The evening times., 1895-12-07

The Democrats of the House and Senate
daily more clearly realize the necessity for
harmonious and concerted action and there
is strong probability that a joint caucus viii
finally he the result of this feeling.
AS matters now are the factions of the
party in both houses are pulling in different
directions and doing more fighting among
themselves than they can possibly y do az anst.
the Republicans.
Many of the Democratic silver men have
returned to the Fifty y-fourth Congress with
feelings of bitterness against their sound
money colleagues and against the admins
tration as marked as tue spirit which ami
mated them in the closing session of the Fiji
ty-third Congress.
These members are showing no desire TO
harmon,ze the party, but are doing every
thing possible I'd widen the breach already
existing between the sOund-nioney men and
the silver men.
While Mr. Crisp received the practically
unanimous Endorsement OF his party for the
Speakership, thereby becoming the minority
leader. his selection was doubtless made
with mental reservations. 1t is certain
the sound-money Democrats and distinct
faction of the free silver men Will not follow
him.
LEADERS IN CONFLICT.
1t was observed yesterday that when
party lines were even indistinet1y dra wn
upon the finr Messrs. Crisp, McCreary
and McMiliin struggled to assume the
leadership. There can be but one termna-
ton tn such a contest, and that is dissen-
sion. strife and fnefficiency.
The expected selection of Gen. Catchings
as a member of the Committee on Rules is
already antagonized by twn-thirsis of the
Democrats, comprising the free silver eie-
ment. -,,-'- -.'
The lack of harmony in the Democratic
party 10 Congress Is, to party leaders, one
OF the ging Indications at the open
ing of the session. and the desirabiiity of an
agreement which would result in laying
aside for the present all questions upon
which members differ seriously is earn
estly hoped for.
While the matter has probably been the
subject of thought by every Democrat in
either house, the movement to bring about
some surt of an agreement and to form
policy which can be adhered to during tli..
session, has been started by a number uf
Southern men. prominent among whom are
Representatives Stallings OF Alabama, Baat-
ner of Louisiana, Black of Georgia, Swan
son and Tucker of Virginia, and others
II is equally apparent that the Demo-
Gratis OF the Senate are divided as to the
reorganization.
Those Senato ors from the North and West.
including Senator German. are strongly in
favor OF permitting the Republicans to
assume control. They take this position
from the standpoint that the Democrats,
having no ma ajority, ought not to be held
responsible for the conduct of the Senate,
for the formuat ion, passage or obstruction
OF legislation, and, in general, for the
ltr,t.a "a .,f tIa n
any time. may be overthrown by an ad-
verse vote Of the Republicans and Populsts.
OTHER SIDES VIEWS.
on the other hand, number of the
Southern Senators, headed by Senator'S
Harris, Morgan, Pugh and Ccekrell, insist
that the Republicans should not be Per
mitted to assume control of the. Senate.
Several OF these genilemeD frankly assert
that the patronage OF the committees, is
in itself something worth fighting for,
and should not he surrendered when, as
they insist, the rules OF the Senate dis
tiDc;ly specify that nothing short of
ma jority of that body shall control In
reorganization.
The greater portion of the Southern Sem
ators have sons. sons-in-law or nephews
in lucrative positions in the Senate. Should
they he deprived of c!iairma DshipS Of com
mittecs they would lose this patronage.
lie proposition is DelnS canyassed among
several Southern SeDato-sfor a compromise,
after conference between the two caucus
by which there shall be a
division OF the committees between the two
parties, owing TO the peculiar composition
of the Senate, and by which possibly the
two main offices OF the Senate should also
be divided, the secretary going to the Repub-
licans and the sergeant-at-arms 10 tue Dem
ocrats.
1t cannot be sscertained, however, that
the majority of the Republican Senators
will look favorably upon proposition o
this character The Republican side believe
they have the power to reorga nize that body
both as to the offices OF the Senate and the
personnel OF the committees.
It is possible that in doing so they may,