Evening star., 1896-12-02
MINORITY LEADERSHIP
Mr.. Bland Will Seek to Gain It in the
Next House.
No One Man Likely to Have a Solid
FOllOwing-The Play of Parties
for Position.

The speculation as to the contest for the
minority leadership in the house has been
conducted without mention of Bland, when,
his friends say, he is the logical man for
the place. They predict that he will be
recognized the leader, and that none of
the men now mentioned will succeed in
taking the honor from him. The friends of
the Missouri man urge that the next four
years will be devoted to fight 10 place the
silver men in position for victory in 1890;
that to do this a man thoroughly posted in
every particular on the silver question
should he selected to lead the silver men:
a man who cannot be knocked out in amy
forensic fight on the question. This is one
Of the arguments in favor OF Bland The
others are that the Missourian is equipped
with years of experience in the legislative
halls: that he is cool and cautious; Thai he
was a strong candidate for the presidency,
his ability being thus recognized. III Is
further said that MIR. Bland, after the
honOrs which have been conferred on him,
will not be content to see younger and
more inexperienced men take the leader
ship away from him. He will want it for
many reasons His presidential bee was
not thoroughly killed when he was de-
feated at Chicago. He wants a chance TO
make a brilliant stroke which will plac"
him in line for the nomination four Years
from now.
VIII Not BE an Easy Place.
The discussion of the minority leader
ship arouses the thought in the minds of
many politicians that the position VIII rot
lie one filled with so much honor after all.
When Crisp was alive the conditions were
different. Minority leadership then meant
a solid following. This time, il is confident
ly predicted, no man can secure The place
nd Snli fnll
will not consent TO follow a democratic
leadership the silver republicans VIII not 10
so, and ambitious democrats VIII not tahe
to one man having charge OF andlrs Inc
populists and silver republicans VIII act
with the democrats on financial legislation,
but they consider. ii is said on high an-
thority, that they have big game TO play
for.
Fighting for the Future.
The silver republican. want TO strengthen
their party for the future They are am
bilious that IT shall not be tail TO any
kite. They have bright leader in Hart
man of Montana. They will try to shape q
policy which will draw attention 20 them,
and which. they hope may eventually end
IN their establishing strong party Inc
populists have feeling of the same kind.
Their leaders are already in rebellion
against following the democrats longer.
They, too, will try to shape their policy so
are going to play for first place in The next
combination dght,-if- one is 10 be made.
That is Senator Buffers plan. as hereto
fore told in The Star, and he will guide The
destinies of the party hare. 1t is believed
that he will dictate the course of the popu
list members Of the House, to a large eN-
tent, on matters affecting the welfare of
the party. He Won a name IN the last con-
test, which places his leadership beyond
dispute. The popuiists, toe. will be strong
er in the next House than ever before. This
strength will not be merely numerical. The
party will show up better in Drains and
ability. number of the new men elected
from the west are said to be bright EIen.
The popular idea of Jerry Simpson is that
he is common ard dull The newspaper
men who write the stories of Simpson s
simplicity have a higher regard for him.
personally, Than their stories indicate. In
the House. Simpson, because of lis pre-
vious terms in the House. will probably be
come the leader OF his party. He may hot
Enow as much of public questions Bland
McMillin. Richardson or Bailey. but he is
naturally bright politician. With the aid
of Senator Butler. he will he able to cut
something Of a figure for his party and
himself Nobody doubts Buffers ability.
and with his silent advice, the populsts
will be able TO put the democrats in un-
enviable positions. If they watch their
chances. The fight of the pop llists along
this line is going TO be aggressive.
Position of the Parties.
he OUTLOOK Is lflat the democrats VIII
lcok forward to populist support in 1893
Entertaining this view, they will deal cau-
tiously and suavely with the populists in
the hope of not offending them. The popu-
lists, on the other hand, have so long been
in the minority that they will not ne so
conSiderate of the democrats. They VIII
fight them in the days of old, and DO il
for the purpose of attracting attention and
gaining recruits. They have the advantage
In a contest of this kind. The populists, it
is thought. will be conc:liatory in their at
titude to the silver republicans. They con-
slider the west their field for increase in
membership. They nothing IN the
democratic south, and that will make them
careless Of offense to the democrats. The
silver question has made the west popu-
listic in ideas, and il will be for this sec
tion that the populists will play. In the
Senate and House, on tariff questions, the
pcpuliSts are going to vote with the silver
republicans to give the leading products Of
the west The protection that is desired. On
nearly every other question they will show
their Sympathies with the west This
course has practically been decided upon.
and will be put through unless there is A
change to meet altered conditions