The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-14
CONFIRMATION OF THE SECRE-
TARY OPPOSED BY MEsSRS.
VEST AND PUGH,
MATTER UP IN THE SENATE.
SOME DEBATE WITHOUT
DEFINITE ACTION.
NO QUESTION AS TO THE END.
proved When the Issue Is
Forced to "a Vote.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 13-The senate
in executive session today had up for
time the nomination of David R
Francis, to be secretary Of the interior,
but no action was taken. Senator Vest.
of Missouri, was. the principal opponent
of confirmation, but he was also sec
onded by Senator Pugh, of Alabama.
Both Of these senators made speeches
against the confirmation, and alleged
various reasons against it. Several
senators announced their intention Of
voting for the confirmation Of Secretary
Francis, and the prospects of his con-
f1rmatiOn are good; in fact it is stated
that only few votes will be cast in
opposition.
Both Democratic and Republican
senators who are silver men stated
that they would vote for confirmation
and that it was foregone conclusion
that when the vote was taken the sec
rotary will be confirmed.
Senator Vest, in his remarks stated
that he had nothing personally against
Mr.. Francis, but called attention to
the act Of the secretary during the
campaign. He said that the secretary
had written letter in which he assert
ed that the Democratic party was Ell.
gagged in a campaign Of dishonor.
Any person making such a statement
could not receive his support for any
position. He also declared that Sec
rotary Francis, since the election, had
removed men from office in his depart
ment because they had supported the
regular Democratic ticket, and that, as
a Democrat, the Missouri senator re-
scented any such action by a cabinet
officer. Senator Vest said that he mad
voted against the confirmation of Mr..
Francis in committee, and that he
would vote against the nomination III
the senate.
Senator White (Cal), a member of
the committee on finance, stated that,
while he did not approve Of the course
Of Mr. Francis during the campaign,
and hal presided over the convention
which Francis had characterized as
dishonorable, he felt that as long as
there was no personal objection to him
nor charges against him or his charac-
ter, that the senate should not reject
his nomination. He stated that he
believed the president had a right to
select whom he pleased for members Of
his official family and a mans political
course should be no bar to such selec-
ton and did not warrant his rejection
by the senate. He added, however,
that he did not think this principle ap-
piled to other appointments, and re-
served the right to oppose combinations
where removals were made because
men refused to. oppose the regular
Democratic ticket, and their successors
were selected on the ground that they
had refused to support the Democratic
nominations. q
Senators Voorhees, and Jones ark J,
members of the finance committee, sup
ported their colleague, Senator White,
in this contention. Senator Pugh's
opposition was mainly Of the same
character as that of Senator Vest.
The open session of the senate today
was much curtailed by the executive
session, which lasted two hours. After
this, the balance Of the day was given
to Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) in a speech uphold
ing the power Of congress to recognize
new governments. The senator in
sisted that the arrogant assertion of
One-man power threatened to make the
presidential power greater than that
exerted by any monarch. An agree
ment was reached for vote on the
free homestead bill at 4 p. m tomor-
row.