Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-03

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ne SITUATION WniSn uas HrcSaiieS ia INV
| senate for five or six weeks has brought
enc result in. its 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 vas much talk last week that
Vice President Stevenson would be willing
to play this role. and il il true that he did
have such proposition under conxidcra-
tion. But the project WAS abandoned after
q few days consultation among the leaders.
. Vice President Stevenson did indeed listen
TO the propositions that were made to him
In this dircction by the repeal managers,
bu, he ultimately reached the conclusion
that any attempt on his part to coerce the
minority would seal his own political fate.
Many Presidential Aspirations.
Ii is well known in Washington that the
vice president hopes to SO up higher; not.
indeed, through the death OF President
Cleveland. but by being nominated and
elected as his successor in issd. The vice
president is quietly and carefully playing
all his canis with view To the coming
presidential campaign. His policy Is es-
sentialiy one of caution. almost Of mega
tion, Mr. Stevenson was never . positive
man and has always believed rather in the
efficacy OF neutrality. Some Of his most
intimate friends think he is making great
mistake ia this matter. They think he had
al opportunity which, had It been i'm
proved by a 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 l pointed out
that an opportunity had occurred to him
which few men in this world enjoy. l
showed him that reform in the parliamen-
tary methods Of the senate was inevitable;
that the people, irrespective of party and
Of views on particular questions, were de
manding il, and that II he were to he the
pioneer Of this reform IL 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 he became the presiding
officer of the senate. The policy Of neu-
trality may be good thing on some occa-
sions, but | do not believe man can win
the presidency of the United States by a
display of eolorlessness. purposelessness
and timidiiy. l say this with regret, for
Mr.. Stevenson is one Of my warin-st
friends, and nothing in the world could
give me greater pleasure than to sec him
succeed to the presidency"
senator MIN Only Wanted . Chance.
Several other presidential sspirants have
had connection with this repeal bill strug-
gle One of them Is Senator Hill. Mr..
Hill has been exceedingly nervous and i'm
patient all through the contest. Though
not very much in love with Mr.. Cleveland
and far from being a supporter Of the ad-
minis,raiion. Senator Hin has done every
thing in his power to urge the repeal bill
through Many times has be said to his
intimate friends that he wonld give all the
money he had in the world II he might he
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 40. Senator
Hill would embrace with great eagerness.
''lf had been in Stevenson's place" Sen
ator Hin says. this bill would have passed
the senate weeks ago. and there would
never more be doubt as 10 the ability OF
the majority to rule in this body"
senator Gorman's Masterfuipe.s.
Men are made Of various materials. Vice
President Stevenson is neutral. Senator
Hill ia aadacioIss and positive. Senator
German is quietly mssterful. 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 lie on good terms with both
sides, but /; is nos in Mr.. Gorman's nature
TO be either neutral or idle. He has been
at work, and successfully, too, ~ the cham
pion of compromise. having for his argu
ment the threatened disruption Of the Dem
ocratic party in ease one side or the other
Of this battle should lose its all While
Mr. German 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 giLat triumph for the lead
ership Of Mr. Gurmun in the Democratic
party Hi. friends think il will make him
the Democratic nominee three years hence.
Vigorous Senator Voorhees,.
One reason why the plan to use the vice
president in forcing vote never amounted
toanytbing was the fierce opposition thereto
of Senator voorhees,. the reIeal 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 pluiocrat would ever think
of such a thing said MIR. voorhees, NO
one but beso.ten, selfish m0'eybacs
would ever propose that the vice president
Of the United States purge himself and
override the traditions and liberties Of the
senate No one but an internal gold wor
Shipping scoun,lrei would ever propose tha:
honorable senators should become party "
such villainous scheme"
When il comes to using English language
in a jecIsmaiory or deBuneiatory sense,
Mr.. VOORHEES, is without a rival in the sch
ate. When asked "A few days ago how long
he was willing to continue the battle for
unconditional repeal. he replied: You may
say that we are ready to stay here ali the
fall, all winter and all next summer In or
der 10 pass this bill. and If that does not
continue the story long ep0ugh-wb you
r3ay say that we sill siay here u3tii the