Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-01-17
The President, Senator Brice and
the Financial Question.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA, 1895.

1t is an interesting fact that during
the chaos in which the financial con-
dition appears to be that more men
are turning to Senator Brice for ad-
vice than to any other man either in
the Senate or House. 1t seems that
the Democrats have reached q point
where they want q practical man of
business to talk to them and tell them
what should be done. 1t was in this
same kind of an emergency that the
Democrats of the Senate turned to
Senator Brice in the summer when
all hope of tariff legislation seemed
gone. AS he was the practical man
of affairs then who could give advice
and point the way out of the diff
Guilty. So now, when the party is in
the worst slough of despond it has
ever encountered since the House
sent the half formed Wilson Bill to
the Senate, the Democrats are turn
ing to man of practical affairs in
the hope that he may outline a plain
proposition of finance, which will re-
store confidence in the country, re-
lieve the Treasury of a strain it seems
unable to bear, and to make it pos
sible for the Democratic party to sur
render absolute power with credit.
Senator Brice is not a man, to give
attention to details of legislation and
he may not now undertake to sketch
plan of salvation for those who
have been floundering in the mud on
the House side, but at the same time
it is to him and not to other men that
the administration and its friends
turn for that guidance they have been
unable to find among chosen friends.
Senator Brice was first called to the
White House to talk with the Presi-
dent. While the papers were ringing
with the announcement that Hill had
been chosen to lead the Cleveland
forces to financial victory in the
Senate, because the President had in
vited him to State dinner, the Pres
ident had sent for Senator Brice to
talk finance, and had chosen him be-
cause he wanted a man whose judg-
ment was formed by contact with
the business interests Of the country,
and who understood the problems be-
fore the country. Mr.. Cleveland was
seeking information and he got it.
He probably got more practical in
formation of the affairs that confront
the country In the two hours he was
closeted with the Ohio Senator than
in all the conferences he has held with
the men who have been trying to
pass the Carlisle Bill.
While there had been talk of inan-
cial legislation in the Senate before
the reverse in the House it had not
assumed definite action in the way
of really doing something until after
the conference of Senator Brice with
the President. There were then men
who thought that it was possible that
something might be done If the Presi-
dent was to throw his influence in the
practical channels suggested to him.
| Whether or not Senator Brice will
undertake to draw a bill in accord
ance with what he believes, is not
yet known. 1t is probable that he
will not do so. A bill may be drawn
by some member of the finance COM
mittee at his suggestion which will
meet the difficulties the country is
laboring under. This is more in the
line of the way Senator Brice works.
Perhaps many of the details may not
be his, but if it's general features meet
his approval he may devote himself
to securing such legislation. But it
is doubtful if he will make any such
effort unless there is fair prospect
of success.
| He is not man to butt against q
stone wall, or to try and force through
at the short session Of Congress q
measure which would not command
a good working support. 1t is this
ground that the Ohio Senator has
been surveying with view to .ascer
tanning what first can be done. Their
if success is probable he then may
outline his plan.
There is no debut but what any
plan with which he may be connect
ed will from the first receive the sup
port of large number of Senators
who now come to regard him as one
of the big men not only of the Senate