New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-19
PRICE THREE CENTS.
MAJORITY RULE REJECTED.
NO CAUCUS JUST AT PRESENT
ADMINISTRATION LEADERS IN THE SENATE
REFUSE TO ABIDE BY us DECISION.
THE STEERING COMMITTEE" RESUMES BUsy-
NESS AT THE OLD STAND But MEETS WITH
AN INsUIMCU NTABLE OBSTACLE
ABSURD POSITION OF MIR. COR
MAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS

| AGSO kD POSlTlON OF MIR. COR
MAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS.
CBr TELEGRAPH rRBrxEl
! Washington. Oct. 1S.-After six or eight weelS
of enforced though reluctant and watchful in.
action, the Democratic Steering Committee' Of
! the Senate has at last openly resumed busi-
ness at the old stand. For a fortnight after
the beginning of the present extraordinary ses-
sion, the activity of the Steering Committee
was pronounced and unremitting. MIR. Corr
man was it's chairman and controlling spirit.
| and through its agency the Maryland Senator
| then now, the undisputed leader Of the re-
| sponslble Democratic majority, hoped no doubt
| to impose upon the party that policy Of cons
| promise which he has stood for infexibly. In
season and out Of season, as the only rational
means of extrcation from the perils and EN-"
barrassments Of the present Senate deadlock.
For two weeks Mr. German labored earnestly
and incessantly to commit the majority 10
that line of action I'm which alone his political
sagacity could foresee safety from party di-
vision and rupture. The hotter heads on both
sides could not be brought, however, to
realization of the dangers and profitlessness OK
a struggle for repeal outside party lines, and In
subversion of all party discipline.
The crafty Democratic leader soon perceived
that the time was not ripe for party unity and
ing Committee" framed to register his pur-
poses. might. OF course. have been brought at
once to indorse his far-sghted policy, but the
pressure of events needed to bring home
it's necessity and wisdom to the warning ana
discordant elements in the majority ranks The
Steering Committee" consequently abandoned
its early efforts for compromise, and, SIMPLY
enjoning delay and deliberaton upon the ma
jority adjourned to await the coming OF thae
criss in the struggle for repeal when as hhai
means Of party salvation, its inter, ening power
should be invoked by side the other
from the very necessities Of the situation.
NOTHING ELSE FOR THEM TO DO.
This authority called into play to-day. at.
ter eight weeks of drifting under Mr.. Vocrheess
hopeless leadership by the request of ma
jority OF the Democratic side for party cau-
Gus in which the fate of the pending financial
legislation should be definitely determined As
was said in yesterdays dispatches. Mr. Sher-
mans powerful and searching arraigpment Of
the majority for its demonstrated incapacity
and it's lack of policy practically left no other
course open 70 the leaders of that majority
than to call caucus. and at lcas; pretend to
produce an authoritative party programme Mr..
Vests call for caucrs was put In circulation
in the Senate Chamber yesterday Afternoon. not
his remarkable speech. and by this morning \
had received the signatures Of twenty-three 81
the forty-nve Democratic Senators entitled Il
enter Democratic caucus and declare Demo
cratic policy. nrs.
Mr. Vests call left opening for evasions or
reservations. 1t pledged every signer to abide
by the decisions of the caucus. and thus put
within easy reach speedy ascertanment and
announcement of the exact form Of financial
legislation on which the responsible majority
in the Senate was willing to go before the Execu-
tive and the country With a call for a caucus.
signed by majority OF Democratic Senator'S. TO
pass upon the Steering Committee found on
reassembling to-day more difficult and DELI
cate problem upon its hands than had yet been
presented To il for settlement. a close inspec-
ton of the list of signers showed that the names
of the leading Democratic advocates OF uncon-
ditional repeal were conspicuously missing.
These violent defenders of the right of the ma
jority to rule in the Senate had apparently be-
come violent assailants OF the right OF tho
majority to rule In the Democratic caucus.
Word was brought to the committee by the
representatives il of the Administrations
programme that they declined TO be bound by
any caucus decision. and that if they entered
"a caucus they would do so only on the express
understanding that they should act thereafter
as before. on their own individual judgment
\ STU MBLING-BLOCK FOR THE 'STEERERS."
This unexpected assertion of the rights Of
the minority in caucus from most eloquent ex-
ponents of majority rule elsewhere and
under other conditions. like Mr.. White.
of Louisiana: Mr. Gray, of Delaware. and
Mr.. Villas. of Wisconsin. rather took away
the breath of the other members of the Steer
ing Committee" and the utility of holding a
caucus at all which should bind only those
who elected became at once the subject
OF long and serious controversy. Mr.. Cor
man. the chairman of the Steering Commits
tee: Mr. Cockre. Mr.. Blackburn. Mr.. Walthall
and Mr.. Ransom were unable TO follow the
subety of the contention OF the other three menu
bers. that majority rule was an inalienabe right
in the Senate. but of doubtful expedency in the
caucus Ii the majority was responsible q
whole to the country, the five committeeman
asserted. it should act as whole in the
Senate and its policy should be determined
and fixed by majority of the organization; but
the three friends of the Administration. al
though admitting the responsibility OF the party
in the Senate to the country. could not be
brought to acknowledge that party unity was
either necessary desirable unless IL was a
three or four hours the majority of the Steer
ing Committee" labored in vain to convince the
minority that their own position
with reference to the right OF the majority
of the Senate to act necessarily involved the
right of the majority of the party to determine
It's own legislative policy. and after much
wasted diplomacy Mr.. German and his ASSOC
ciates adjourned. leaving the question OF hold
ing caucus still undecided.
AS custom prescribes that a caucus shall be
called on written request from a majority Of
the total party membership. one will undoubt-
edy be held II The signers of the call insist
upon it, II. however. the more radical uncon-
ditional repealers refuse to attend the caucus
or be bound by Its decisions. the utility OF such
"A gathering will not be apparent Ii would
place the Administration Senators in the en-
barrassing position Of a refractory and multi
nous minority unwilling to assume or acknowl.
edge the responsibility Of their party for legs.
lation in the Senate, and thereby destroy the
moral effect of their rather overdone ciamor
about the sacred right OF majority rule which
the deadlock Is supposed To be endangering.
The fact Is that 80 long as the minority NJ
The dominant party declines to unite with the
majority on Il responsible programme Of legis.
ation. no just or pertinent complaint can be
made by its leaders If a minority of the Senate
declines to let the majority thus escape it's iust
legislative obligation of meeting the responsi.
bility put upon II by the country at the last
National election.
1T DEPENDS ON WHOSE OK is GORED
The absurdity OF the position taken hv. tha