Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-12
PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS
The Subject Discussed BY the Republican
Congressional UonaUD
Advantages of Such a Movement Set
Forth-Where the Objection
Comes From.

recently held a meeting, WHICH was the
| first meeting since the election, to deter
mine a number of important questions
One CT the objects before the meeting was
to pass upon the work of the committee
during the campaign and to audit the
financial accounts. They were found to be
entirely satisfactory. Another proposition
| which came up for consideration was
whether the committee shall retain a per-
manent headquarters in Washington That
subject has gone over for consideration for
a week, and will probably be called up for
determination at the adjourned meeting of
the committee tomorrow. One of the argu-
ments which are urged in favor of contin-
uing headquarters here is that there shall
be some meeting place or club room
where the new members of the next Con-
gress may meet and become acquainted
with each other and with the leaders of
the party. Another object for keeping a
permanent headquarters in this city is
that it may be sort of permanent bureau
of information, from which campaign lit
erature may be sent out constantly. in
structing the voters, so that when the
presidential campaign and another con-
gressional campaign shall arrive the COM
mittee which will have charge at tina
time will not be compelled 20 go over the
entire work from the beginning, as has
been the custom.
1t has been claimed for this plan that it
would be exceedingly beneficial to the
party; that the events as they arise in
Congress and in the country touching
party principles could be carefully sum-
married. and speedily transmitted to the
voters, and that, moreover, at these head
quarters a political library could be kept,
thoroughly indexcd. always accessible to
the men of the party, and that the head
quarters conducted could not fail to De
an important auxiliary to the party work.
There Is very strong movement in the
party for maintaining such headquarters
here. OF course, a considerable sum Of
money would be required to do this, and
1t would be necessary to secure this money
by contributions; for 1t will not surprise
the country to know that the republican
congressional campaign committee like all
of it's predecessors, has used whatever
funds were collected during the campaign
for the purposes of The campaign.
Some Objections Urged.
There is, however. earnest objection to
this plan OF keeping a permanent repubn-
can headquarters here, and it has become
more pronounced since the recent inter-
views with Congressman Babcock upon
the tarin question. These interviews, Mr..
Babcock says, have been grossly perverted
and have been misunderstood. But 1t is
evident, from comments winch nave ap-
peared in the party press and the under
current of opinions which 1t is known ex-
lists in the two houses, that the attitude of
Congressman Babcock, which is plainly in
favor OF less radical tariff than the more
advanced protection, or, as some call them
prohibitory schedules of the Mckinley act
has given offense TO the more stalwart pro-
lection wing OF the party, of whom, for
instance, Congressman Boutelle to judge
from his own words. recently printed in
these columns, is a type. The result of this
agitation Is having an unfavorable effect
upon the project to continue a permanent
congressional campaign headquarters here.
The suggestion is made that, under the
circumstances, 1T will not be easily possible
TO OBTAIN the necessary money to maintain
such headquarters from the protectionsts
ana IL is said to he fact that IL is the
protectionists generally who have been the
most liberal contributors to all campaign
funds. This fact is frankly Acknowledged
ty some or those who are interested in the
movement.
The Duty of the Congregational COM
mittec.
There have been, moreover, some out
spoken interviews by republicans who as
sumo to believe that a congressional cam
paign committee Is of no particular adj
vantage to party, and who are disposed
to dispute the claim of the present con-
gressional committee to any considerable
credit for the results of the campaign.
There Is said also to be SOME jealousy
between the national republican commit
tee, which. 1t assumes, exists until 1t is
displaced by committee which will be ap-
pointed at the next republican national
convention, and the congressional commit
tee as to future work. Members of the
national committee claim that the repub-
lican congressional committee has no
longer any function. and that by the terms
OF its creation 1t has, in fact, ceased TO
how cary fl,t H.
gressional committee was appointed for
the purpose of aiding in the election of a
Congress. that that work has been accom-
plished, and that the republican congress
thority to act, or to exist, and that the
party will appoint another congressional
committee for the next congressional cam
paign.
Interest in the Subject.
These are some of the opinions which
are being expressed on both sides of this
controversy, which has become quite in
teresting, and which is occupying the at
tention of many members of the House.
Incidentally, 1t is a subject in which the
present officials of the republican congress
sional committee take a deep personal in
terest. II it shall be decided that the COM
mittee shall continue it's headquarters here
the probability is that the present office
force somewhat reduced, would be main
tanned. That would continue Mr.. Mckee
in charge of the committee headquarters,
and the republicans would be able to avail
themselves of his skill compiler OF
political information. Moreover, 1t would
furnish convenient headquarters where
the incoming members of the new Con-
gress, many of whom are Ignorant OF
Washington public life and are not ac-
quainted with Congressman generally could
make valuable acquaintances.Ar Arguments OF
this sort are being used with earnestness
in no n l.
quarters The probability is that a deci-
sion will be reached as to the proposition
to continue the headquarters open at the
adjourned meeting of the committee, which
will occur tomorrow.