The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-07-23
KNoOK.AB ,ur NOTES.

ANSes&St
ut Is the worst move in politics with
In my knowledge! There Is nothing
equal to II in the history Of this coun-
try. It will be more to the Republicans
than anything they could accomplish
with all the money thoy could raise. 1.
Is stupidity gone mad" This com.
ment on the Presidents lettor to Mr..
Wilson I have from Democrat in Con.
gre.s who has a front scat In the syna.
gogue. The circumstances Of tho con.
versation forbid naming the author Of
these caustic comments, but the iPresi.
dent has had no better ftiend than he.
This man was a. much moved by pain
a. by Indignation. He declared that
tho senate cannot DO moved from its
position, as tho President lad good
REASON to know; and, this being true,
lie. among other friends oil the Presi.
,Ient, was at loss 10 understand why
MIR. Cleveland had thought ii wise to
hit his party so terrific a punch below
tho bolt
happened 10 DO in Washington
when the Presidents bombshcll was
exploded in tho house. Dynamite could
hardly have made more OF a sensation.
Indeed Democrat exclaimed in my
hearing, "eireat heavens! Grover has
dynamited usl There is nothing left
tho pieces are not worth gathering upG'
This Ia the feeling that has been pro-
duced by tho remarkable play-disgust
aud utter hopclessness. Everybody was
asking, is asking still, what did lie
expect to accomplish" The ready
answer would BIO that he expected to
djslodge the senate from Its position.
Nor is there any other answer. aud yot
no mau in tho country had 30 good
reason as tho President had to know
that not even lie could drive tho senate,
Not foreseeinG. OF course, that he would
mako 30 remarkable and Sensational q
blundcr. but fearing that he might
commit himself too strongly in favor OF
the house bill anil against tho senate
measure, and wishing to savc tho party
from the inevitable wear and tare,
Democratic senators who thought they
stood we'll with him frankly laid before
tho President the senate situation.
Tho President was told that it was idle
to hope that the senate would lot go any
material point Of Its amendments to
the Wilson bill, no matter what tho
pressure might DO. know that no had
this straight from senators who are on
intimate terms with him and who have
not been among the trouble-breeders.
They gave him tho names OF Democratic
senators who would stand out to tho
end for tho senate tariff scheme, and by
tho. cold logic Of figures thcy thought
they had nade 1t clear 10 tho executive
mind that tho issue sqpare!y presented
was, senate bill OF no bill,
Tho Democratic theory being that any
bill Is better than no bill, it was thought
that tho President would bow to the in.
evitable anu lot II go at that lie did
cling tcnacinusly to free raw materials
rs the pleIlgo OF all others which the
party must keep. A senator tried to
make him believe that 'treer raw ma
terlals" does not moan free raw mater
ials, and that tho Pledge Ia amply kept
in tho senate bill. lle'was asked, also,
to compare the platform with his letter
OF acceptance and see whethcr tho Sou
ate bill did not Ut in snugly with both.
Ho made the comparison, said that to
his surprise tho pledge was not so strong
Us he had thought. and left the impress
sion that his mind was easier on tho
point Of policy, although lie still clung
to free raw materials on tho merits Of
tho question.
After this interview the senator
thought tho President undaratood tho
situation and would not interfere In be-
half OF hopeless cause. AT TINT very
moment tho bombshell was In the
hands Of Chairman Wilson. aud 1t was
left In that custody to DO thrown when
tho critical moment should arrive. A
howl Of rage followed the explosion.
Not a senator had been knocked over.
But tho Democratic ranks had been rip.
pod terribly. Tho senate was oil It's
dignity and enlisted for tho war. Ac.
cusod by tho Democratic President OF
"party pOrfdy aud purity dishonor."'
tho Democratic senator's began To hurl
back their resentment and defiance.
Vest. FREQ trader that hG Is, went at tho
President in fms MissOurian rRVo.
palmes wanted Il aadetsooI that. lse
lind boon n tariff reformor before Grover
Cleveland was hoard Of. SO 1t wont.