The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-03
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, May asth, 1897. |
The gag rule Of the caucus has been |
applied to republican Senators in
order to hide their tariff differences
from the public. They must do all ,
their kicking before the steering CON-
mittee, with the privilege of appealing
to the caucus when the committee
decides against them, but they must
follow the committee on the floor of
the Senate. 1t remains to be seen
whether this gag rule can be made TO
work.
One Of the most notable things
about the opening of the tariff debate
was the republican acknowledgements
that, instead of the prosperity they
promised, the business of the country
was in an awful condition. OF course
they claim that everything will boom
after the tariff bill becomes law.
Havemeyer, the King of the sugar
trust, is now being tried for contempt,
for refusing to answer questions asked
by Senate Committee. The trial
attracts crowd daily.
Senator Vest opened his short tariff
speech by saying: "There will be no
factious opposition to the passage of
this bill. We know the desperate con-
dition of this country, the ruined
homes, the blasted hearts. If prosperi-
ty can come, even from our political
opponents, we will not only welcome
it, but we will bless the moment when
it comes but l do not believe that
higher tariff duties will bring back the
sunshine and illuminate the country"
and closed with the following: "If
our friends can bring relief, if they
can shed light upon our darkened
path, will hail it no matter in whose
hands may be the lamp. Give us
prosperity relieve the people. Put
blood again in the veins o the torpid
country. Do this, and l will accept
the boon, no matter whence it comes.
In proposing a tariff amendment
providing for bounty on agricultural
exports Senator Cannon, of Utah,
took occasion to utter this significant
threat "If the bill shall fail to give
some measure ofjustice to the farmer,
shall do all in my power to over.
throw it at the first opportunity"
Representative Lentz, of Ohio, who
is willing to be the democratic candi
date for governor, says of the outlook
"The democratic chances for carrying
the State could hardly be bettered
Unless the wrong man is put at ths
head of the ticket, the democrats, with
the aid of the populists and free silvel
republicans, will, in my judgment
easily beat Mark Hanna and the ad
ministration. 1t will be case of ;
political avalanche sweeping them of
the face of the political sphere. Th'
, republicans had bitter dose of defea
/ at the spring elections, but that WASH
. a circumstance to the bitter pill the.
will swallow this fall"
An important conference was hell
in Washington this week, those in al
/ tendance being President Black
: Treasurer Clark, Secretary Gardner
z and Representative McMillln, Chair
t man of the executive committee, G
: the National Association of Demo
cratic Clubs. The conference wa
held to arrange the details for carryin
0 out the plan adopted by the executiv
\ committee of the association at i,
meeting last month, relative to
a thorough organization of the demo
q cratic clubs throughout the country
Work will be started at once in Mary
land, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, low
and Massachusetts,, these State
It receiving first attention because the
r are to hold important elections tn
), year.
n The promotion of Representativ
IS McLaurin to the Senate to fill II
:. vacancy caused by the death OF tt
:, late Senator Earle, of S. c., until tn
le legislature meets and elects Senate
s was highly pleasing to the democra
i. in Congress, with whom Senator M
Laurin is deservedly popular.
4. The choicest bit of pie handed o
this week by Mr.. Mckinley was gra
bed up by an tex as usual, ex.Co
gresham and Elk Minister to Bra
Conger. of Iowa, being again non
NJ mated to fill the last named positio
,r Mr.. Conger served in Congress wi
IS Mr.. Mckinley, like so many OF t
IS. others who have been provided tor.
ed The friends of Cuba feel that tn
he have been buncoed by the admlnlst'
be ton, and they are disposed to nc
ng Mr.. Mckinley responsible. 1t is tr
en- that he did not personally make a
re- promises, but promises were made
be those who came as near to clalml
its to speak for him as it was posslt
~ l.. hat n