The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-12-13
FROM THE CAPITOL.
Our Correspondent Talks in a Sage
Manner of Things in General
About Washington.
Especial TO the Citizen

The boldest political combine ever
formed in this country is that domi-
mated 10y Senator Quay, Boss Platt and
Speaker Reed 1t is out for everything
in sight. Its first victory was in the
election of the House officers, but it
wasn't satisfied to merely name the
men who filled the named offices of the
House; it also insists upon naming ev-
cry subordinate employed by them.
Every day men who were never before
seen by the new Clerk, Doorkeeper and
Sergeant-at-arms of the House present
themselves as their suhordinates and
are sworn in after exhibiting the o. X.
of the combine. That combine Will
also control the make up of the House
Committees, and is working hard to
get its grip on the Senate Committees,
but that is more difficult, as many in
f1uential Republican Senators are bit
terly opposed to the combine. 1t has
also another difficult job on hand in
its eff rts to control the Republican
National Committee, which meets
here tomorrow to name the time and
place for holding the Republican Nat
lonal Convention. Although McKin-
ley and Reed are in deal TO prevent
Harrlson's nomination, that does not
prevent Mckinley's coming here in
torce to fight the combines attempt to
control the National Committee. OF
course the ultimate object of the Quay
Platt Reed combine is the nomination
Of Reed for President.
Much nonsense, some of it utterly
idiotic, has been written because Presi-
dent Cleveland was absent from Wash
ingIon when Lord Sallsbury's answer
to Secretary Olney's note of last july.
asking whether England intended to
afbitrate its boundary dispute with
Venezuela, and notifying England
that this country would not tolerate
the frrcib e seizure of territory claimed
ny Venezuela arrived Stripped of all
EeiDlage here are the facts: President
Cleveland knew the nature of the an
S"er; he also knew that it was useless
t. send special message to Congress
with that answer until the House had
is committees, therefore he concluded
To spend the time duck hunting in
stead of waiting in Washington. If
anybody is blamed it ought to be
Speaker Reed for not announcing the
House Committees.
Although every effort is being made
10 keep i, quiet, 1t is well known in
Washington that there is bitter fight
raging netween the two factions which
go 10 make up the forty-two Republic
can members of the Senate. Nominal
~ these factions are known as the old
and the new Senators, and the appar-
ent object of the fight is to obtain prop
er recognition for the new Senators.
but i'll reallty 1t is fight between the
East aud West, the gold and silver Re
puhllcans. Up to date the silver men
seem to he little ahead, but that as
sumption is based upon the sincerity
of Senator Chandler, of n. H., who
holds the balance of power in the eau
Gus committee, which is making up u
list to fill the vacancies in Senate COM
mittees, and who has been loud in pro-
fessions of friendship for silver. Threat
are beinsmade of IA revolt on the part
OF The silver Senators if they do not get
what they think they are entitled to
at the hands of the committee Should
this revolt actually take place, Senator
Teller would he the Western candidate
for President pro TEN of the Senate
The Democratic Senators have agreed
to allow the Republicans to organize
the Senate if they can agree among
themselves to Il sufficient extent to do
50.
Judge Corc0ran, of Boston, who is
Chairman of the Democratic State
Committee of Mass, has been spend-
ing several days in Washington. He
does not regard the Presidential fight
as already won, by any means. He
said: "The election of '96 is a long way
oil, and nothing can be determined I'M
I'll the candidates are named aud the
ISSUES OF the campaign developed. 1t
Will not be difficult for the Democratic
party to find strong candidate. We
New Englanders do not take the third
term talk seriously, but we do believe
that the East can and will present
some Very strong names at the Nation
al Convention. To my mind Whitney
Is a strong mar and Olney is another.
think hey are the leading men in
the East, hut it is difficult at this time
10 say which Is the best to make the
racer
"A movement is on foot to hold a Joint
caucus OF Democratic Senators and
Representatives for the purpose of try
Ing to harmoniZe existing differences
in Democratic ranks and to agree upon
some line of policy to be followed i'm
both House and Senate during the
present session of Congress. Represent
ative Stallings, of Alabama. who is ono
of the leaders in this movement. saws.
There is really only one question re-
gardlng which the Democrats are bad
ly divided. That is the money ones
ton, and If we can reach some satisfac.
tory agreement by which it NAV he
eliminated from our discussions for the
present, there is no reason whv we
should not get together and present a
solid front to the Republicans. am
in favor of free coinage, but | do NOT
believe the discussion of that one ones.
ton can advance the cause of silver
now, while its disorganizing effect il
extremely hurtful to the party and to
the South. | would be In favor-ifa
conference of the whole party i'm Con.
gress can be arranged-of having n
committee appointed to confer with
the President and Secretary Carlisle
regarding the steps necessary to SECURE
degree Of harmony and establIsh q
DOliCV llnOn which uua oa, III -. -