Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
Iron Our Regular corssposdsns.l
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81, 1898.

lie luuuoOEiOuo Bcuuom0us WIZ
are writing and talking about alleged
dissension In the Republican party,
are merely showing that they do not
know the difference between varia-
tlon In the individual opinions of Re-
publicans and party dissension. The
Republican party Is not, never has
been, and never will be an organiza-
tion of Cuckoos willing to accept
and echo opinions given by any one
man. One of the party's strongest
element of power has always been the
encouragement of individuality on
the part of its members In the ex-
preston of opinions as to party pol
icy. Republican Senators and Rep
resentatives who have come to
Washington to attend the session Of
Congress have, as has always been
usual, expressed their opinions on
what should be the party policy at
the short session, and because those
opinions have not all been alike, q
set of poorly informed democrats
have tried to create the impression
that dissension was rampant In the
party. They are In sense excuse
able. They are bound to say some
thing, and as there Is nothing good
they can say about the democrats,
they have, like a shyster lawyer with
bad case, taken to lying about the
other side. The republican party
was never freer of dissehsion than at
this time. While impressing their
individual opinions Of what the party
ought to do this winter, nearly every
Senator or Representative Invariably
adds shut the policy of the party will
be determined by caucus to be held
as soon as we know the recommend
ations of Mr.. Cleveland and Secre-
tary Carlisle" or words to that eff.
feet Those who are Looping that
talking about dissension will really
make 1t In the Republican party, will
be doomed to disappointment, as will
be seen as soon as Congress meets,
and the Republican caucus decides
upon the party policy. Then they
will see that Republicans in Con.
gress, excepting, of course, those
who bolted the St. Louis convention,
and supported Rryan, who still call
themselves Republicans, but are not
SO considered by the Republicans
will act as unit unpou all questions
affecting that line of policy.
While making no pretense to know
In advance Of the Republican caucus
what will be determined upon, your
correspondent is confident that the
feeling that an early extra session OF
Congress will be called by President
Mckinley, for the purpose OF passing
a general tariff bill is so prevalent
that one Of the decisions will be that
it Is unnecessary to attempt tariff
Legislation at the short session, espe.
cially when it is a matter Of doubt
as to whether even SO moderate a
bill as the Dingley emergency meas.
ure, passed by the House, could be
passed by the senate or would be
signed by Mr.. Cleveland. Even il
Mr.. Cleveland would promise in ad.
vance that 1t should become a law,
either with or without his signature,
and sufficient number of Senators
would pledge themselves to make its
passage certain, it is very doubtful
whether the Dingley bill would be
pushed in the Senate. Last winter
it would be good bill to pass, but
with the prospect of a genuine and
general republican tariff bill in four
or five months, it is different now.
Whether there will be any attempt
at financial legislation at the
short session will depend largely
upon the condition of the Treasury.
Senator Chandler thinks the Score.
tary of the Treasury ought to be
authorized to borrow the money
needed to make up for the deficit IN
the receipts as long as 1t exists, and
he may try to push the idea in the
Senate, but 1t hasn't the ghost OF a
show, because 1t would be opposed
by all the silver Senators regardless
Of party, and by a number of Repub
licans who are opposed to further
bond issues. 1t is probable that Mr..
Cleveland's message will renew his
Recommendation, that the green
backs be retired, but 1t will not bt
acted upon.
1t requires an enormous amount oil
gall on the part of the free trade
democrats to argue that President
Mckinley ought not to call an extra
session Of Congress, to act upon the
tariff, hut should allow the matter t6
60 over to the regular session in De
cember, 1897, and when they try Il
strengthen their argument by trot
ting out the assertion that an extra