The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-06
SILVER MIGHT BE s,DE-TRACKED
washington Post.)

While there is still every reason to be-
lieve that the tariff bill will be eventually
passed in the Senate, it is an open secret
that there are a number of Republican
Senators who would not be at all averse
to seeing the bill fail.
The Senators who take this view of the
situation are men who look forward to
the future and who regard the political
side of a question as of paramount i'm
portance. They believe now that the next
House of Representatives will be Demo-
cratic under ordinary circumstances, and
they are fearful of such an outcome If
the new tariff bill arouses, as it may do,
a general protest on account of the taxes
which it imposes They are very dubious
about the effect of the proposed beer
tax on the German vote, and they are
also afraid that the manufacturers will
take advantage of the increased rates to
follow the same course which was so
disastrous when the Mckinley law was
enacted, and raise prices on every article
of every day consumption. 1t is feared
also that the duty placed on hides will
make it difficult to hold Massachusetts IN
line In fact, the operations of the tariff
bill. unless a very marked return of pros
perity is speedily observed, might. these
Republicans suggest, work to the disad-
vantage of their party.
But above all. it is believed that with
the tariff bill disposed of, the way will
be open for full discussion of the silver
question and it is this contingency that
certain Republicans particularly want to
avoid. If the tariff bill should fail be-
cause of the lack of Republican ma
iority in the Senate, the tariff would be-
come the pre-eminent issue in the cam
paign year from next fall. The Repub-
leans would welcome this, believeing that
their party would be more certain Of car
rying the election. and the silver issue
would be forced into the background.
THE CONTROL OF THE SENATE.
If the Democratic victories now occur
ring in local elections should be any in
dicatiOn of the return of the wave, and il
there should be a Democratic House of
Representatives elected next fall-and a
House opposed to an administration is
almost invariably elected in off years
then it would be fair to suppose that the
State Legislatures elected at the same
time with the Congressman would be
Democratic also. The possibility of this
result is causing the Republicans in the
Senate some concern. The Republicans
may also lose Washington, Wyoming and
Ohio, and it is by no means certain that
they will carry West Virginia, New Jer-
sey, New York. or Maryland. the four
States out OF which they hope to get
gains. There is a certainty of Republican
success in Indiana and Wisconsin, but the
Republicans must capture at least three
States to get a majority Of one in the
Senate, and what they desire is a good
working majority Of from four to six.
Nebraska, Delaware, North Dakota, and
California are the other States out of
which they would have to gain Senator,
and the first three of these afford a very
doubtful field, especially if silver should
be the issue
1t is not at all likely that the tariff bill
will fail to pass, even though the Repub-
licans haven't majority in the Senate.
Its defeat could be accomplished by
arousing bitterness over the hide and wool
schedules, but this is not likely to be the
| outcome. At the same time it can be re-
peated as a fact that there are Republ.
can Senators who want the tariff to
continue the supreme issue, and they
would be willing to see the bill fail
Leading Democrats in the Senate are
aware of this situation, and for this rea-
son will not oppose the passage Of the
bill. They want the tariff out of the
way in order that they may meet the
Republicans on another issue.