Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-07
View Of Leading Men as to the Al
legged decentralization"
ABSOLUTELY NO COMPACT MADE YET
The Ice Has Been Broken and
Developments Are Awaited.
HILL w ANTS CTION

The view taken by leading men in Con-
gress of the CIeveland-lIill ''reconcilia-
ton" differs materially from that current
in the newspapers that are making the
most of it.. Among democrats gratifica-
ton is expressed that the two men have
exchanged formal courtesies, and future
events will be watched with interest to
disclose whether their reconciliation" will
ever get beyond that Of cold formality.
1t may be stated with positveness that
there has NOT as yet been any compact
entered into or even understanding reached
between the two men. Whether, the ice
being broken, they eventually get together
is matter for future development.
One of Mr.. Clsveland's best friends in
Congress said today to Star reporter:
"The situation precluded the sudden ac
complishment of such am understanding
between Mr.. Hill and the Preside.t as
some or the papers assume to have been
reached They have just been brought
into communication with each other, and
how much further it will go no one can
tell-not even Mr.. Cleveland himself. 1t is
encouraging that they should be brought
together at ALL but still some Of us think
this has happened rather late in the day
to bear much consequence. A number of
gentlemen, among them myself, have been
trying for year to bring about meeting
to eStGbliSh aInicable relations between Mr..
Hill and the President. not with the view
of giving the administration a new cham
pion, but to eliminate as far as possible
the element Of personal resentment and
personal hostility which has been aSso-
ciated with honest differences of opinion
within the party as to policies. 1t has been
shown from time to time that Cleveland
and Hillsare not far apart in their convc-
tions as to a number of important Ques-
tions, and in so far as they agree as to
policy they ought not to be divided by per-
Sonal considerations.
No Compact Entered Into.
1T is impossible, however, that there
could have been any compact formed be-
tween the two men. either at the dinner
which Mr.. Hill attended at the White House
or before that time. They have had no
chance for conference. They have not been
in communication. beyond the informal re-
quest Mr.. Cleveland is said to have sent to
Mr.. Hill that he accept the formal invita-
ton At the dinner there was no oppor-
tunity for a conference. Mr.. Cleveland's
manner with the Senator is said to have
They talked together for a little while in
the smoking room. but this conversation
was not conducted apart from the other
guests and in privacy. The President drew
his chair over to where Mr.. Hill was sitting
with other guests and engaged him in con-
verSation, but those who We're in the group
say that there was nothing private and con-
fidential indicated in the conversation. The
surrounding circumstances and the brief
time preclude the possibility of the discus
sion of a policy and the formation of a COM
pact. Simply the ice has been broken be-
tween the two men, and II there is any dis
position on their part to become more init
mate the way is opened for them to do So
What consideration may have influenced
the mind of each to yield after so long re-
sisting efforts to bring them together no
one can say except themselves, and neither
can be expected to make the disclosure. 1t
may be assumed, however, that each was
cod hNyo rav1f NlaN-n
land may have been moved by the hope of
gaining an ally in the Senate, but l feel
sure he has given no expression to the
thought and that he does not today know
what Mr. Hills course in the Senate will
be if the Carlisle bill ever gets over there
from the House."
Future Developments Awaited.
In this statement of the case there is the
force of fact, for it is well known that
Hill and Cleveland were not in consulta-
ton before the dinner, and that there was
not sufficient opportunity for so important
matter during the entertainment. Cen
.lemen who were present have assured The
Star reporter that the circumstances of the
conversation were not such as TO admit Of
this.
A great deal of interest is attached, how
ever, to future developments. If an under
standing is reached between the two it will
be through a private call by Mr. Hill upon
been entertained. This event may be look
ed forward to as one of Significance
Mr. Hill believes that some measure to
relieve the situation should be adopted at
this session, and that it is the duty of the
democrats to see that this is DONE He has
held this opinion for some time. and it was
for this that at once on the reaSsembllng
of this Congress in December he took up
the fight for his favorite cioture resolution.
1t is known that he is prepared to make u
fight for action as soon as the opportunity
is offered. 1t does not follow, however,
that his action is going to be influenced by
his entertainment at the White House, or
that what he does will be entirely in ac
cord with the Presidents views. Mr.. Hill
has no close friend and confidant in the
SeEate. and therefore his action usually
comes as a surprise. If he is not greatly
misunderstood by those who have talked
with him on the subject, however, he wants
to make friends with the silver men, and
to appear as the conservative force be-
tween the two extremes in the settlement
of the financial question. 1t is understood
that he prepared a speech on the subject
some time ago, and is now engaged in
it over.
REWARD FOR DESERTERS.