Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-09
he May Be the Administration
Leader in the Senate.
His QUALIFICATIONS SET FORTH
A Question as to His Enthusiasm
on the Subject.
P o S S IB L E B E n E F T

The arrival of Senator Hill in town for
the session awakens good deal of specula-
ton as to the part he shall play in the con-
gressional drama. He has suffered with
the other leaders of his party and, like the
others, finds somewhat cherries outlook
But there is busines; even for the democrats
to do, and somebody in the Senate must act
as spokesman for the minority. Shall it be
the senior Senator from New York:
Must Have II Champion.
1t is regarded as one of the most striking
features of the situation-quite fantastic
In a sense-that Mr.. Hill should now appear
as the best quail fed man n the Senate, both
by reason of his talents and opinions, to
represent the administration in the contests
approaching. But SO it is The adminstra-
ton must have a representatives. cham
pion-there. Its policies may be never So
unlikely of adoption, but they must needs
have attention from somebody. And from
whom? Mr. Brio, is not a debater. Mr..
German is hardly qualified. for personal
reasons. Mr.. Villas is too extreme in his
admiration of Mr.. Cleveland. Mr.. Gray at
last draws back on account of a slight tain t
of jngoism in the President and Mr.. Mills
Is no advocate of increased power to Ea-
tional banks. This, then, leaves only Mr..
Hill available. The rejected-the oft reject
ed-stone is to become chief of the corner.
Mr.. HIPS QuRlificu tf0ns.
Mr.. Hills qualifications include skill as a
debater and large experience as legislator
and parliamentarian. He is sure of hear
ing at any time he may choose to take the
floor. He established his reputation as Il
lawyer in the debate on the income tax, and
this will help him. He Is at last in full
agreement with the President on the leading
propositions of the day. He favors the re
tirement of the greenbacks-in fact. he
urged that in advance of the President.
He believes in the Monroe doctrine, but is
opposed to the annexation, under existing
conditions, of either Hawaii or Cuba. He
can speak for the Presidents policy without
mourning the criticism Of being a cuckoo.
Coming from him, praise of the policy can
be separated from all personalities. The
policy, as Mr.. Hills friends contend, is as
much his it is the Presidents. He sound
ed the greenback note two years ago, and
the foreign policy note at the Syracuse con-
vention, whose platform he wrote.
Will He BE Enthusiastfc.
But with WI at energy may Mr.. Hill be ex-
pected to undertake this task? Will he,
whom the administration has more than
once helped to put in hole, labor with en-
thusiasm to help pull the administration
out of one into which it has cast itself? The
answer is that Mr. Hill will labor for the
good of the party; that he has the party's
good solely in mind. The administration is
while 1t is still in the hole is not so much to
tie point. The point is to keep the party
from drawing to a close. The party ought
to have long life before 1t. He thinks it has,
and that its leaders ought to get together.
He has as much to forget and forgive as
anybody else, and his voice is for harmony.
Possible Benefit.
Then, as is suggested, by accepting this
leadership ard acquitting himself of it's
duties with all his power he will be in posi-
ton to benefit by any surprises that may
turn up between now and the holding of the
ext democratic national convention. This
IS the era of surprises. Mr.. German of
Maryland and Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Black
turn Of Kentucky can testify to that Chair
man Carter of the republican national COM
mittee suggests the same thing although the
cards are all coming his way. If big sur
prise should ccme-if there should be rain
of larkS for the democrats-would it hurt
Mr.. Hill to be found with his apron spread
wide to catch the pick of them? Wouldn't
the early apron catch the lark?