Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10
UNDER THE SURFACE
The Great Political Conflict Going
On in Congress.
DIVISIONS AMONG THE DEMOCRATS
The Next House May Choose the
Next President.
PLANS OF REP UBLICANS

Both political parties are already making
preparations for an unusual contest In the
congressional elections next fall
Under the surface OF a somewhat eccen-
trio and erratic Congress the fiercest politi-
cal duel of recent years is being fought out
There is so much on the surface of affairs
which is distracting. so many small con-
fiicts and irritating disagreements and dis
putes over what appear to be small mat
ters that the vital action is lost sight OF
and public attention is attracted to the hap
penings Of today, yesterday and tomorrow
The details of the conflict attract attention
as separate issues and the grand final OBJ
ject which is being striven for is more or
less obscured in the confusion. The whole
grand situation is almost too big TO be
taken in by the observer There is a three
cornered fight as fierce as anything that
has been known in politics. and the far
seeing leaders in Congress are reaching out
in all directions as far as they can, TO
grasp that which they see in the near fu-
ture. The conflict within the democratic
party is irrepressible. Though the admins
tration, through Mr.. Clevelands advantage
OF position, has been generally able TO
command Congress, as in the silver fight,
the Hawaiian matter and other things
public. wicked thrusts are being made con-
stantly by the opposing democrats. and no
unity Of thought or action is found. In a
hundred ways that do not come TO the at
tention of the public democratic Senators
and Representatives attack the administra-
tion, and there is a constant plotting and
counter plotting for domination in the
party.
Republicans Engaged i'm Grand STRAIT
egy.
The republicans in both houses are striv-
ing for the bigger game, and their action.
the situation is presented to them day
by day. is governed. not by a purpose to
effect this proposition or that which may
be brought forward, but to place themselves
in a position where they shall stand apart
urharmed. and preserve their forces In
compact order for the struggle which will
come when the warning factions of the
democrats settle their differences in one
way or another and join in the attack upon
the common enemy. The purpose OF all
the republican leaders is to keep up the
conflict within the lines Of the other party
as long as possible irritating first one and
then the other to stin more bitter factional
disagreements. Their policy In dealing
with the tariff bill in the House was in
fiuenced by the condition in which they
found the democrats and by their indirect
action they assisted the most radical OF
their opponents to gain a partial advantage
in their contention for supremacy over the
party. Then, again, they threw In the
weight of their votes to encourage the 9TH
er faction of the fight.
In the Senate they might have prolonged
the contest over the federal elections hill
indefinitely and perhaps have defeated II.
but here the policy of giving their opponents
every opportunity to do what they regard
as unwise controlled, and the passage OF
the bill was permitted in order to give clear
way for the tariff legislation, which, while
OnINOSinU
probably not defeat If they could
The Tariff i'm the Senate.
1t is believed that when the tariff bin
finally gets in the Senate its course through
that body will not be seriously obstructed
by the republicans. Republican members
of the finance committee stand together
with but one purpose and they are offering
no obstruction. They made in the commit
tee a formal demand for hearings and en-
tered their formal protest against the action
of the democrats, but gracefully stepped
aside before the superior power Of the ma
jority of the committee. Gravely, and in
the most formal way, they will make a
display of their antagonism to the bill In
the various stages OF its progress through
the committee, but they will not attempt to
impede it. In the Senate Il is believed they
Will follow the same course. There Is some
difference Of opinion among them as to the
policy to be pursued in the Senate. but they
Will act unitedly in support of whatever
policy is decided on. A great many letters
are being received by republican Senators
urging them to flibuster against the bill
and to delay its passage as long as possible,
IL they cannot defeat it. one argument
presented in favor of this course is that tie
longer the delay and uncertainty. the more
keenly will be felt the Inconvenience and
injury to business. caused by the revision OF
the tariff. On the other hand contention is
made that though this be so. there might
be a reaction, injurious to the republicans.
by the responsibility being put upon them
for the protracted uncertainty, which might
be even more DISASTROUS TO some business
interests than any injuries which the law
itself might infiict-at least IL not more
disastrous. more irritating. The leaders
are considering this matter calmly and
judicially and will follow that course which
seems most apt to emphasize and impress
on the public an appreciation of the con-
sequences OF democratic legislation. What
ever course they follow they have no .dea
OF defeating the bill and the chances are
that their policy will be to let the democrats
have the right of way after they have made
suitable display OF their opposition. and
then let the bill go through to work out TIE
consequences which may attend IL. The
desire of the leaders OF both parties is that
the bill should go into operation early
enough for its effect the country 10 be
felt and fully appreciated before the next
congressional election.
The democrats, while striving TO carry out
their party policy as each faction under
stands il. are fighting even more fiercey
between themselves as to the exact scope OF
that policy than they are TO force IL past
the republican opposition.
The House and the Presidential Elec-
tion.
The end of all this fighting and plotting
is the control Of the next House and that
too. because Of an importance attached to
it far beyond the ordinary question OF con-
trolling the legislative body. While MOTH
ing is being said publicly ON the question
there are very few prominent men in ma
tional politics who do not feel that there
is a probability that the next House OF
Representatives may be called upon to elect
the President Among the democratic lead
ers the belief that this will be so is almost
universal Mr.. Cleveland and his advisers
entertain this opinion and so do the demo-
cratic leaders in both the Senate and the
House whether administration or anti-ad-
ministration men. The extremists not only
believe that the next House may elect the
President but most of them would lie
gratified TO have IL so. They believe that
the dissatisfaction among democrats with
Mr. Clevelands administration will enlarge
the vote of the populists besides losing the
state of New York to the democrats, and
they argue that IL New York should 20
republican when the presidential election
comes on, and the populsts carry Just
those states which they carried before. not