The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-05-17
BADLY RATIFIED SENATE.
Confusion Not Confined to Democrat
ic Ranks, The Republicans Also
Badly Mixed Up.

OnIy IHlnS Clearly DEMONSTRATED DY
the Republican caucus, q Monday
night, is that the helpless confusion
which apparently exists in the Dem
ocratic ranks, over the tariff bill, is
only exceeded by the badly tangled
state of the Republicans, them
selves.
The caucus was held, a good din
ner was eaten and good punch
drunk, But when the affair was
over the conditions in the Senate
yesterday remained as they were,
with no prospect of a change pro-
ceeding from the action of the eau
Gus. The meeting lasted four hours,
To be sure much of this time was
consumed in eating and drinking,
but there was enough time left for
the business of the occasion to show
that there was just as much con-
fusion in Republican circles as
there is in the Democratic Cir
cles.
The entire time was devoted to
the discussion of what should be
the course of the Republicans.
There are three distinct elements
among the Republican Senators.
One element believes the bill can
be whipped by a determined flibus-
ter to last till next March. Another
element wants the filibustering to
last fouror five weeks-till after the
wool, coal and iron schedules are
discussed-and then if is found that
the Democrats have enough votes
to pass the bill to allow it to come
to a vote. Another element wants
it to come to vote now and to let
the Democrats shoulder the respon-
sibility,
1t is said that Proctor, McMillin,
Power, Pettigrew, Dubois and Per
kins represent the latter element
They made the argument in caucus
that the Republicans we're declar-
ing before the country that the
amendments offered by Jones were
protection amendments, and yet
the party would vote against the
bill and the principles of protec-
ton. This course was embarrass-
ing and not calculated to inspire
the public with confidence in the
honesty of the Senators represent
ing that party. 1t was said also
that while the speeches of Chandler
Lodge and others, who have engag-
ed in satire, were amusing, the
public was very serious over the
tariff matter and desired it settled
at once.
Then quite discussion came up
as to the power of the Democrats
to pass their bill even if the Repub-
licans did not indulge in dilatory
tactics. It was said that if the
Democrats would present a solid
front and become warm in the con-
test they would be sure to carry
their desires out. The way to do
this, it is said, is for the Democrats
to open up business at 9 a. M, and
continue the session till into the
night. To this Aldrich replied that
the Democrats could not get
quorum of their own men. Teller
answered that he would always be
on hand to assist them in making a
quorum. Dubois and others stated
that they would do the same. This
was not at all appreciated by Aid
rich, Hoar and the other gentlemen
who want delay, and, as has been
said, the caucus went to pieces
without doing anything other than
developing the fact that the differ
ence among the Republicans were
about as great as those in the Dem
ocratic ranks.
If the confusion was limited to the
Democratic part of the Senate it
might be possible in the course of
time to penetrate it, but now, as it
has spread to the Republican side,
the density of it all makes any
guess as towhat will be the OUT
come or when the matter will be
settled, at present beyond the pow
er of man. But the stand taken
by the Teller and Dubois element in
the Republican caucus, that the
Democrats had only to make a sure
enough fight and they would win at
once, may probably have the effect
of inducing the latter to adopt the
plan of calling the Senate together
at an earlier hour and sitting late
and thereby demonstrate a desire