Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-02
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.
A conference of Senators favorable to
the free coinage of silver was held this
morning in the marble room. There
we're present about fifteen Senators,
made up of republicans, democrats and
populists. Prominent among these
were Senators Teller, Stewart, Call,
Allen, Tillman and Mantle. The con-
ference was called for the purpose OF
enabling those favoring silver to dis
cuss the subject in an informal way.
No effort was made to outline form,
plan of campaign. The spirit that ami
mated those present, however, showed
that they intend to keep up the fight
in the Senate as vigorously as they
have in the past. The Presidents
message is bound, Mr.. Tyler says, to
open up discussion of the financial
question, and there can be no discus
sion of that question, he asserts, with
out q discussion of the free coinage
question. 1t was agreed that no point
should be waved, and that in a general
manner the silver question should be
forced to the front whenever the op
portunity presented itself. Another
conference will probably be held later
iu the session. There was some talk
on the part of g few of the more ardent
silverites of attempting to reorganize
the Senate on a silver basis, but this
was not taken seriously. 1t is not
thought probable that such an effort
will be made. The silver men will con-
tent themselves with the capture of the
finance committee, they having held
this committee during the last Con-
gress. The republicans will enter no
protest to this plan for the reason that
the majority of the Senate is favorable
to free coinage and any action the COM
mittee might take, if it were organized
by the gold standard men, would meet
with prompt revision in the Senate
when the body took vote.
All the Virginia members Of the
House were present to-day. Mr.. Ell
lett's seat was adorned with large,
magnificent basket of beautiful roses,
sent by lady.
Among the spectators in the Senate
gallery to-day when the new Senators
were sworn in was the wife of Senator
Martin, OF Virginia.
General Walker, the single republi-
can member of the House from Virginia,
received q good deal of attention from
members of both sides of the House
to-day. The General says he has no
particular object to accomplish at
this session and knows that if he had it
would be difieultjo as new members
can't do much. He says he found out
soon after he arrived here that the Of
fcers of the House had been picked
out, and therefore did not attend the
Southern republican caucus, as he
thought the wiser plan for him was to
accede to the inevitable and thereby be
enabled to get some of the smaller
places for Virginians, and that he will
do 80 he has every reason to believe.
Among the spectators in the House
gallery we're about twenty Alexan-
audrians who got passes from Congress
mon Meredith, though members are al
lowed only three.
Senator Daniel says he has one boy
at school near Alexandria aud has an
other who he will send to schoolin that
city, and that while he has not as yet
determined to reside there during the
session he is thinking about doing so,
but will not come to q definite concln-
sion upon the matter until his return
from Lynchburg, where his daughter
will be married to Mr.. Harper, young
lawyer from Wilmington, North Caro-
lima, on the 10Th inst.
The republican caucus of the SeRste ad-
journed until Wednesday without having &C.
complished anything. The caucus developed
the fact that the Senators were not in any
hurry to take up the work of recognizing
the Senate. The suggestion Was made that
candidate for President pro tempore of the
Senate be made, but this was combstted on
tbs grounds that when that was done the eau
Gus should be ready to put forward candidates
for the other elective offices of the Senate.
There appears to be disposition on the part
of the republicans to nominate q ticket for all
the Offices and it is believed that this will be
done at the next meeting.
The cordality with which Senator German,
Of Maryland, was received by his associstes
on both sides of the chamber was one of the
marked features Of the day. He entered the
chamber closely followed by Mr.. Brice, of
Ohio, and as the two stood talking and jok-
ing, Senator Frye, of Maine, and Others join
cd in the badinage, and Senator Frye in an
audible voice, remarked: "They have not
downed this man yet" Senator Sherman
entered alone and took little part in the gen.
eral congratulations.