The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-10
ALL. ARE BADLY AT SEA
Both Democrats and Republicans Are Mixed
As to Their Future Action.
CONTROL OF THE SENATE is IN DOUBT,

- is Not nt All SIcnf An 10 Which
Party VIII Have the Majority ia
the Gppcr Branch of Congress
Cnncusses and Conferences of
All Parties Held Yesterday.
Washington, March 9.-Fo- a u,tlc
more than two hours this afternoon the
Democrats or the Senate cndeavored to
reach some conclusion upon The orsanl-
zation Of the Senate. Like the Repuhli-
can conference of Saturday 1t was fruit
less In results. Two factions arc array
cd against each other On the one hand
the Republicans present 4 solid phalanx
or forty-tWo votes that stand by each
Other through thick and thin. On the
other, there are the divided ranks oC the
gold standard Democrats. silver Demo-
crats, boiling silver Republicans and
Popnlists The problem before those
seeking 20 take the control Of the Senate
from the Republicans Is how can these
various factions be solidified ana made
one In interest. No satisfactory answer
10 this question has yet been proposed,
aud the more the discussion proceeds.
the less appears to be the chance Of
defininte action by reason OF the inability
Of these contending factions to consoll-
date into one determined party OF op-
position. III.
CAUCUS AND CONFERENCE.
The clucuses and conferences have
been numerous since the new Senate
convened. The Populists. while holding
no no iofmal caucus have agreed among
themselves that they Will supper; any
plan thatmay be endorsed by the Dem
ocr1ts. So too the silver Republicans
tho;" who bolted the ST. Louis conven-
t!on-have agreed to stand by whatever
po!cy may be inaugurlted by the
E,T l~.N,I -
the element now III control OF the Senate
committees
Nhen the Democratic caucus was call
ed 70! to-day there was no distinction
made between the men who endorsed
the Chicago ticket and those who stood
upon the indianapolis platform. Notices
OF the caucus We're sent to every Demo-
Graf. or the gold men only Mr.. Lindsay
or Kentucky attended. Alessrs Gray OF
Delaware and Cafrcry Of Louisiana were
absent. The absence OF Mr.. Gray Is not
looked upon as significant for the reason
that whenever the Senate adjourns over
ne always runs up TO his home for the
few days at his disposal. Mr.. Caffery.
the second absentee, was the permanent
chairman of the indianapolis conven-
tion, and his absence may have some
political significance. The situation was
discussed in 4 rather informal manner,
and the only result reached was the ap-
pointment OF the old steering commit
tee, with Senators Faulkner of West
Virginia and Smith OF New Jersey sub
stituted for Scnltors Brcc and Black
burn, whose terms expired last Thurs
day.
A DANGEROUS PLAN.
The efforts 10 take the committees
from the Republicans Is antagonized by
some leading Democrats for Various rea-
sons. MIR. German thinks the scheme to
consolidate all the factions i'm the Senate
by combination with the silver ReDub-
licans and Populists would be dangerous
and would result In the esta blishment Of
precedent that might prove cmbar-
RAISING In the future. Mr. Jones or Ar
kansas, chairman OF the National Com
mittee, Is understood TO be opposed to II
because the Democrats have not suffi-
c!ent votes with those OF their allies
TO DO what is proposed to be done. This
conclusion Is based upon the assumption
tnat senators Lindsay, Gray and Caff-
cry, each Of whom supported the In
annapolis ticket are not Democrats
MI. Jones Is supported by several Of
the more radical silver men, who thus
nope to emphasize their disapproval OF
the course Of these Senator's These
same men also appreciate the fact that
II they had possession of the committees
they would be handicapped by the Re-
publican House and Republican Presi-
dent. and would be unable to consum-
mate any OF their own plans of leglsla-
tlon. The result Of the two hours talk.
therefore, was c0nccntra ted in the an
Dointment Of the committee mentioned
and this committee will confer with the
other factions and possibly with the Re
publican steering committee announced
to-day by Mr. Allison.
TELLER MAY HAVE BEEN THERE.
1t cannot be verified tonight, but it
Is stated with much positlveness that
Senator Teller. Of Colorado, was al the
caucus. The scheme for a reorganiza-
tlon OF the Senate on silver lines contem-
plates the election of ex-Sena tor Dubois.
of Idaho. as secretary or the Senate, in
place of Mr.. Cox, Of North Carolina.
and the retention OF Colonel Richard
Bright, of Indiana, as sergeant at arms.
A note was sent to-day to each RepuD-
lican Senator urging him to be In his
seat Tomorrow al noon.
II ~ n