The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-04
POLICY OF INACTION.
Democrats Are Afraid TO Meet the Silver
and Tariff Questions Fairly.

Democrats Are Afraid TO Meet the Silver
and Tariff Questions Fairly.
eyecial TO the Indianapolis Journal
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 3.-Silver and the
tariff are the two subjects upon which the
Democratic party in this Congress evident
ly does not know how. or. at least. is afraid.
to take stand. The abandonment of the
proposed caucus of the Democratic members
of the House. which Representative Har-
ter proposed to call for next Friday night.
was much discussed at the Capitol to-day.
The general opinion was that Mr.. Harter
only told the truth when. in conversation,
he explained that he thought 1t polite OF
the Democratic party to leave the
question of tho free coinage OF
silver out of the presidential campaign
as far as possible. This plan will enable
the Democratic oraSor in the West to assert
for the benefit of local sentiment, that their
presidential candidate. whoever he may be,
is in favor of coming rs cents into a dollar,
while in the East other Democratic orators
can assert with equal fearlessness that
their standard. bearer is an advocate OF a
sound currency.
The silver question will first come before
the Senate in the form of On adverse re-
port from the finance committee upon
Stewards free-coinage bill. This report
will be made on next Tuesday.
On next Wednesday, however. Rep
resentative Blands committee on coin
age will vote to report to the House free
silver bill. Some of the Western and south
western Democrats profess TO believe that
this bill can be pushed through the House
and sent to the Senate. AS the business of
the House under its new rules will be safe
ly wit hin the control of the committee on
rules it is doubtful whether the Demo.
cratic NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. German, Hill
and Brice. who control the rules commit
tee, and who believe in policy Of lnaction
on the silver question-will allow Mr:
BANDS bill to reach vote.
On the tariff question there has already
become apparent an even more complIcat-
ed divisions of sentiment This division
has caused q deadlock in the committee
on ways and means. There are three dis
tinct and powerful elements In the Demo-
cratic membership of the committee. Three
Turner-are demanding o general tariff
bill. They represents Mr.. Mills in this
position, and so long as their struggle re-
mains apart from the Republicans they
will do everything possible to force their
there is Bourke Cochran. who repre-
sents the HILL Gormon- Brice policy of
doing nothing. He thinks the party had
better attempt no legislation and stand
upon its present record. He will. If he can.
prevent any tariff reports being made.
Then comes Chairman Springer and four
of the young Democrats on the committee,
who want to make some tariff speeches,
and these demand action upon specific
tariff bills. Ii the positions occupied by
these factions are ever forced before the
full committee there is little doubt that
Chairman Springer will succeed. as he has
bare majority of the Democratic
members of the committee with him,
and the unit rule will apply.
No De mocrat on the committee will dare
vote W ith the Republicans upon any prop-
osItion. But the situation promises q dead
lock for some time yet, and may result in
the four Democrats on the committee. who
are opposed to the Springer plan. refusing
to enter into any agreement and thus
breaking q quorum. as Chairman Springer
cannot call q meeting OF the full commit
tee together till he is sure he has all the
Democratic members with him In any
action he may propose, and is positive that
they will be present.