The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-12
TICKLE BAKER.
Like a Weather Eane He Yeers
With the Wind.
Now an Ardent GOldbug Of the
Sherman Type.
NOT ALWAYS THUS.
Why Does He Now Like CleYe-
land Bond Issues2
Was Against the PETER InTes-
LEGATION Resolution.
NOT ALWAYS THUS.

From Our Special Correspondent
Washington. May 12.-Senator Baker
seems TO have undergone strange
Transformation since the first days OF
his term in the senate. When he hrst
arrived here and took his seat, and 1or
some months thereafter he was severe
and frequently denunciatory in his eX-
pressfons concerning the bond issues OF
President Cleveland and the peculiar
manner in which they were made
Day by day. however. he has grown
uuieter and more silent until the other
day when Senator Peher's bond resolu-
ton came up and the amendments to it
were voted on, he voted for every mo
ton designed to destroy its effect eX-
cept actually to vote against it. He
could not have voted to suit the resi-
dents Of New York and Massachusetts
better If he had been a senator from
those states
The first motion made to kill the res
olutfons was to refer them to the COM
mittee on finance, where they would Ger
tainly have been smOthered by Sucn
members as Morrill, and sherman On
this motion Mr.. Baker voted aye along
with Cray, Hin. Villas. Brice and otn-
ers Of the extreme gold men, the only
other Republican senator voting with
him being Allison.
The next motion was to have the un-
Wieldy finance committee of 10 mem
bers do the Investigating instead of q
special committee. This motion pre-
vailed. every western senator with the
exception of Baker and Roach voting
in the negative
After they had been modified in this
way. and after it was evident that
majority of the senate was in favor of
the resolutions. Senator Baker voted for
them on their final passage
People may explain this change of
front by Senator Baker on the CIeye-
land n0NfnW h0nH issues hest they
may. He was strong in his cOndemna-
ton of it when he first came to the SEN
ate fresh from the people. In converse
ton and in his speech on the silver sub
stitute he inveighed in unmistaka.ble
terms against issues Of bonds and the
clandestfna manner fin which they had
been made. Now he is SO much mo1li-
FED that he indicated by his votes that
he wished to take the edge off a propC-
sition to inquire into the very things he
few months ago thought 50 reprehen-
sible.
Whether Mr.. Bakers associations
since he has been in the senate have been
among the men who indOrse President
CleVelands financial views and have
been so pleasant that he does not wish
to offend by parting company with them
or whether on account Of new liehtf'
his opinions have undergone an entire
change and he is now willing to accept
gold recommendation and the retirement
Of the green backs is a thing that no one
but the senator himself knows 1t
Is very certain. however that his attf-
tude i'm the senate has been gradually
changing, tending more and more to co.
incidence with the position of Sherman.
Hill, Hoar. Gray, Aldrich and other
Cleveland fnancfers
The bond resolutions were passed in
their modified form by a vote of 81 yeas
70 nays. Senator PETER considers
their passage in any form great VIC
tory.
II did not hope to get the special
committee of investigat said he. 'I
al he
thought it was the best in order TO Sc
cure thorough investigation. lit was
q great victory TO set the resolutions
through i'm any shape. Tit shows the
temper of the people and the further
fact that the great majority of the SEN
ators want an Investigation.