Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-29

Brcwing In the Democratic Camp.
Doings at Washiugton.
Special Washington correspondence:
International bimetallism and ma
tional tariff, those two great issues OF
the campaign, have been prominently
Mt the front during the week in Wash
ington. And those people who doubt
ed or protested to doubt the sincerity
of the professions Of the Republican
party on either of these subjects, have
found that they were mistaken.
Preparing for BimetaIlic Conference.
Senator Wolcott Of Colorado, ex-Vice
President Stevenson Of Illinois, and
Hon. G. J. Paine of Massachusetts, the
commissioners to pave the way for an
international conference, whose APP
polntment has been cordially COM
mended, will leave for Europe
next month. Until this week no.
body knew definitely what the Presi-
dents plans were in regard to this
matter. 1t was known that he was
extremely anxious to take the proper
steps toward carrying out the pledge OF
the party looking to international con-
sideration Of the silver question, but
just how he proposed to bring this
about or to take the initiative, nobody
was able to say. 1t now appears that,
as usual, he has chosen the wise plan
and one most likely to be successful.
Not only has he chosen the plan most
likely to be successful, but the one like
ly to be most successful. By this Is
meant that IL he is able to carry out
the plans thus inaugurated, the inter-
national conference will be brought to
the doors of every American voter.
President McKinley's hope is that 1t
may be practicable to hold this confer
ence in the United States, and In the
city of Washington. If this shall hap
pen, every American citizen will have
there arises. 1t will be as though the
meeting Of the representatives Of the
great nations was brought to his own
dooryard. With press associations car
rying the full proceedings Of the con-
ference, and the hundreds Of special
correspondents in Washington COM
menting upon the proceedings in the
papers which they represent, every cit
izen who feels the slightest interest In
this question would be able to follow
the proceedings and study them in
their proper light, thus knowing for
himself that the work was well done.
These commissioners. who are to go
nh 10 fv.xy 10, l,.iv. oh
ment for conference, are highly COM
mended by members of all parties as
especially judicious selections. Mr..
Wolcott, by reason of his long study Of
the question and discussion on two pre-
vious trips abroad of this same sub
ject, will be of much greater value than
any man who had not had these expe.
diences; ex-Vice President Stevenson,
representing the silver element of the
Dmocracy, and well known by reputa-
ton and In person abroad, will instant
ly command attention, while Mr.. Paine,
as close student of this subject, will
prove equally useful and influential. 1t
does not follow that these men who
are selected for this work are to be the
representatives of the United States in
an international conference If they are
successful in bringing one about; on the
contrary, it is expected that other men
will be selected to represent the gov
eminent In that conference.
Progress of the Tariff Bill.
Those people who are assuming that
the tariff bill Is likely to drag through
the summer and keep the business Of
the country in an unsettled condition
awaiting final action, are to be disap-
pointed. The next week or ten days at
the furthest are likely to see the bill
perfected by the Republican members
of the Finance Committee, and it Is
likely to get into the Senate before the
month ends. Prospects now seem to be
good for a final vote upon 1t in June,
and its completion in time that it may
go into effect at the beginning Of the
fiscal year July 1st.
The changes made by the Senate
Committee are much less in extent and
Importance than had been expected.
The pressure for a reduction In the du-
ties on wool has not been successful
thus far, and the chances seem to be
that they will not be. The demand Of
the sugar trust for changes in the
schedule advantageous to them has
been promptly rejected. The wall Of
the Standard OIL trust and of sundry
other corporations of this character
have passed unnoticed. .e
Trouble in the Democratic Camp. ~
While things are moving on smoothly
with the Republicans, there is trouble
among the Democrats. The breach be-
tween the Bailey and the Bryan fac
tons in the House has been widened,
and the Populist allies Of that party
have been given the cold shoulder. The
sockless Simpson, finding himself fast
losing the notoriety which his eccen-
tricities have awarded him, developed
q new freak and attacked Speaker Reed
because Of his failure to appoint COM
mittees when committees were not
needed. The Bryan wing of the Dem
ocracy, being so accustomed to coop
Grating with the Populists, wanted to
support Jerry, but the Bailey wing OPP
posed it. Mr.. Bailey, who last fall OPP
posed the consolidation of the Popullst
and Democratic parties in the cam