in the next Con-
gress while those who make loud pro-
fession of intended tariff reform without
really intending to make any radical
changes IN the tariff system of the conn
try, under the leadership of Senator Hill
in the Senate and Speaker Crisp and Rep
resentativc Springer in the House, hope
that all the doubtful legislatures will
send republican Senators, thus prevent
ing the democrats controlling the Senate
and giving them an excuse for not carry
ing out their campaign promises. Neither
faction wants to see any more third party
Senators elected. While probably a ma
iorlty of the prominent republicans in
Congress- would rather see the democrats
control the Senate there is no disposition
to help them elect Senators, An important
conference of republic ans, among those
present being National committeeman
Clarkson, Manley and Estee, Gen. Alger,
Representative johnson, of North Dakota;
Treasurer Bliss of the National committee;
ex-senator Warner Miller and Mr.. Geo.
NJ. Pullman, was held here two days ago
to discuss the senatorial situation 1t
would be impolItic to at this time give
the conclusion arrived at. Suffice 1T to
saw that some people may be surprised at
some of the political developments of the
near future.
Ex-Speaker Reed, was riding up to the
Capitol tbs morning in street car
which, by tho way, is his favorite vehicle
when he was asked what he thought Of
the legislative outlook. He looked at his
questiouer critically for moment, and
then in a characteristic drawl SO peculiar
" his own, be replied f: "Well, now that
I think of it, my democratic friends have
neglected or forgotten to take me in their
confidence SO will not venture an
opinion"
Congress gov through its first week very
quietly, but it is probably only the calm
which usually precedes storm as the
material for dozen legislative combats
is lying around loose at both snis of the
Capitol, aud only spark 10 needed to
touch things off and there are some very
careless individuals stalking around with