The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-10

Washington, March 0.--For IL little
more than two hours this afternoon the
Democrats of the Senate entlea vored to
reach some conclusion upon the question
OF organization Of the Senate. Like the
Republican conference Of Saturday ii was
fruitless in results. Two factions are ar
rayed against each other. On the one
hand the Republicans present Il solid
phalnnN of forty. two votes that will stand
by each other through thick and thin.
On the other hand there are the divided
ranks of gold standard Democrats, silver
Democrats, bolting Republicans and Pop.
ulists. The problem before those seeking
to take control of the Senate from the
Republicans is how can these various
factions DC Solidilied and be made one in
interest. No satisfactory arrangement
has yet tccn proposed and the more the
discussion proceeds the less appears TO
be the chance of definite action.
Caucus have been numerous since the
senate convened. The Populists while
holding no formal caucus have agreed
among themselves that they will support
any plan that may he endorsed by the
Democrats. SO, too, the silver Repuhli.
cans-those who bolted the St. Louis
plntform-havc agreed to stand by what
ever policy may he inauguruted by the
stronger official bodies in opposition to
the element now in control Of the Senate.
When the Democratic caucus was called
Tor to-day there WAS no distinction be-
tween thr men who endorsed the Chicago
platform and those who stood on the IN
dianapolis platform. Notices OF the eau
Gus were sent to every Democrat OF the
gold men only Mr.. Lindsay, Of. Kentucky,
attended. Messrs Gray, of Delaware,
and Gallery, Of Louisiana, were absent.
"a nj If
upon us significant. for the reason that
whenever the Senate hljCurns over he nj.
ways runs up to mis- home for the few
days aI his disposal. Mr. Gallery. the
second absentee was the permanent chair
man of the indianapolis convention and
his absence may have political signIfi-
canoe. The situation was discussed in n
rather informal manner, and the ONLY
result reached was the appointments of
the old steering committee with Senators
Faulkner, of West Virginia, and Smith,
of New Jersey, substituted for Senators
Brice and Blackburn, whose terms ex-
Fired last Thursday.
The efforts to take the committees
from the Republicans is antagoniZed by
some leading Democrats for various ren.
sons. MI. German thinks S.the scheme
to consolidate all the factions of the Sen.
ate by combination with Silver Rcpub.
licans and Populists would be dangerous
and would result in the establishment of
II precedent that might prove embarrass.
ing in the future.
Mr.. Jones, OF Arkansas, chairman of
the national committee, is understood to
be opposed to it because the Democrats
have not sufficient votes with those of
their allies to do what is proposed to he
done. This conclusion is based upon the
assumption that Senators Lindsay, GRAY
and Gallery are not Democrats. Mr.
Jones is supported by several of the more
radical silver men, who hope to empha-
size their disapproval of the course of
these Senators. These same men also
appreciate the fact that if they had pos
session of the committees they would be
handicapped by the Republican house
and the Republican President, and would
he unable to consummate any of their
own plans of legislation
The Republicans do not expect any seri-
Gus results. They have so far failed to see
Just how the coEtending elements in the
Senate will be able to agree uDon q nlnn
of action. At the same time the Repub
leans realize their impotence, not having
more than AZ votes and with little hope
OF having the two Senators appointed
from Kentucky and Oregon seated.
The belief on the part of the leading
Republican Senator's lis that the silver
Democrats cannot count upon the .7otes
OF the gold Democrats in any plan that
contempates the organization of the COM
mittees by the silver vote OF the Senate
They also believe hat the vacancies on
the various committees will be filled by
agreement by the Republicans and Dem
ocrats AMI until such agreement is reach.
ed it's very certain the vacancies will not
be filled.
1t cannot he verified, but it is stated to-
might with much pOsitiyeness that Senn-