Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-10
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
A CONFERENCE THAT Is FRUIT
LESS OF RESULT.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE.
Proposition For and Against
Taking Charge Of the Committees.
Division Of the Opposition to Re-
pubiicanism-steeri Committee.

WASHINGTON. d. c., March 9.-For
little more than two hours this after
noon the Democrats OF the Senate en-
deavored to reach some conclusion upon
the question Of the organization of the
Senate. Like the Republican conference
Of Saturday, II was frultless Of result
Two factions are arrayed against each
other on the one hand, the Republi-
cans present a solid phalanx Of forty
two votes that will stand by each other
through thick and thin. On the other.
there are the divided ranks Of gold
standard Democrats, silver Democrats,
boiling silver Republicans and Populists.
The problem before those seeking to
take the control of the Senate from
the Republicans is as to how these va
rious factions can be solidihed and made
one in interest. No satisfactory answer
TO this question has yet been proposed,
and the more the discussion proceeds the
less appears to be the chance Of definite
action, by reason Of the inability OF
these contendng factions TO cohere into
one determined party of opposition.
numerous since the new Senate convened.
The Popuists, while holding no formal
caucus. have agreed among themselves
that they will support any plan that
may be endorsed by the Democrats. So,
too. the silver Republicans-those. who
bolted the St. Louis platform-haye
agreed to stand by whatever policy may
be inaugurated by the stronger Official
bodies in opposition TO the element now
in the control of the Senate committees.
When the Democratic caucus was caileu
for to-day there was no distinction mace
between the men who endorsed the Chi-
cago ticket and those who stood upon
the indianapolis platform. Notices of the
caucus were sent to every Democrat OI
the gold men only MIR. Lindsay of Ken
tucIty. attended. Messrs. Gray, Of De.a-
ware, and Caffery, of Louisiana, were an
sent. The absence of Mr. Gray Is not
looked upon as significant, for the reason
that whenever the Senate adJourns over
he always runs up TO his nome lOr the
few days al his disposal. MT CaHery,
the second absentee. was the permanent
chairman Of the Indianapolis convention,
and his absence may have some poilticaI
significance.
The situation was discussed in a rather
informal manner. and the only result
steering committee. with Senators Faux
ner west Virginia. and Smith (New Jer-
sew substituted for Senators Brice ana
blackburn. whose terms expired last
Thursday.
The effort to take the committees from
the Republicans is antagonized by some
leading Democrats for various reasons
Mr.. German thinks the scheme TO consoll-
date all the factions in the Senate by
combination with the silver Republicans
and the Populists would be dangerous,
and would result I'm the establishment or
a precedent that might prove embarrass-
ing in the future.
DISAPPROVAL OF VOTERS
Mr.. Jones. OF Arkansas, chairman of
the National Committee. is understood
to be opposed TO It. because the Demo-
Gratis have not sufficient votes. with
those of their allies, TO do what Is pro-
posed to be done. This conclusion Is
based upon the assumption that Senators
Lindsay. of Kentucky; Gray, Of Della
ware and Caffery. Of Louisiana. each Of
whom supported the indianapolis ticket
are not Democrats. Mr.. Jones is sup
norted by several of the more radical
silver men. who thus hope TO emphasize
their disapproval Of the course OF these
senators. These same men also >appre-
ciate the fact that, II they had posses
sion Of the committees. they would be
bandicapned bv the Republican House
and the Republican President, and would
be unable to cOnsummate any ot thelr
own plans Of legislation. The result OF
the two-hours' talk. therefore was con-
centrated i'm the appointment OF the com
mittee mentioned. and TINS committee
I'm confer with the other factions. and
DfnfrhlfH1n ST0gT1nK
Committee announced to-day by CHAR
man Allison. 800. o,,,
-oriore result from all the talk of setting
side the present organization OF the COM
nnittees. They have so far failed 10 see
inst how the contcnding elements III the
senate will be able to agree upon pan
of action. At the same time the ne
nublicans realize their impotence hot
having more than forty-two votes ana
with little hope of having the TWO Sent
tors appointed from hehtuchy anu 80
CON seated. The belief on the part Oh
i5o,,'lino Renublican senators is that the
eilver democrats cannot count upon the
,,otes of the gold Democrats in any pan
not contemplates the organization Oh tne
co'romittees by the silver vote OF lhe
Senate They also believe that the va
cancies in the various committees VIII DC
allied bv agreement between the hepuDli-
nane and the Democrats. and until such
egreeroent is reached it is very certain
the IN vacancies will not be filled. ,
II cannot be verified, but it is stated
tonight with much positivenesS 'hat
senator Teller Of Colorado was at the
caucus. ..,,.io,, 90 tho
The scheme for reorganization Oh the
senate on silver lines contemplates the
lection of ex-senator Dubois, OF Idaho,
os Socretarv Of the Senate, in place OF
a. GOV Of North Carolina, and the re-
tention of colonel Richard Bright OF In
siona as sergeant-at-Arms. a note was
sent tonight to each Republican senator,
ZINC him 10 be in his seat tomorrow
at noon.