The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-17

veIi-eouipped correspondent fresh upon the
field. The criticism referred to 10 that which
IL offered By friends OF the bill who are In and
out OF politics and OF every shade thereof
They say that Mr.. Voorhees, continually an
nounced an intention to begin what he called
IAN era OF business" yet he m ade no effort to
force business until last Wednesday. During
the month that slipped by he lost his grasp
OF tho situation. and. in the opinion OF
tho majority. to-day no lost all chance
OF success. The cause that contributed to
this mishap were the growing possibilities OF
compromise the fatigue OF the Senators. the
weight OF the arguments used By the more
able silver men, and the introduction OF extra
neous legislation in the lower House During
the month OF fatal delay business seemed to
have improved throughout the country. and
the Republican policy OF claiming that the
panic was not due to tho sherman law began
to make itself felt, John Sherman's interview.
declaring that repeal could not be accom-
plished and that compromise was tho only pos
sible solution OF tho problem. did quite as much
az anything to weaken the vigor OF the move
ment to force avote. The ways OF the senate
are peculiar In the House OF Representatives
the majority announces q date when debate
must stop and voting begin. This Is done by
an order from the Committee on Rules. which
the m ajority adopts. On the Silver bill that
order in the in House provided that the de-
bate should stop on Saturday. Aug. ~. and
that on Monday. the 2Sth. voting should begin
on the amendments and then follow on the
bill. Tho bill was passed by ma ority OF 131.
composed OF almost the solid body Of Republic
cans. the Democracy being much more closely
divided. The bill went to the Senate with
that great vote behind 1t. and with tho major
ity OF the Senators favoring it, 1t was obliged
to 90 to the Finance Com mittee whose Chair
man happened to be Daniel W. Voorhees, OF
Indiana
WHY Mr. VOORHEES, FAILED AS A LEADER
It is not a grateful task to have to repeat the
criticism upon Mr.. Voorhees,. lilo has always
boon a very popular Democrat and idol OF tho
party in the West. He has known how to
touch the hearts and tho understanding of tho
crowds. and the crowds have always been with
him. He has served his party under dark and
lowering clouds and in the hours Of its adver-
sity. ana it is for him ar unfortunate set of
circumstances that brings him to book in these
days OF bright sky and triumphant progress
Of Democracy. Men do not get such Chair
manships as his in the Senate on account OF
special ability as they do in the House. They
are appointed. like army officers. for seniority.
and 1t has happened ut this time that
Mr.. Voorhees, has worked his way to the
head of the Democratic fraction OF the
committee. The last Democrat to be Chair
man Of the Finance Committee was Mr.. Bay
ard. the last Republican was Mr.. Morrill,. Al
ways heretofore that committee has had able
mon at its head-men like Bayard and Morrill,.
Fessenden and Sherman. Mr.. Voorhees,.
viewed from the critical standpoint of intelli-
gent judgmen has never been regarded as
much more than good jury lawyer and q
magnetic stump orator. All his life he has
been 4 blatant fiat money man. an intla-
ZIONIST OF extreme type. In politics he
hou haAn lad damn md
sonally. publicly. aud politically he has
made known his detestations Of Grover Cleve-
land. The first thing the President had to do |
was to secure this influential Chairman. He |
did it How he did 1t no one knows. but 1t is
presumed to have been done by promises Of |
patronage. After that Mr. Voorhees, changed /
right about in his principles and his position
in his party and in the Senate This diametric
change lost him what little influence he might
have had Unfortunately. too. MIR. Voorhees, |
represents Q too familiar class OF public men |
In Congress who know less and less about tho
rules OF parliam entary government the longer
they stay in the House or the Senate. Not |
long ago Mr. Voorhees, used to declare that he
knew nothing about these rules. and he has
known loss as time has gone on. 1t is needless
to say that q leader In such fight should be |
an adept in the laws that govern the body he
socks to turn to his own uses.
THE BILL MIGHT HAVE BEEN PASSED
In its original complexion the Senate was !
opposed to repeal. but the demands OF the .
country were SO strong and the pressure upon |
the Senate 80 intense that change upon
change occurred until there was a majority !
ready to pass the bill II a vote could be taken.
From that moment. the period lasting three
weeks or q month. the bill could have been |
manDuvred through. Tho silver men will |
deny this, but less partisan observers know
that supreme leadership could haye brought
about that result. Logic did not influence the |
situation so much as the hurrah of tho country
on ono side against the stubbornness Of tbs |
silver m On on the other. SpeakerCrispbad mn |
the bill through tho House in deferepce to the |
desire ofthe Administration forces. which. after
opposing him the first time. had combined for |
his reelection. His politics aud his gratitude |
did not alter his financial views He was and /