Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-18
EXTRA SESSION TALK
Democratic Leaders Not So Statistic d
as a Few Days Ago.
fHE REPUBLICANS S9REWD PROGRAM
Peculiar Position the Silver Men
viii Be Placed In.
UN s E 7 I'll ED + z f L / n G

The views of certain democratic leaders
on the subject Of an extra session of the
Fifty-fourth Congress undergoing
decided change. "A few days ago they were
looking upon the prospect with composure.
II not with feeling Of congratulation.
The shifting Of many difficulties onto
the shoulders of the republic ans seemed to
promise a return OF good fortune to the
demotI acy. The argument was that the
republicans, thus made to take up their
burden at earlier day than expected.
would founder the democracy had done.
and also come to grief.
But all of this was predicated on a cer-
tain line of reasoning, which was that the
currency question would be the one to con-
front the republicans upon their coming
together. Ths President would make that
the subject of his special message, and it
was hastily assumed that the new Congress
would be obliged to plunge right into it.
Things today wear different aspect. The
republicans are openly announcing that II
called to deal with public business in the
spring they will prepare their own pro-
gram regardless of the suggestions OF the
executive. and put IL through in their own
way. This, 1t is plain enough, will be en-
tirely feasible. The President merely sug-
gest5 to Congress. message from him to
the Fifty-fourth Congress calling attention
to the currency question would not compel
that Congress to legslate on that question.
II might pass that question by altogether.
and offer it's solution of the difficulty by
enacting a law increasing the revenue. In
fact IL is now known that this will be done
IL extra session is called. and 1t Is this
fact that Is giving the democratic leaders
today much concern. Some of them are at
last coming forward with remedies, and
urging that action should be taken by this
Congress.
4 shrewd Program.
The republican program is thought to be
shrewdly conceived. as bearing on the next
presidential contest. The money question.
and not by any possibility the tariff ques-
tion would thus be made the issue in 1896.
The government having been provided with
sufficient revenue for it's support by action
taken at the special session, Congress, at
the regular session, which will continue
until the summer of 1896, could 20 thor
oughly into the whole subject of finance,
and fix the attention of all the business in
terests throughout the country. 1t is point
ed out that. in the last analysis, the mon
ey question is of far greater Importance
than the tariff question. and that the party
lagis!ating satisfactorily on that question On
the eve of a presidential election would be
almost certain of a triumph at the polls.
The business interests would all bestir
themselves In the campaign. and, so
aroused, would carry everything before
them. The republicans have always ap-
pealed to those interests, and, 1t is con-
tended would now more than ever exert
themselves to act in accordance with the
best obtainable expressions of the business
world.
The probable attitude of the silver men
In such circumstances is much discussed.
There has been the assumption that the
western republican Senators could not be
brought int any kind of union with their
eastern brethren as to silver; that, in the
end, they would strike hands with the DEM
ocrats of the south. as on other occasions,
and continue to fight on the old line. This
kp-, th.. fAn1t 1tncr hot I0e
prevailed for several years in the Senate.
MIR. Teller and Mr.. Sherman, both republi-
cans on other issues, have been wide apart
on the money issue, while MIR. Teller and
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas, wide apart as to
everything else, are in perfect agreement
as to silver.
The silver Mems Position.
But it is sure now that the silver republi-
cans. IL they are to gain anything OF real
permanent value, must deal with those
in position to negotiate and in pos
session of the power to deliver some
thing. However friendly the southern DEM
ocrats may have heretofore been, and may
still be. the democracy now, so far as leg
islation is concerned, is powerless. Its
good will is the full extent of it's posses
sions. The republican party, on the other
hand. is returning to power with great pres
tige. and, apparently, with the purpose CT
settling the money question. This of itself
is considered an invitation to the western
men to put In their claim in Its latest ana
fairest form. The impression is growing,
too. that this invitation will be accepted,
and that once they meet with their eastern
friends on the ground OF the new party
triumph, and with the next presidency 1t
self involved. the western men will 10
longer refuse the hand OF the eastern men.
Terms OF some sort will be absolutely nee
essary, and as the eastern republicans VIII
be the only ones in position to treat and
with the power to act, Mr.. Teller and his
friends. it is believed, will unite with Mr..
Sherman ard his friends In passing fnan-
Cial measure. Such measure would Tot
b. expected to represent all that the west
ern men desired for silver, but representing
all that could be secured and yielding to
the party the credit of its passage. 1t
woald. 1T is contended justify the western
men in supporting it.
Democratic Leaders Unsettled.
The democratic leaders are so much TN
settled and so much disturbed by this
Ia test phase of the case that If it were
rot for the bitterness displayed by Mr..
German and Mr.. Hill the other day in the
Senate debate a general party conference
would be held. The fear Is, however, shat
the discussion might take on a personal
tore which would not only prevent action.
but plunge the party into fresh divisions.
Meanwhile the republican leaders of both
houses who will participate in the proceed
ings of the next Congress are comforting
daily and are said to be well agreed as to
the future.