San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
by our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April 10, '95.

The pressure on the administra-
ton, to do something TO head off
the silver stampede which seems
to have seized the Democratic
party, is daily growing stronger.
Mr.. Cleveland is perfectly willing
to do anything to prevent the cap
ture OF the Democratic party by
the silver men, but up to this time
he has been unable to decide what
he ought to do. AT first he was
disposed to try to stop the move
ment by going TO Chicago and
making an anti-silver speech,
which should rally the Cleveland
Democrats around the single
gold standard, and the ar
engagements were made to have
him invited to do so by
committee Of alleged non-parti-
san business men Of Chicago; but
later he became doubtful as to that
plan, and has given considerable
consideration to project suggest
ed by member OF the cabinet for
the writing of series OF letters by
himself and all the members of the
cabinet, to be made public by those
who received them and to be used
as weapons against the silver
phalanX of the Democratic party.
Other plans have also been con-
sidered, but nothing has yet been
definitely settled upon.
MEANWHILE, Senator Roach, of
North Dakota, who is silver
Democrat, fires this broadside
right under Mr.. Cleveland's nose,
so to speak: 81 am glad to see the
Illinois State Central committee
take the initiative in sounding the
Democracy Of that state on the sill
YER question. We have got to meet
the issue Of silver in the next ma
tiOnal convention, and we might
as well hear from the various
states now as not. The Illinois
scheme is a good one, and hope
to see other states fall into line and
adopt the same plan" That is
treason Of the highest kind against
Mr.. Cleveland on the part of
one of his best generals.
Secretary Hoke Smith likes
Washington so well that he wants
to step from the Cabinet to the
United States Senate on March 1,
1897, and he is now engaged in pull
ing the wires which he thinks will
accomplish that purpose. One of
the principal drawbacks to the &C
plishment of Secretary
Smiths ambition is that Senator
Gordon has shown no Willingness
to retire. On the contrary, he is
credited with desiring to succeed
himself, if the Democrats can re-
tain control of the Georgia legisla-
ture. An attempt was made to
make deal for the election of
Gordon to be governor and Smith
to the Senate, but Gordon refused
to enter it. EX-Speaker Crisp is
also willing to go to the Senate.
Secretary Morton's serious an
nOuncement Of his intention to use
the machinery Of the Department
OF Agriculture to make an investi-
CATION in order to ascertain If there
is beef trust, which is responsible
for the recent sudden and continu-
ing rise in the price Of beef, is
enough to bring a smile to the face
Of the most solemn COW. If Mr..
Morton was honest in making that
announcement, his ignorance is
greatly to be deplored, as it is
fact well known to thousands that
there is beef trust, composed of
the big meat packers, which has
for some time been slowly but
surely forcing the local butchers in
all towns of considerable size
out Of business, in order that
the trust could dictate
prices without fear Of local opposi-
ton. That time has apparently
come, and the trust is putting on
the screws. There is an antitrust
law, which might be used to annoy
the beef trust, even if nothing
more could be done undor its pro-
visions, il Attorney General Olney
so willed. But the administration
is apparently satisfied to let the
case rest on Secretary Morton's
promise to investigate. Mean
while. the people can choose be-
tween paying the prices demanded
by the trust or stopping their beef
supply.
Today is the last day upon which
returns can be made without PEN
atty by those who are liable for the
iudicially emasculated income tax,
and orders have been sent out that
all those who fail are to be imme-
diately proceeded against by the
collectors of internal revenue, but
o. QUO tirnnn tho "a hinot hnA nndor