The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-20
BALANCE
OF POWER.
It is Held by the Peoples Party in
the Upper House.
OPPOSITION IS
DEVELOPING IN REGARD TO
BAILEY's POSITION AS LEADER
OF THE MINoRITY-THE ARBI-
TRATION TREATY WILL COME
TO A VOTE THIS wEEK-PACIFIc
RAILROAD MATTERS.

RAILROAD MATTERS.
Washington. April i9.-Thc Peoples
party now occupies II commanding posi-
ton in the House of Representatives. The
Peopie,s party congressman, under the
leadership of Simpson ami Bell, have
practically assumed the leadership of the
opposition. 1t looks very. much as if
Bailey, the Democratic leader. has an
understanding with Speaker Reed and
Leader Dngley ON the Republican side.
At any rate, Bailey is insisting that the
Democrats shall not oppose the Republi-
can edo nothing policy. AS soon as this
was apparent the Peoples party marched
solidly to the front, and demanded that
Speaker Reed appoint the committees
and give CONGRESS Il chance to legislntc.
simpsons nrraignment of Reeds auto
! cratic and despotic methods was one of
the finest and most telling speeches that
has been made in Congress for many
months.
When Reed attempted to reply, one of
his excuses for not appointing the COM
mittces was that he had not had time to
familiarze himself with the qualifications
of the members of the House, stating TINT
usually the Speaker had from March 4
until December at the opening of the reg
ular session to arrange his committees.
Simpson, in reply, asked Reed how he
or anyone else knew that he could he
Speaker until Congress met to elect IL
Speaker. He snid that pcaker Reed s
| assumption was the most gluring piece
OF political 'soonerism" that the country
had ever witnessed. 1t was palpable HIT
everybody enjoyed it, and Reed was so
completely floored that he did not attempt
TO reply, but blushed deeply ut his own
| inadvcrtance.
"A considerable element of silver Demo.
Gratis are rebelling against Bailcy's posi-
ton in approving the Republican policy,
and are openly backing up the Peoples
party in the position which it has taken.
r'stfhe New York journal Il few days ago
published n leading editorial commencing
the position taken by the Peoples party
Congressman, and saying that the Silver
Democrats ought to fall in line and take
the same position.
1t is clear that it is Bailey's purpose to
have Congress adjourn with nothing done
except the passage of the tariff bill He
hopes by this means To give The Demo-
cratic party a..chance to make opposition
TO the Dingley bill the leading issue in
the next campaign.
In this connection it is important to
note the difference between the address
put forward on Monday of last week by
Clubs, and the address delivered by Hon
William Jennings Bryan on tuesday
night following ut the celebration CT jeff
crson's birthday.
The address of the clubs is pitched dis.
tinctly in the key of the old Democratic
slogan of tari # reform. In short the adj
dress takes the Dingley bill for it's tevt
and spends its force in arraigning it.
| The address lays down afresh all of the
old Democratic contentious on the tariff
and magnifies them. The address is i'm
portant: LIST. Because it was not hastily
drawn and published; and Cd, because it
is issued Mt this time. The authorship is
attributed to Hon. Chauncey +. Black,
the president Of the Association of Clubs
and q man who ranks high in his party.
On the other hand, Mr.. Bryan, in his nd.
dress delivered the next day after the ad.
dress Of The clubs was published, insists
that the fight must be continued on the
line of the last campaign. His whole
speech was pitched in the key of financial
and monopoly reforms. He takes the
position, pointed and clearcut, that no
tarlf legislation can restore prosperity,
and that tariff reform is OF 'secondary cou.
sideration compared with the great and
overshadowing questions brought to the
front in the last campaign
The difference between this address of
the clubs and Mr.. Bryan's speech is ex-
actly the difference that now appears
among the Democrats in the House OF
/ Representatives. Which element in the
Democratic party will triumph il is i'm
possible to say.
Chairman Davis, of the foreign rela-
tioDs committee, made an unsuccessful
/ effort TO bring the arbitration treaty to
| vote last week. He has given notice
that he will make another effort during
this week. 1t is greatly to be regretted
that this treaty could not have been dis.
cussed in open session. The American
people have bur little conception of how
deep and dangerous trap is set for them
in this proposition which is being pressed
under the false guise of peace and good
will
The various parties in the Senate have
not yet been able to reach an agreement
as to the organization of the committees
| AZ is we'll known, no party has n ma jor-
lty ana whatever is done must he ar.
ranged by an understanding between the
various parties.
Senator Morgan has been pressing with
vigor.and eloquency his Cut an resolution
lie has given notice that he will press it
to vote during the early part of this
week, if possible. The country would GER
tainly like to see the Senators put on
record in favor of or against this very Just
and patriotic resolution.
The Peoples party Senator's have de
termned to prevent the President and at,
torney general if possible, from disposing
OF the Union Central Pacific railroads ut
private or secret sale. They will de-
mand that the executive take no action
on this important question without the
consent OF Congress.
1t will be remembered that when the