The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-03-19
THE NEW SENATE.
Rival Parties Seeking TO Control
in the Organization.
Combination Against Republicans Cola
aud SILVER Democrats. Popali-ts aud
silver Republicans Trying to Unite
Against the dominant Party.

WASHINGTON. March lo.-For moro
than two hours yesterday afternoon
the democrats Of the senate endeavored
u reach some conclusion upon the
question of the organization of the sem
ate. Like the republican conference
of Saturday il was fruitless in results
Two factions are arrayed against each
other. Tn the one hand the republic
cans present a solid phalanx of ~ 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, bolting
silver republicans and populists. The
problem before those seeking To take
the control of the senate from the re-
publicans Is. how can the various fac
tions be solidited and made one in in
terest?
No satisfac tory answer TO this ques
tion has yet been proposed and the
more the discussion proceeds the less
appears 10 be the chance OF definite ac-
ton by reason OF the inability of these
contending factions TO cohere into one
determined party of opposition.
Caucuses aud conferences have been
numerous slice the new senate con-
vened. The populists. while holding
no formal caucus. have agreed among
themselves that they will support any
plan that may be Endorsed by the
democrats. 20, too. the silver repub-
licans those who bolted the ~. Louis
platform-have agreed to stand 10y
whatever policy may be inaugurated
g -.
tion to the element now in control of
the senate committees.
When the democratic caucus was
called for yesterday there was no dis
tinction made between the men who
indorsed the Chicago ticket and those
who stood upon the Chicago platform.
Notices of the caucus were sent To
every democrat OF the gold men only
Mr. Lindsay, of Kentucky. attended.
Messrs. GRAY. Of Delaware and CAT
FREY. of Louisiana. were absent. The
absence of Mr.. Gray Is not looked upon
as significant. for the reason that when
ever the senate adjourns over he al
ways runs up TO his home for the few
DAYS at his disposal. Mr. Gallery. the
second absentee. was the permanent
chairman of the indianapolis conven-
ton. and his absence may have some
political significance. The situation
was discussed in a rather informal
manner. and the only result reached
was the appointment of the old steer
ing committee. with Senators Faulk-
ner. of West Virginia. and smith. of
New Jersey. substituted for Senator'S
Brice and Blackburn. whose terms ex-
pired 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 consolidate all the factions in the
senate by combination with the silver
republicans and populists would he
dangerous and would result in the es-
adjustment OF precedent which might
prove embarra sing in the future.
Mr.. Jones' OF Arkansas. is said to be
opposed 10 il because the democrats
have not sufficient votes with those of
their allies 10 DO what is proposed 10 be
done This conclusion is based upon the
assumption that senators Lindsay. of
Kentucky: Gray. Of Delaware. and CAT
ferry, of Louisiana. each of whom sup
ported the indianapolis ticket, are not
democrats MIR. Jones is supported by
several of the more radical silver men.
who thus hope To emphasize their dis
approval Of the course of these sen
ators. These same men appreciate the
fact that if they had possession of the
committees they would be handicapped
by the republican house and the repub-
lican president and would be unable
70 conSummate any of their own plans
of legislation.
The result Of the two hours talk.
therefore was concentrated in the APP
pontment of the committee mentioned,
aud this committee will confer with
the other factions and possibly with
the republican steering committee an
nounced yesterday by Chairman Ali
son.
The republ cans do not expect any
serious result from al the talk Of set
ting aside the present organization OF
the committees. They have so far
failed TO see Just how the contendinp
elements in the senate will bc able &c
agree upon plan of action. At the
same time the republicans realize their
lhOIt
votes. and with little hope of having
the two senators from Kentucky and
Oregon seated. The belief on the par,
of leading republican senator's is that
the silver democrats cannot count upor
the votes of the gold democrats in any
plan that contemplates the organiza-
ton OF the committees by the silver vote
of the senate. They also believe tina
the vacancies in the various commit
teeswill be filled by agreement between
the republicans and democrat
II cannot be verified but il is STATED
with much positiveness that Senato
Teller. of Colorado. was at the caucus
Che scheme for a reorganization of the
senate ON silver lines contemplates tn,
election of ex-senator Dubois. Of Idaho
as secretary of the senate in place o
Mr.. Cox Of North Carolina. and the re
tention OF Col Richard Bright, Of In
diana. as sergeant-at-arms.