The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-15
A FRUITLESS CAUCUS.
Republican Senators Cannot Agree
on a Mode of Procedure.
IN SESSION NEARLY FOUR HOURS.
Each Senator Left Free to Vote and Act
in Accordance with His Own Wishes.
Some Senators. Believe the Tariff Bill
Can be Defeated.

In Accordance with His Own Wishes.
Some Senators. Believe the Tariff BIZ
Can be Defeated.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-The Republican
members Of the senate were in caucus at
Senator Sherman's house last night from 8
until ll;50. The caucus partook more of
the nature of an informal conference than
business meeting, and while it was
called with the purpose of arriving at n
conclusion as to the method to be pursued
by the Republican party in the senate it
closed without eliciting anything in the
way of party declaration. There was no
vote on any proposition whatever, and the
proceedings consisted Of large number
of speeches. There were about twenty
nve OF the thirty-seven senators present,
and every one there had something to say
In the course of the evening.
There was great divergence of views.
Indeed, the accounts of the meeting agree
that while there were probably twenty
brief speeches no two of them were on the
same lines, or advised the same manner of
proceeding. There was no agreement ex-
cept upon the one point, that the bill
should be beaten if possible. On general
lines the greatest divergence of opinion
was OH the ability of the Republicans to
e'N' VIC I'LL ao uil, anu Wulle LutTt was
no formal division which would permit OF
counting the caucus appeared to be
about evenly divided in sentiment upon
this question.
A statement that eastern senators were
favorable to the continuation of the oppo-
sition on the lines which are now being
observed, and that western senators were
opposed to any effort to secure DELAY for
delays sake, would be In a general way
correct, but there were exceptions on both
sides. Senators Aldrich, Chandler, Frye
anduthers contended that the bill could
be defeated, and said that all that was
necessary to demonstrate the correctness
OF this assertion was to give the Demo-
Gratis time to widen the breach which they
asserted now exists. Some of them de-
clared that four or five Democratic votes
could be counted on as opposed to the bill,
while one Of those present went so far as
to say that he was assured of the oppo-
sition of at least seven Democratic sena-
tors. No names of Democratic senators
were given however.
The opposition element contended that
there was no positive assurance of any
Democratic support in opposition to the
bill, aud that the only means of testing
the truth of the rumors of Democratic
disaffection was to let the voting go on.
There was much talk as to the general
demcrits and Inconsistencies of the bill,
and some of the silver Republican senators
did not fail to call attention to the lack of
sympathy which had been displayed on
the part of Republican senators when the
silver repeal bill was before thu senpte
last fall, and to intimate that they had no
desire at this time to heap Goals Of fire on
the heads of that element in the party at
this time by doing kindness in return for
what they termed inconsiderateness.
These silver senators agreed1h the main
with their Republican colleagues as to
misunderstanding Of passing the bill, but
declared they would not filibuster. especi-
ally in view of the strong probability of
the passage of the bill, despite any on
position that might be made to it. The
more radical opponents OF the bill replied
that they had no desire to or intention of
filibustering, but asserted that the bill was
one which could be opposed by legitimate
methods for a long time.
There was also an exchange of views on
the policy Of Republicans voting for the
Democratic amendments to the bill, but
the only agreement reached upon this
point, as upon the other, was to allow for
the present individual Repu ublicans to act
in accordance with their own inclinations
Some OF the senators expressed the opin-
ion at the close of the conference that an
other meeting of the party in the senate
would be held at an early day.
The caucus assigned Senator Patton to
positions on the COMMITTEES on agriculture.
claims, railroads and Indian affairs SEN
ator Mcmillan will resign from the come
mittee on agriculture and will take the
place on naval affairs made vacant by
Senator Stock BRIDGES death. Senator Da-
Wis will retire from the committee on
claims