Evening star., 1897-01-04

VEST CALLS CHECK
Why Secretary Francis Nomination
is Hung Up.
NO IMMEDIATE ACTION PROBABLE
Must Keep Hands Off the Missouri
Senatorial Election.
m r IN II IN II
tt He e ECT OF 1T

The friends of Secretary Francis in the
Senate do not like the turn affairs have
taken with reference to his confirmation.
The delay which has already occurred Is
quite unusual for cabinet officer, and they
would have felt much better satisfied if
confirmation could have been secured before
the adjournment for the Christmas holi-
days. That result was prevented by the
objection made in the committee on finance,
to which the nomination was referred, by
Senator Vest. Senator Vest, like Mr.. Fran
els, Is resident of Missouri, and while a
fellow democrat, does not agree with the
Secretary in his views on the financial ques-
ton. This divergence of views Is given as
the senator's real and only reason for ask
ing for delay, but 1t has been stated by
some of the closest Of the senator's friends
that he has thought 1t wise to suspend con-
firmation until after the Missouri iegisla-
ture should decide upon the senator's sue
cessor.
When Mr.. Vest asked for delay by the
committee III reporting the nomination he
simply suggested that it should go over un-
til after the holidays, when it was inferred
that he would be willing to have the mat
ter taken up and disposed of, though 1t is
not understood that he specifically agreed
to this course. The senator from Missouri
mas now gone 10 MS nome 10 look 1ltef MS
own reelection, and it is not known just
when he will return. 1t Is not believed
probable that he will leave the state until
after the senatorial election, but If the
action of the democratic legislative caucus
should be very markedly for him he may
return before the election, leaving his
friends to take care of his interests there.
Mr.. Vests Reelection.
The senator has from the beginning ex-
pressed the utmost confidence in his own
return to the senate, but he has told his
friends In Washington that he had no
doubt there were certain elements Il, work
in Missouri which would likesto defeat him
if possible. When he was asked recently
If he had heard of a movement on the part
OF the gold democrats to make con, bina-
ton with the republicans with a view to
securing his defeat, he said that ne had
heard of 1t, but that he did not take much
stock in it," He claimed that vast ma
jority of the democratic members were in
structed for him, and that the democrats
controlled the legislature over the com
bined opposition of republicans and popu-
lists by majority of ten.
There are no gold democrats in the legis-
lature, and fourteen of the popuist MEM
bers are elected under instructions to vote
for the senator's reelection. Still his
1rlends admit that the senator is of opinion
that both the republicans and the gold
democrats would be willing to upset his
plans, If possible and they say that not
WltHStdHufHS the senator denial that his
action in the Francis matter was in any
way controlled by the situation in Missouri
1t would be foolish for him to throw down
a cl1b which he had in his hand until after
the opportunity should pass for using it in
case necessity should arise.
With Mr.. Francis unconfirmed as Secre-
tary of the Interior and Mr.. Vest a mem
Der of the committee before which the nom
ination is pending. and also of the Sem
ate" said one of them, 1.-The opposition in
Missouri to his return is much more liable
to remain quiet than it would be If Mr.
Francis confirmation were assured. Sena-
tor Vest holds the whip hand in this mat
ter, and he is not the man to surrender an
advantage while it may remain such to
him."
The Committee With Vest.
If this view is right, the committee on
finance, whose weekly meeting day is to-
morrow, will again pass over Mr. Francis
nomination and defer further consideration
of 1t until the senator from Missouri re-
turns to his post of duty. There is all the
more reason for believing that this course
will be pursued because there is no member
of the committee who is especially con-
cerned in Secretary Francis behalf Tie
republicans would be willing that his con-
hrmation should go through in the ordinary
course of events but they are naturally
unconcerned about It, and are not averse to
allowing the democrats to row over it If
they see fit. All the democratic members
VI Tic COLlIiHttee are SILVER men, and
not disposed to facilitate the confirmation
of any nomination made, as was that of
MI. Francis, because of the nominees pred
Election In favor of the gold standard. They
do not exactly class Mr.. Francis with the
postmasters and others who have been
nominated in place Of silver men removed
from office, but they do consider that he
secured his appointment because of his
financial views, and while they do not hold
that his predecessor, Secretary Smith left
tne once because OF any convictions favor
able to silver, they still say that the case
is one which calls for no marked favor
from them.
From remarks which were dropped by
Senator Jones Of Arkansas when the aues-
ton OF reporting the nomination was be-
fore the committee, it is believed that the
silver men would not as whole be inclined
to press objection. He said at that time
that he was inclined to the view that the
President should be allowed TO select his
own advisers, and that the Senate should
not fnterpose objection unless in case of
discoveries of flaws in the personal charac-
ter OF the nominee. He did not, however,
manifest any disposition to put obstruc-
tions In the way of having Senator Vests
request granted.
No Personal Objection.
1t seems to be understood among mem
bers of the committee that If the report
had been made previous to the holiday ad-
journnent and an effort made at that time
to secure action upon it, there would have
been quite solid resistance on the part of
Senator Vests friends, and one republican
| member of the committee remarked that
such effort would be sure to result in an
alignment of parties such as would not
only defeat the confirmation at that time of
Mr.. Francis nomination, but might lead to
complications in other matters which 1t
was considered desirable to avoid as long
as possible, with the hope that they might
ultimately be entirely prevented
The best opinion now seems to be that
iovr thn
delayed for some time yet though no one
goes so far as to predict ultimate rejection
Still. H. Is known that Senator Vest has
been investigating the claim that the SEN
| ate always acts promptly on cabinet NOM
nations and has discovered from the rec
ords of the Senate that there has not only
been delay In many cases, but that several
nominees for binet offices have In the his
| tory of the government been rejected. 1t
| seems probable from all that can be learned
| that ii the gold democrats keep their hands
| off In the Missouri senatorial contest Sena-
| tor Vest will withdraw his objection to
confirmation and 80 far as he is concerned