The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-03
ANXIOUS POLITICIANS
Democrats and Republicans Held CauCuseS
Yesterday to Perfect Future Plans.
The SILVER DEMOCRATS TALK LOUD
II IN More Thnn Probable That the
10 Thor"u shIy Reorgantxc the
S"nnte-To Do This Two votes Out
side Their Rnnks IN Necessary.

Washington, Dec. "A conference of
senators favorable TO the free coinage
OIL silver was held this morning in the
harple room. There were present Il bout
nlteen Senators made up of Rcpubli-
cans, Democrats and Populists. l'romi-
hent among these were Senators Tel
ier. STUART. Call. Allen. Tillman and
Mantle. The conference was called for
the purpose of enabling those favoring
silver 10 disucss the subject I'm an in
formal way. No effort was made to out
iine formal plan of campaign. The
spirit that animated those prcsent
however showed that they intend to
Keep up the fight in the Senate as vigo-
rouSiN as they have in the past The
ffesidcnt's message is bound, Teller
SAYS. 10 open w a discussion OF nnun-
cial question, and there can be no
discussion of that question, he asserts,
without Il discussion of the free coin
age question. II was agreed that no
point should be waived, and that in Il
general manner the silver question
should be forced to the front whenever
an opportunity presented itself An
other conference will probably he held
later in the session.
There was some talk on the part of
Il fCW ot the more ardent Silvcritcs OF
attempting to reorganiZc the Senate on
Il silver basis, but this was not taken
seriously 1t Is not thought probable
that such an effort Will he made. The
silver men will content themS, Ives with
the capture of the Financial Committee
they having held this committee during
the last Congress. The Republicans will
enter no protest to this plan for tho
reason that the majority OF the Senate
Is fnNora bic To free coinage and any
uction the committee might take if il
were organized by the gold standard
men would meet with prompt revision
III the Senate when the body took Il
to favor the selection OF Mr.. Wulcott.
of Colorado, for ;he vacancy caused hy
he retirement of Mr.. Mcpherson, OF
New Jersey.
The Republican senatorial caucus, ar-
Ter a brief session Of half an ho,.. u,i-
iourncd until Wednesday withOu, hnv-
ing ACCOMPLISHED anything beyond tho
continuing in office of Mr. Sherman as
chairman ana Mr.. Dubois as secretary
The caucus developed the fac; that tho
Senators were not in any hurry to take
up the work of rcnrganizin. the Senate
l'he suggestion was made that :, nGni-
nation of II candidate for President pro
tSmporc, be made. but this was COM
bnttcd ON the grounds that when that
w2s done the caucus should be ready 10
put forward candidates for the otn -.
officers of the Senate
The caucus held this afternoon by Re
puhlican Senators. although devoid of
positive action. demonstrated th,. fact
that probably successful attempt
Will be made To reorganiZc the Senate
IN both committees and elsewhere Off
cera. ihe Senators were not I'm session
more than half an hour but during that
hrief period there was general clear
ing OF the atmosphere, which had been
somewhat obscured by the action of n
Few Senators. who met Saturday night
for tile purpose Of preparing n plan of
action that should result in taking iha
management of the Senate out of The
hands OF the older members.
The result of this afternoons action
is the reconciliation of tho conflicting
elements and the establishment of n
desire 10 do that which is for the hest
interest of the whole party. The caucus
met with feeling of apprehension i'm
the minds OF some as to what Mcssrs
iiahShr"ush. PettiGrew, Clark. Garter.
Mantlc. Dubois, Chandler CalIingcr
ana Proctor. who held the conference
above referred 10. intended doing in the
matter of organization. \ few of The
leaders Of those Western Senator's wcrc
determined to force action at once IN,
senators Proctor and Chandler fay-
Or"d waiting until "a more Convpnfcn,
season and were not prepared to 20 to
the extreme 10 which the course of th,.
others pointed
Mr.. Dubois was onDoscd IN ,,o,,,,;,,
Ing the chairman Of the caucus. Mr.
sherman appointing the committee Ia
Ill the existing committee vacancies
as he looked upon this as inirnicnl IN
tiie interests OF the younger members.
lie had resolution providing for the
selection OF Il committee of nine for
thiS purpose by the caucus MIR Uoar
had resolution prepared instructine
Senator sherman, as chairman OF This
caucus. to name the committees but
neither proposition was submitted II
is said that the brief discussion showed
quite plainly that the caucus would not
Permit Dubois plan to prevail and MIR
Shernnns privilege set aside 1t was
finally agreed that II would be better to
wait until a future day for the deter
mintion of the whole subject.
Senator Frye was suggested as Prcsi-
dent pro temporc, and no other name
was mentioned He Will be nomI
mated. but II was deemed useless to do
anything in the matter to-day for the
reason that no President pro tcmporo
could be elected so long as the Vice
President fills the chair If the Repub
iicans can show the Democrats that
they have enough votes to elect the
president pro tempore the election
would he held. IT is understood that
Mr.. Sherman Is to consult with the op-
position caucus chairman and arrange
fer time for this rote - hn tat"r II
by that time the Republican have O.
Eoou showing for the other Offices, ,h,.
whole ticket will be placed In the field.
OF course, in order to reorganiZc the
Senate the Republicans must have two
votes outside OF those in their own
ranks. and Senators Stewart and Jones
nj