Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1893-09-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. S.pt. is, 1893,

From Our Reeula Correspondent
A majority Of the democrats in
Congress are very near to being
in open revolt against Mr.. Cleve-
land, and unless that gentle
man displays more concilitary
disposition there may be per-
msnent split In the democratic
party in the very near future. The
straw which has almost broken
the back of the Democratic ami
NAL is Mr.. Cleveland's opposition
ton to the taking up of the bill
for repeal of the Federal Election
laws of the House until after the
Senate disposes of the silver re-
peal bill. 1t is said that Cleve-
land spoke in a most dlctstorial
manner to Speaker Crisp because
of his having consented that this
bill should be reported to the
House without having first OBJ
tanned permission, and that Mr..
Crisp got nettled and told him
that he was under the impression
that the President was at the head
of the executive, not the legisla-
tive branch of the government.
Well, he wants to be at the head
of them all, and he is openly ac-
cused by Democrats with having
influenced democratic members
of the House to stay away in or
der to break a quorum for three
days last week. To-day is holi-
day, on account of the centennial
celebration of the laying of the
corner stone of the capitol build
ing, and it remains to be seen
whether there will be a quorum
of Democrats in the House to-
morrow. The Republicans very
naturally declined to assist in
making quorum of the House
for any such purpose.
The condition in the Senate is
practically unchanged. Senator
Voorhees,, although he knows that
q majority of the Senators-49
Senators are claimed, and the
claim is undisputed-will vote for
his repeal bill if it can be got to a
vote, Is afraid to attempt to force
the fight, although he continues
to threaten to do so. There is
only one way to force the bill to a
vote, and that is to keep the Sen
ate continually in session with a
quorum-43 Senators-always on
the floor, until the opposition be-
comes sufficiently worn out to con-
sent to a vote; but Senator Vor-
hees does not feel certain that he
can do that for the very good
reason that number of Senators
who are willing to vote for repeal
have said that they would not con-
slder it their duty to remain con-
tinuouslv on the floor in order to
force vote. Then there is an
other side to this question of en-
durance. Enough of the repeal
ers may become worn out to en-
able the silver men to vote down
the bill or to amend it to suit
themselves. 1t is no childs play
eitherwsy you look at 1t, and
whatever may be the opinion of
outsiders, every Senator fully re-
alizes the seriousness of the situa-
ton.
The principal reason why Mr..
Cleveland does not wish the
House to start the acrimoneou S
debate that is certain TO follow the
taking up of the bill for the repeal
of the federal election law is that
he realizes the necessity of having
the actlye assistance of Republi-
can Senators If the Voorhees, bill
is to be passed, and fears that
assistance may be lost through the
abuse of Republicans in the
House. And there are good and
sufficient grounds for his fear. Not
that anything any Democrat could
say would change the vote OF any
Republican Senator who upon
principle favors the repeal bill,
1T thot',t might result in caus-