The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-04-27
Washington Letter.

The more one studies the work ofthe
Democratic senators the more apparent
it becomes that they need a leader.
There is too much guerrilla
fighting Single leadership is in an
army, if results are to be accom-
plished. 1t may please the personal
friends of a senator for him to strike
out on his own hook and make a brill
liant attack on a party measure, but the
example Is fatal to party harmony, as 1t
Is always followed 10y those who never
would have attempted to lead such
movement. 1t is not necessary that "A
leader shall have more ability than any
of his followers. All that is needed is
that one man shall be recognized as
leader The full significance of tins
will be plain to any Democrat who will
take the trouble To ask half Il dozen
Democratic senators to name the Demo
cratic leader of the senate, and note the
number named. Now there may be a
dozen leading Democratic senators, but
there should be and can toe only one
real leader at Il time. If the Democrat
ic senators had one recognized leader
the party would be spared the Spectacle
OF the uncertainty now surrounding the
tariff bill. OF course every Democrat
knows that the senate IL going TO pass
tariff bill, but there Is no man who can
now say Just what sort of a bill 1t Will be
when tits passed. This situation, with
a clear Democratic majority IN the sen
ate Is humilIating to every Democrat
and should not be possible and would
not he if the Democratic senators were
organized as good party men should he.
The attempt to saddle part of the re-
sponsibility for this unfortunate state of
affairs upon President Cleveland fools no
one who is converSant with the attitude
the President occupies towards the SEN
ate. His skirts are clear.
Senator Smith, of New Jersey, added
his voice to that of Senator Hill in at
tacking the income tax and other parts
of the tariff bill, In a set speech delivered
in the senate this week. After stating
his reasons for opposing the income tax
and other schedules OF the bill, Mr..
Smith said: But in juSti ce to my par
ty. my state and myself, | cannot leave
any room for misIpprehenslon- The
Democratic party Is under Il distinct OBJ
legation to confer the boon OF tariff re-
form upon the American people. We
cannot hope to overcome the present
dissentions and fulfill this obligation un
less we beat down all attempts to create
dIscord within the ranks and strive earn
estly for party harmony" MIR. Smith
has doubtless heard the story of the elev-
en- obstinate jurors. His plea for party
harmony recalled it to many of his
hearers.
Owing to a press of other business the
III Il. H..
treaty this week, and senator German
vino as chairman OF the committee on
Foreign Relations has charge of ii, hav-
ing sometime ago made arrangements
which necessitated his paying Il visit to
Alabama about this time, asked that its
further consideration be postponed until
May 3, which was agreed to by the sem
ate From the best obtainable infor-
nation there seems to be no doubt of
the ratification of the treaty 10y much
more than the required two thirds vote.
There has been lots of talk here about
the production of evidence showing that
the navy department did not find out
all of the 'ssuide'' business connected
with the making of armor plates by the
Carnegie company, but up TO this time
nothing new has been placed before
Secretary Herbert, although he has been
ready and even anxious to get hold of
anything new in that line.
Forty seven Democrats in the House
stood out to the last and voted against
the adoption of the rule for counting a
quorum, but its adoption was inevitable,
and, as long as it seemed impossible to
keep a Democratic quorm on hand it is
perhaps Just as well. There will be no
more dead-l0cks during this session.
That Is much to be thankful for. The
Republicans are pretending to be much
pleased over the adoption of the rule,
but as matter of fact they are not. 1t
| ends their ability to make trouble when
| ever they pleased, and for that reason is
| disliked by them. 1t is not probable
that the new rule will be put in force
| often. Its existence will be all that is
needed to make voting quorum, as a
| lule.
1t seems a little like putting the cart
I before the horse to follow the quorum
| counting rule with the enforcement of
the old law docking the pay of members
of the House for the time they are alb
sent without leave, except on account of
sickness either of themselves or in their
families. but it is to he done. Perhaps
if this law had been enforced from the
beginning of the session there would
have been no necessity for IA quorum
counting rule. 1t might have kept a
! Democratic quorum on the floor Of the
House. NJ.