The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-12-12

congress ana president who can and
will do something
DEMOCRATS
BACK DOWN
THEY MAKE AN AFFECT SURRENDER
TO THE GOLD POWER-BUTlER'S
PLAN REJECTED BY THEM.
Despite all Their Roasting, 1t Appears
That Republicans Are More Favorable
to Silver-The Finance Committee Or
ganized on Silver BasIs--senator Pritch-
ard to The Front.
WASHINGTON, Dec. The action
of the Democratic caucus has made
it impossible for the silver men to
reorganize the Senate. The Demo-
cratic minority in the Senate is COM
prised mainly of alleged free silver
advocates. They were elected as
silver men; they have repeatedly
voted for free coinage bills and they
still profess adhesion to the silver
cause. Their avowed policy now is
to support the silver movement in
1896. Ostensibly they are at work
in different States organizing in that
behalf. They boast their influence
in the next National Democratic
convention and express the belief
that they will control the conven-
ton, nominate a free silver candi-
date and adopt free silver plat
form. Are they sincere? Are they
honesti Do they mean what they
they say9 Can they be trusted9
THE TEST.
Senator Butler and others wanted
to know how that was. The inter
ests of silver demanded that all sus-
picion and doubt should be removed.
The success of the silver move
ment in the next campaign demand
ed an aggressive alliance, a united
effort, independent Of party obliga-
tons. The reorganization Of the
Senate presented the opportunity of
initiating the movement that will re-
suit in the election off silver man
for President in 1896. Every effort
was made by Senator Butler and
other Populist Senators to effect this
co operation. A conference took
place at the Capitol, attended by
two Observation-Disclosures and Call
and three Republicans-Teller,
Pritchard and Mantle-and the six
Populist Senators. From what took
place in the conference there was
hope that the absent silver Senators
would finally acquiesce and put the
success of the movement beyond pei
adventure. There were strong init.
nations that the Western silver Re.
publicans would, after a, little hest
tation, come courageously to the res
cue of the Populists Senators ano
compel a reorganization on a dis
tinctively silver basis. This tall
had the desired effect. It wa.
promptly followed by Democratic Sur
render of the organization. Uncon
ditional surrender was the unani
nous determination of the Demo
cratic caucus Thursday. Until Thu
abject backdown on the part of tn
Democrats there was a strong be
lief that the Butler plan of reorgan
ization would ultimately succeed
That, now. is impossible, Siloe
Democrats are responsible. It l
their fault that this important pre-
liminary effort IN the interest of sill
yer has failed. They, of course, dis
claim it. They affect great appre
hension of Republican do-nethin,
policy in this Congress. What MI
Reed said in the Republican caucu
last week has alarmed them and
is their determination to surrende
the control of the Senate, defeat tn
F silver movement, as means of com
polling affirmative Republican legis
lation. A too palpable pretext t
: deceive anybody. The first an
: greatest concern was to aroid tn
alignment On the silver question il
volved in the Butler plan of reorgar
> ization. The more candid anon
the silver Democrats confess i
They will abandon silver at the di
2 tation of the gold men in the nations
n convention next year. 1t is the
e expectation. They are now willin
y to drop the agitation, and whatev'
they say or do for silver will be e:
!, torted from them under duress. of tt
y peoples resentment and condemns
e ton. But the effort made by Il
Populist Senators has had the vel
It important practical result of filllr
the vacancy on the Finance Cor
l. mitttee with straight free coina|
+ man. Control of this Committee
= an important achievement. It mea
+. the prompt passage of silver b
ID in the Senate and saves the eau
D. from the oblivion to which Dem
1T cratic surrender consigned it. 1t
20 distinctly a Populist victory a.
vindicates the contention made
y that party in the interest of the pc
X pie.
I'd PATRONAGE NOT INVOLVED.
Democrats have not surrender
C. C. the patronage of the Senate. Tn
I'D draw the line at the Offices. By tn
,ir own act they are made impotent a
st helpless to effect any legislation
st abandoning committee control
the Senate, but they will conte
against Democratic displacement
the elective Offices until a Repul
On Oh can majority compels their SURF
~ der. These is nothing now in
,es way of Republican control Of
Committees. A steering commit
ed is at work arranging the commit
tie, assignments. Senator Pritchard
as joys the coveted distinction of bel
Z. member of the committee. .
re- designation establishes his infuel
.d. as Republican leader in the S
. ,, ate and evidences the high estil
ed ton in which he is held person.
ng by Republican Senators. The sci
ion ton was made with q full unG
standing that he favored the 81
cal ton of silver man as chairman
8G Covovn1%$ao cn4