St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-19
HOW STEVENSON STANDS.
The Minnesota Senators Making
No Speeches.


No Speeches.
Special 10 the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1s.-When the
senate shall take final action upon the
repeal of the Sherman bill no one can
possibly tell what the vote will be. 1t
is conceded on all hands that the vote
will be very close, with the possibility
OF tie. No friend of repeal now dares
TO claim that there will be more than
two majority in favor of the measure.
The position of Vice President Ste
venson on the question, therefore, be-
comes matter of supreme Importance,
as with him may rest the final fate of
the pending bill. 1t is known that the
free silver senators are depending upon
the vice president to save their cause in
the event of tie. In his recent tour
through the northwestern section of the
Union, where the silver question is re-
earded as paramount to all others, and
where the free silver sentiment is
known to be strongest, the vice presI-
dent is quoted as having, in private con-
ferences, expressed strong free silver
sentiments. Here in Washington, how
ever, he has been more conservative,
not to say discreet. No one claims to
have heard him express q sentiment
either for or against the pending meas
ure. He simply discharges his cOnstitu-
tional function by presiding over the
deliberations of the senate with quiet
dignity. He has not indulged in.the
vanity of an interview on the subject,
although frequently approached by the
seductive correspondent. On the Ques
ton of repeal he is merely the Sphinx
gazing daily out upon the unproductiv e
desert of barren talk, but saying moth
ing. 1t is very apparent. however, that
the free silver men are counting upon
his active aid in case of tie vote upon
the final proposition.
1t is known that there are wide diff
ferences On various subjects between
Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Stevenson, and
there is no room for doubt that the vice
president is by no means as strong in
his convictions on financial questions as
his chief. There is therefore good rea-
son for the free silver men to count on
Mr.. Stevenson as an active ally in case
of tie vote in the senate.
If silence is indeed golden, then the
two Minnesota senators are to be con-
graduated. Neither Senator Davis nor
Senator Wasnburn have opened their
mouths since this long-winded debate
began. The senior senator looks bored,
listens languidiy to some of the chief
orators, and then wanders OFF to his COM
forting cigar in the smoking room. The
junior senator sits for three minutes
and then flies across the chamber to
gossip with some Democratic friend, or
stroils out into the reception rOOul.
Finally he gets too nervous for content
ment and vanishes entirely from view.
1t is singular how few senators out of
the entire number have sufficient mag
netism or oratorlcal power to hold their
fellow members. Voorhees,, Vance and
Daniels among the Democrats. and
Sherman among the Republicans are
the only ones who have succeeded thus
far in filling the galleries and holding
the senators.
No one claims to predict how much
longer the debate will last. 1t is prob
able that by the last of this week Sen
ator Voorhees, will move for continuous
sessions.
Then the world will know just how
strong the repeal sentiment is in the
senate.