The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Mar. IT, 1S93
Senator German. who was chairman of the
caucus committee that made the Senate commit |
tee assignments. and therefore in position to
know whereof he speaks said. / reliably in
formed, to personal friend, There has been |
lot of nonsense talked and printed about the |
positions upon the prominent Senate commit
tees having been purposely arranged by the eau
Gus committee SO as to be antagonistic to the
President. There is absolutely no foundation
for any such statements. The assignments of the
old Senators were made according to the well
known precedents which have governed such
assignments ever since have been member of
the Senate. and for many years before, and of
the new ones according to the best judgment of
the committee" Although Senator German did
not intend his remarks for publication. it is but
justice to him and the members of the committee
that they should be made public. This caucus
committee had no authority to say that this or
that Democratic Senator should not have COM
mittee positions to which they were entitled by
seniority. because of their views upon this or
| that question, and had it attempted such thing
| its work would have been repudated by the
caucus. which had to approve its report before it
went into effect. It is only in Republican papers
that there is any antagonism between President
Cleveland and the Democratic Senators. No
| administration ever assumed Office with more
harmonious party at its back than the present.
and neither the President nor any prominent
Democrat in Congress expects or sees any Indi-
cation of anything to disturb the present pleas
ant relations between the President and the
party. in and out of Congress. Statements to
the contrary. if run down. will be found in every
case to have originated either with Republican
or journalistic sensation monger.
Cerkainlv no on can raise anV reasonable oh-
lection to the rule made by President Cleveland
that no person should be sent as U. S. Consul to
an important commercial place who is not a
thorough business man. It will not be necessary
to go outside the Democratic party to find capa-
BILE business men to fill every consulship main
tanned by the Government.
Democrats should be extremely careful abeut
accepting as true statements concerning the in
tentions of President Cleveland which appear
in Republican papers. A little consideration
will convince them of the improbability of Re-
publican editors and correspondents being taken
into the confidence of Mr.. Cleveland. A case in
point was the sending broadcast by Republican
correspondents. a few days ago. of the positive
statement that Mr.. Cleveland had said that DEM
ocratic editors need not apply for Office. as he
J had mace up his mind not to appoint them. Now,
Mr.. Cleveland never said any such thing. and
, the nearest approach to foundation this state
j ment had was the Presidents jocular remark to
Congressman. that editors must take theil
chances with other applicants. In order to i'm
press the falsity of this statement upon Demo.
Gratis. Mr.. Cleveland took especial care that the
first nomination of postmaster sent to the SEN
ate by him should be that of a Democratic edit
or-Mr. Robert B. Brown. of Meadyille. Pa.
If there had been any doubt of the wisdom o
sending commission to Hawaii. which has beer
done by the administration. it would have beeI
dissipated by the talk of the Hawaiian Commits
sioners after they learned that a commission
would be sent to make an investigation. It il
vident that they fear the result of that inve s
Is tigation; consequently the suspicion that hai
existed for some time in the minds of few peo
! pie, that the whole business has been conducted
upon aone-sided basis.is increasing very rapidly
Honest and straight forward people never objec
to the most rigid investigation of their acts. I
is always the other sort of fellow who draw
himself up and asks " Do you mean to cast as
persions upon my honor. sir7" President Cleve
" land only wants what the people want. abou
the Hawaiian business-the whole truth. ant
nothing but the truth, and ex-Congressmal
Blount is just the man to get it.
The best evidence of the confidence of tn
business men of the country in the Democrats
administration. is furnished by the steady in
crease of gold in the Treasury. which began will
the swearing in of Democratic officials. and ha
continued right along ever since.
Now that the crowd left here by the inaugura
tion has almost entirely gone. the President AM
the members of his Cabinet will have more tim
to devote to their official duties. and the resul
will be a large number of appointments in tn
. very near future. As soon as all of the assistan
Secretaries in the various departments are nom
mated and confirmed. the applicants for position
under them will have chance to get their claim
considered.
1t is expected that the Commissioner of Pen
sions will be appointed before the first of Apri
as it is known that Mr.. Cleveland is PARTICULAR
anxious for speedy change in that Office