Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-15
Mr.. SPRINGER'S FATE.
he Will Not Be the Ways and
Means Chairman.
WILSON OF WEST VIRGINIA THE MAN.
Why It is Necessary to Make a
Change.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.

SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
Az the time for the meeting Of the special ses-
sion Of Congress approaches great deal of
interest attaches to the fate Of Mr.. Springer.
There Is difference Of opinion as to whether
or not he is again going to the head OF the ways
and means committee. It would probably be
difficult to convince either Mr.. Springer or his
close personal friends that thero is any pros
pect Of his failure. In fact, 1t is more than
probable that he has already got we'll ad-
vanced with the work on the tariff which he
proposes to do as Chairman Of that committee.
On the other hand there is q very general
impression that there is to be a change and that
some other-probably Wilson Of West Virginia
will be made chairman of the ways and means
committee. There are q number Of reasons
given for supposing that there will be change,
snd upon the assumption that It il to be motives
are attributed.
That neither Holman nor Springer will get
their old places back again il extremely prob
able. The thing that points to this il that II Il
proposed by the powers that be to have this .
Congress Of action.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
The democrats have, say the leaders of the
party, by the issues they have forced in their
campaigns obligated themselves to do some
thing. They are compelled in the fulAllment
OF their obligations to cease to be party Of
negation and obstruction, and, having the
power in their hands, to move for ward to the
fulillment Of those things which they have
pointed out as desirable. Whether they win by
| 1t glory or defeat they must press forward.
They feel compelled to make sortie. The
eyes OF the country are upon them and they
cannot afford to remain inactive. They must
do. even II wisdom does not mark all their
action.
To this end all things are to be bent The
committees will be constructed for action. 30
far as the material at hand admits Of it. aud the
| rules presented to the next democratic caucus
for approval will be constructed with the view
OF admitting something to be accomplished
THE TARIFF NOT FORGOTTEN.
At this time all the talk is of fnances-of the
repeal Of the Sherman law. The public atten-
ton is distracted from the tariff and all else
save the accretion or the depreciation Of the
value Of currency. Attention is constantly
perhaps skillfully-diverted from all else. All
the ills that are, and all those to come, are at
tributed to silver, and 1t is SO much talked of
as to lead many to believe that the tariff has
been utterly forgotten in this struggle over the
almighty dollar. But the protectionists Of the
east who have been joining In the cry "catch
thief, may. it is said. wake suddenly to a
realization Of the fact that while there has been
an active chase after the dishonest dollar" the
democrats have not forgotten to look after
some other things The way ia being smoothed
for a very complete and radical revision Of the
tariff in accordance with the principles Of the
democratic national platform.
wuy epprNnvp MANS
As to Springer. it is intimated that individual
ambitions cannot be allowed to stand in the
way Of party interests-not to say anything Of
the interests of the country at large, which are
usually q secondary consideration. Mr..
Springer was made chairman Of the ways and
means committee during the last Congress for
two or three very good reasons, not the least Of
| which was that he could do nothing most skill
fully and with more circumstance and detail
than most men display in performing great
feats. 1t is very seldom that one who is an ad-
mirable instrument for doing nothing is as
serviceable in the accomplishment of things.
Now something is to be accomplished. and 1t is
doubtful whether Springer is the man for the
work. In some respects Mr.. Springer ia one of
the most accomplished and capable men in the
House. He certainly has great store
Of information and experience. and has
an abundance of diligence and good nature,
which ought to be Of value in the composition
of any great statesman. He is parliament
tartan of subtlety and keenness; he was a stu
dent Of the tariff before its revision with view
of reduction was talked Of in Congress, and he
Is weil-read man and good taiker.
WHY he WILL NOT BE CHAIRMAN AGAIN.
The reason why, it is said he is net going to
be chairman of the ways and means committee
when there is something to be done is that he is
not prompt; he is not direct; he scatters, and is
not forceful, and has not that conhdence-of the
House which is necessary 10 leadership-the
leadership important to the present occasion.
There are few men in Congress who can do as
many things fairly well as can Springer. He does
most things, and all fairly WELL but he is SO little
concentrated that the House has got into the
habit of treating him lightly, and men who are
greatly his interiors are in the habit Of speak
| ing slightingy of him. This is all very unjust,
perhaps, but there is no use In placing leader
shipin the hands OF a maA who cannot command.
His gifts were just what was required during
| the last Congress and he accomplished the task
before him with great skill. His wanderings
over all the scientific branches were Just what
was required to make n great show of work
| and take up great deal Of time Now. in the
ingratitude of party, he must in all probability,
be turned down. From time to time men have
| to be turned down for the good. or seeming
good, Of their party. He has been so treated
| before and many as great as he have suffered
| in their personal ambition.
no REAL DEMOCRATIC LEADER
But right here is disclosed to view O most ap-
palling circumstance. There is not known to
| be man in the democratic party in the House
who has the qualifications for a leader in the
great work they have before them. If such a
| man there is he is not known today. A fewmen
there are who have qualities commanding
| enough to hold the respect Of their fellows and
| to command in a fight, but these are such as
| have not the wide information and experience
necessary to steady leadership and not the
knowledge necessary for the construction and the
defense in the House of tariff bill. They are
all lacking in some quality or other which causes
| a fatal defect.
Mr.. Wilson will be made chairman of the
ways and means committee, not because Presi-
dent Cleveland wants him there, but because he
is regarded as the best fitted man to conduct
the work in framing tariff bill in the COM
mittee. He is capable in this line of work, and
is prompt and steady Besides, he can make
an admirable speech on the tariff question in the
House and can answer difficult questions liable
to be put at the leader in the debate of the bill
Up to the point of making bill and introduc-
ing its consideration in the Honse with a
brilliant speech Wilson is just suited to the
task, but beyond that he cannot do more in the
way of a leader on the floor than can Springer
His advantage over Springer lies in a tempera-