The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-31


the Republican party In both houses as
speedily as possible.
THE POPULISrS' POSITION.
The Populists had felt that IL was due
10 themselves as a party that they should
take no hand whatever in the orstniza-
| ton, and sh )uld refrain from voting, thus
! leaving the Republicans and the Demo-
| Gratis to settle the question Of oreaniza-
ton among themselves. The Popuist
| party I'm the Senate and in the House, ana
in the country. was distinct, political en-
tity, having its organization IN every
| State and territory, and having Poph-
lis. vote within 10000 Of the number
which landed Mr.. Lincoln IN the tresi-
dency in 1861.
| The POpulists were a distinct organiza-
tion. and they proposed 70 maintain IL
| in this and in future Congresses.
Mr. Harris asked Mr.. Allen Whetner
| the Populist senators-an annex OF 'ie
| Republican party-had not deliberately
! determined TO allow by their silence d
! Republican organization Of the senate
and whether, therefore. the senator iPom
| Nebraska did not understand and Know
| that the Populists were responsible Tot
! the result Of the vote, as II tney had
! cast their votes for the resolution, IL
stead Of sitting silent.
Mr. Allen replied that when the foph-
lists came 10 consider the question they
/ realized that they held the balance OK
power in their hands, and he added win
! much emphasis, that they were going 10
! utilize IL TO its fullest extent, as they
| went along.
The Democratic party he continued, had
| proven itself absolutely incapable or
legislation. daughter on the kepuoncah
| side Of the chamber and In the gaherie-l.
IL had claimed TO be IN favor Of tarin
IN
its tariff bill came before the senate
last session it proved to be loaded al
| both ends. and I'm the middle Tor protec-
| tion. daughter.
| He had no faith in the Democratic
| party I'm It's capacity or It's disposition 10
| relieve the country; not the slightest
| (More laughter. lie wanted the respoh-
| sibilty for legislation TO begin now SO
! that the people would see that the 40
nothing policy Of the Republican party
| resulted in about the same thing as the
| policy Of the Democratic party uLaugh-
| ter on both sides of the chamber
WHEN THE SENATE is FULL"
Mr.. Mitchell Rep), OREGON. remarked
! that the Republicans were not In minor
| ity when he offered his resolution
and We're not in majority now.
| The Senate was composed whch
| fun (the double meaning of that Woid
| causing laughteD OF elgnty-elsht' Dul Il
was not full now (mOre laughter, having
| only eighty-seven members there beihs
| one vacancy from Delaware. of these
eiehtv-seven. the Republicans had forty
| two. the Democrats, thirty-nine bnd
the Populists six. If that state OF the
| case gave a majority TO any political
party in the Senate ii would require
some kind Of figuring which he had no
| knowledge OF.
BUTLER HEARD FROM.
Mr.. Butler Pop). Of North Carolina
| broke into the debate and made an inn
petuous speech in defence Of the position
taken by the Populst senators. Address
ing his remarks to Mr.. Harris, who had
asked him whether he did not hold his
seat by cooperation with the Republican
party in his State, he said.
II hold my seat by such cooperation
for the simple reason that the party TO
which you belong had got TO be so cor
rupt in my State that all decent men con-
dsmned IT, Your party could De to-day
|, IN power in North Carolina IT II had
stood by its pledges and promises. The
Populists had either TO vote to-day with
the Democrats or organize the Senate, or
they had TO vote with the Republican
party. They preferred to vote with you
or stand alone"
Mr. Hale remarked that the Republicans
in the Senate were I'm a plurality, but had
no power OF carrying any measure by
their own votes alone. He referred TO
the vote on Mr. Mitchelfs resolution,
and said that If the POpulsts had voted
with the Democrats (Only one Of them
Mr.. Kyle-having done so) the result
would have been 30 yeas and 80 nays,
and the Republican programme would
have tumhled TO pieces. The same thing
that had occurred to-day would occur
again and again. the Populist senators
having the balance of power.
All discussion therefore. as 10 whether
the responsibility for legislation lay
with tho Republican party was outside
OF the domain of discussion, and was in
the domain Of the concrete.
WHY THEY ARE QUIET.
"The concert of the whole matter"
Mr.. Vest broke in, "is that the Populists
remained silent and allowed the Republic
cans TO take charge OF the committees.
because the Finance Committee, as now
constituted, has a majority Of silver men.
1t has been charged that that committee
consists Of six Republicans, four Demo
Gratis, and one POpulist. but the Senator
from Colorado (Mr WOlcOtD was put
upon II by the Republicans with the un-
derstanding that that would give ma
iority OF silver-coinage men 80 that COM
mittee. That is the concert in this whole
business, and without that arrangement
we never would have seen our Populist
friends sit dumb as oysters when this
thing was carried through"
Mr. Allison remarked that the cOm-
pleXion of the Finance Committee had
not been changed from what 10 was In
the last Congress. It's numbers was only
increased. No matter what We say here,
it is known that that committee was ana
is in favor Of the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver. and n Is also known
that no organization of this Senate could
have been made without practically that
being SO, and therefore il is that we are
dealing here to-day with leather and
prunella' as respects the whole question.
FREE COINAGE MAJORITY.
1T is well known" Mr.. Allison added
that majority of that committee as
organized would be in favor OF the free
coinage Of silver, every Democrat Oh IL
being understood TO be in its favor.
SO that, as respects the selection Of
Mr.. Wocott or as respects the selection
of the new Democratic member of the
committee, we do not deceive each
ohter."
Mr.. German confessed his amazement
at the distinguished senator from Iowa
proclaiming to the country (after he and
his party friends had shown so much
anxiety 10 get control of the comnittee) |
that they had no power 10 carry out the |
DEGREES Of their party.
Senators Of the other side" Mr.. Cor
man declared, with much emphasis "a-..
responsible from this time hence for |
the legislation Of both branches Of Com
Sress. You came here (aDostroDhfzins, |
the Republicans). knowing that Won had |
not clear majority I'm the Senate and |
we had made provision last session for |