The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-14
JOSEPH W. BAILEY, LEADER.

Washington Post.
The statement which was made yester-
day by Representative Swanson of Virginia
with Mr.. Bailey's approval marks an i'm
portaut DEVELOPMENT in the fight for the
minority leadenshlp Of the next house 1t
is apparently Mr.. Baileys purpose 10 try
TO solidfy tie democratic votes Of the
South for him by stoutly declaring his
Sllf,giance to fres silver and to ignore the
wishes and the votes of the democratic
members of the next house from the North.
Neither Mr. Bailey nor his friends,
said Representative Swanson, "herot5sr
nave maile any statement on this matter,
because they have perfectly understood
that he was not in the slightest danger
Of being depossd from the leadership in
the present congress or defesAed for the
leadership In the next We have under
stood that all talk of that kind was mere
sound and fury and have thought ii bost
for the party that We did not help to IN.
crease II. But now chat the oDposittan Ia
practically AT an end. there is no objection
TO stating how Mr.. BaiIey's friends think
on the matter.
"out Of 101 democratic members in the
pre1s mt house, over seventy are favorable
To Mr.. Bailey's leaiSship and will sup
port him. Out of the next house OF rep.
reseStalives; which will have 1863 dem3
GRACE members, Mr.. Bailey has alrel,v
favorable to him and committed to him
between 80 and 100 members.
~
MIR. Bailey is q thorough democrat, and
stands squarely upon democratic prlnci-
pies on the great issues He is for the
old republic rs against the new republic
OF Mckinley, consisting of imperialism.
standing armies and high taxes. Upon
the tariff Mr. Bailey is oppos ID to tie
free raw material idea. which is an I'M
portataon into the party by Grover Cleys-
land, and Is the very worst and mosl OBJ.
jectionahle sort of protection. The deno-
cratic platform in Chicago is In ac ord
With him on that. He opposes the an
nexarion Of One Philippine Islands. ana a
vast majority OF the democratic parry in
ia accord with him On that and when the
question comes up the roll call will dis-
close thls fact. He fought against .eolle-
ing upon the statutes any Federal cleo
ton laws. even such as permit thu soldiers
TO vote, The wisdom OF this course VII
be recognized by fhie country over n Tho
republican majority attempts another coic.
bill
When the financial question came prom,
inently 10 the front after MIR. Cleveland
c@lled an extra session. Mr.. Bailey, before
coming 10 Congress, made an address 10
his constituents in which he assail.d The
and he was one 81 Inc arst
10 risk his head on the block In lie cause
Of free silver. 1t will be remembered ma,
on accemnt OF this he was not permitted
10 control even the postoffices of his ,li2
trict. He has early and uneau yocaaly an.
bounced himself in favor OF the reaffirma.
Ton OF the CHICAGO platform and the TO-
nomination Of Bryan. Ills position uJon
All al uaesc great public qukssGorls. his
eafless and Omen advocacy OF them. ana
ais upQlestisnei abllsty. pre-esninently n,
lin for temperate leadership and thers
5 no question that his lsalseshE will 10
continued in the Flfsy-sixth cougrees
which will DO a lnsanasable congress-.
yhere Il will be essential to have ! lead.sr
veH grounded in tiss true democratic prIn-
dples. since the success of thag ieadership
YIN be potent!al in the ness. pres.dsptai
'leoston."