The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-05-20
Our Washington Letters.
Especial Correspondence Of The Journal.

ed dlSSenSl0nS among Democrats are the
leading features of this week. develop
ments in Washington. The Republican
tee, who have been lahoriously engaged
upon the tariff bill, have exercised such
good Judgment and tact in shaping the
bill that there is reason to believe that
every Republican vote and the vote of
every man who in past years co-operated
with the party will be for the bill, and
this insures its early passage and enact
ment as a law. While this drift toward
harmony is clearly apparent among the
Republicans, the mad rush in the direc-
ton of party dissensions is even more ap-
parent among the Democrats Half of
the members of that party in the House
have chosen to follow the leadership of
ulist leaders, Jerry Simpson, while the
other half have fallen into line behind
Congressman Bailey, thus absolutely di-
vlding in two equal factions the Demo
cratic party in the House of Representa-
tlves. When tits remembered that there
is still third faction of the party in the
Cleveland clement, and even a fourth in
that " Ing of the party which is now sup
porting protection, it will be seen that the
divisions are such as to leave the Demo
cratic party in very much distracted
condition. while the Republicans are not
only thoroughly harmonious. but bringing
back into their own ranks, on the tariff
question, those who temporarily alienated
themselves On currency issues
The important feature Of the week was
the test vote il the House on Jerry Simp-
son demand that the Speaker should ap-
point The committees. This had been a
troublesome question to the Democracy.
FOR that element which favored co-opera-
zion With the Populists in the last cam
paigu had clung to simpson and support
ed Lis demand, while Mr., Bailey, who
was the Democratic caucus nominee for
Jhe SpeakeIship, has opposed simpson :,
49, 'N''N4t'f4ls AllS JItttt dIItdtlN G4tulttl Il
division between the members Of the
party favoring a continuance Of the ALI
9nce with the Populists and those who
were opposed to further association with
ghis element of American politics The
feel nc between these two factions had
grown Intense, and the final struggle
-,
the Speaker to appoint committees. Upon
this motion one half of the Democrats
voted with Bailey, after he had made a
strong appeal to the Democrats in the
House to cease Quareling among them
selves, while the other half voted with
Simpson. 1t thus appears that the Demo-
IN the middle upon the question of further
cooperation with the Populists. This is
especially interesting in view of the fact
that all the Democrats in the House be-
long 10 that wing of the Democracy which
supported the Bryan ticket in 1896. This
makes it apparent that even the BRYAN
wing of the party is split in the middle.
When it is taken into consideration that
the gold Democrats are still maintaining
their organization as party, and that the
considerable section of the silver Demo-
Gratis are now favoMng protection and
even voting for it in Congress. it will be
seen that the Democratic party is more
hopelessly divided to-day even than it was
IN the campaign of 1896.
The tariff bin is now ready for consid
GRAFTON by the Senate How long it will
be before that body cannot, of course, be
foletold, but the outlook for reasonable
degree Of speed in its consideration APP
pears to be good, and there is good rea-
son to believe that it will be upon the
statute books by the end of the fiscal
year Members of both parties are recog-
nizing the fact that nothing so disturbs
the business condi tions of the country
both among the manufacturers and others
as the pendency Of a tariff measure of
any sort, because Of the fact that business
contracts and undertakings cannot be
entered upon without definite knowledge
as to what the prices on imported articles
OF the rates of duty will be. These facts are
leading men, irrespective of party to a
desire for prompt action since they know
that business revival cannot be expect
ed by anybody until the tariff can be put
into operation and the immense stock of
foreign goods now coming into the coun-
try disposed of and the market opened to
our own manufacturers.
The Department of Agriculture is re-
ceiving very gratifying reports from the
farming community. The continuation
of high prices for wheat, the unusual
foreign demand for corn and the activity
among farmers in preparing to make an
earnest experiment in the production of
sugar beets, combine to make the condi-
lions among that class of population I'M
usually healthful and encouraging 'tDol-
lar wheat for which farmers had scarce
~ dared to hope, was coincident with the
Incoming Of Mckinley, while The extraor-
binary demand for their corn adds to
their general encouragement. Coupled
IL.