Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-10-05
THE MAJORITY RULE.
VICE PRESIDENT STEvENSoN'S TIMlO-
ITY AND HILLS AUDAClTY.

Gallery-Thc Compromise Question.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 4.-[Speciall l.
Many inquiries nave been received here as
TO why the majority of the senate has not
long before this settled the repeal fight
by forcing a vote. The people who make
these inquiries cannot nave read the news
papers very closely, because it has been made
very plain in Washington dispatches forthe
last two or three weeks that under the
rules of the senate a majority has no power
to force a vote upon an unwilling minority.
The situation which has prevailed in the
senate for five or six weeks has brought
one result in it's train. and this is that
sooner or later the traditional practice of
the senate will have to be radically changed
and absolute power given the majority to
rule. AS has already been pointed out in
these dispatches, the majority could obtain
control under the rules as they now stand
were the presiding officer willing to be the
instrument of the majority for this pur-
pose. There was much talk last week that
Vice President Stevenson would be willing
to play this role, and it is true that he did
have such a proposition under considera-
ton. But the project was abandoned after
afew days consultation among the leaders.
Vice President Stevenson did indeed listen
to the propositions that were made to him
in this direction by the repeal managers,
but he ultimately reached the conclusion
that any attempt on his part to coerce the
minority would seal his W political fate.
Many Presidential Aspirations.
1t is well known in Washington that the
vice president hopes to go up higher; not,
indeed. through the death of President
Cleveland, but by being nominated and
elected as his successor in 1895. TIL vice
president is quietly and carefully playing
all his cards with a view TO the coming
presidential campaign. His policy is es-
~seEtially one of caution, almost of mega
ton. Mr.. Stevenson was never a positive
man and has always believed rather in the
efficacy of neutrality. Some of his most
intimate friends think he is makinga great
mistake in this matter. They think he had
an opportunity which, had it been inn
proved by display of courage and deter
mination, would have made him the fore
most man of the Democratic party, except
ing, of course, Mr.. Cleveland. One of these
friends of the vice president, an Illinois
congressman, said to your correspondent:
Il urged General Stevenson to take the
bull by the horns in the senate and to make
himself forever famous. | pointed out
that an opportunity had occurred to him
which few men in this world enjoy. |
showed him that reform in the parliament
tary methods of the senate was inevitable:
that the people, irrespective Of party and
of views on particular questions, were de-
handing it, and that if he were TO be the
pioneer of this reform it would surely
work to his political advantage. But Mr..
Stevenson could not see it. Naturally
timid, he has been almost afraid to call his
soul his own since hesbecame the presiding
officer of the senate. The policy of neu-
trality may be a good thing ON some occa-
sions, but ] do not believe a man can win
the presidency C the United States by a
display OF colorlessness, purposelessness
and timidity. / say this with regret, for
Mr.. Stevenson is one of my warmest
friends, and nothing in the world could
give me greater pleasure than to see him
succeed to the presidency"
Senator Hill Only Wanted a Chance.
Several other presidential aspirants nave
had connection with this repeal bill strug-
gle. One of them is Senator Hill. Mr..
Hill has been exceedingly nervous and inn
patient all through the contest. Though
not very much in love with Mr.. Cleveland
and far from being a supporter of the adj
ministration, Senator Hill has lone every
thing in his power to urge the repeal bill
through. Many times has he said to his
intimate friends that he would give all the
money he had in the world if be might be
vice president of the United States and
presiding officer of the senate for the space
Of a few weeks. The opportunity of which
General Stevenson does not care to avail
himself, although urged to do so, Senator
Hill would embrace with great eagerness.
IF l had been in Stevenson's place." Sem
ator Hill says, this bill would nave passed
the senate weeks ago, and there would
never more be doubt rs to the ability of
the majority to rule in this body"
Senator Germans Masterfulness.
Men are made of various materials. Vice
President Stevenson is neutral. Senator
Hill is audacious and positive. Senator
German is quietly masterful. For several
weeks Senator German has not appeared on
the surface except when he had his tilt
with Mr.. Wolcott. So far as the ordinary
observer could see, he was doing nothing.
He seemed to be on good terms with both
sides, but it is not in Mr.. Germans nature
to be either neutral or idle. He has been
at work, and successfully, too, as the cham
pion of compromise. having for his argu-
ment the threatened disruption of the Dem
ocratic party in case one side or the other
Of this battle should lose it's all. While
Mr.. Gorman does not show his hand until
the time comes, he is always alert, active
and full of purpose.
That moment is now here, and Mr.. Cor
man is at the front. Passage of a bill that
will be on the whole satisfactory to the
country, and at the same time make some
concession to the silver producing states
and avert the disaster which hangs over
them, will be a great triumph for the lead
ership of Mr.. German in the Democratic
party. His friends think it will make him
the Democratic nominee three years hence.
Vigorous Senator Voorhees,.
One reason why the plan to use the vice
president in forcing a vote never amounted
TO anything was the fierce opposition thereto
of Senator Voorhees,, the repeal leader. Mr..
Voorhees, denounced the plan in language
that was more picturesque than that which
he usually employs. NO one but a miser-
able whelp of a plutocrat would ever think
of such a thing said Mr.. Voorhees,. mo
one but a besotten, selfish moneybags
would ever propose that the vice president
of the limited Sfafap ,rr h;p,anlf o~I