Evening star., 1898-09-27
POLITICAL CAPITAL
Democrats to Seek 1t in a Congress
sional Investigation.
PRESENT INQUIRY TO Be IGNORED
Plans of the Opposing Factions o.
the Party.
E Mt RA SESSION IN 1899

There is a fixed determination on the mart
OF some Of the democratic congressional
ieaders TO force an investigation Of the war
10y congressional committee. regardless OF
the result OF the work OF the commission
now in session. The indications are that
there will he a stormy session from tn.
hour that Congress meets There is a
secret fight on within the democratic lines
which the campaign this fall will probably
bring into the open, and the contention OF
factions in that party will be added to fhe
general activity along party lines Mir.
Bryan is still here, detained by an attack
OF malaria, and perhaps disturbed by the
conflicting opinions OF his friends. 1t Is
understood that his own inclination is TO
remain with his regiment and go wherever
1t may be ordered, but those who want him
to get out Of the army at any cost SAY that
tfere Is a secret movement on foot to over
throw his influence, and that while he is
being restrained from active political work
py his commission in the army, the anti
Bfyah element in the party, directed by the
hand of Croker i'm New York, and having
substantial assistance in Illinois and Mary
land, besides the general sympathy of the
east, Is making progress. In this connec-
tlon IL is asserted that a democratic VIC
tory has been arranged for in New York
Tor the purpose of re-esta blis hing the in
huence OF the New York element i'm direct
ing the course of the party, and that the
eastern contingent in Congress, which now
amounts to practically nothing will be In
creased by the election this fall so as 10
insure its having a voice in deciding party
policies. A loss of seats in the House from
certain quarters in the west is predicted
and this, IL is argued, will make more po-
tential the influence of the eastern contin-
gent II it is materially increased.
To Obtain the speukership.
With this situation developing, the con-
tinuance of Mr.. Bryan in the seclusion Of
a military camp is looked upon by some OF
his followers a decided menace to their
continued control of the party. 1t may be
that this causes Mr.. Bryan to hesitate be-
tween inclination and advice. Depending
on the reports of the democratic congress
sional campaign committee the democrats
are calculating having control Of the
next House and are planning for the speak
ership. Tappers ard miners are at work
undermining the foundation of the Bailey
stronghold. Bailey has taken occasion At
every opportunity to predict the certain ?
nomination OF Bryan in 1900 and this is
counted on as a sacrifice Of the eastern
support. while at the same time western
silver candidate Is to be brought out
against him.
The calculation governing this is that II
the republicans lose the House the oppose
uon majority will be small as to depend
upon one Of two things: If the democrats
control it will be by virtue of the expected
increase in the eastern contingent, and tho
winning candidate for the spea kcrship will
have to satisfy that element or else make
up for its loss by combination with the
populists ana silver republicans for their
votes. A fight is being made to reduce the
strength of the populists and silver republic
cans. and in this the democrats in the dis
trlcts affected are joining. The consequence
OF this is likely to be that. i'm case of the
loss of the House 10y the republicans the
balance Of pOwer-the casting vote-Will be
held DV thp ,aD 4. . in
This is counted on to commit the pros-
pective organization TO the eastern inlu-
ence.
An Extra Session.
But whatever the outcome may he as be-
tween the contending elements within the
democratic party, it is clearly the inten-
ticn, IL the republicans should lose at
this falls elections, to compel an extra
session of the Fifty-slxth Congress soon
after the adjournment of the coming short
session of the Fifty-ifth Congress Il Is
probable that an extra session will have to
be held anyhow; but it is certain should
the republicans lose the House The in
vestfgation of the war by Congress is to be
demanded at once on the assembling of
Congress, whatever the result of the cleo
tions this fall may be, first because all
democrats will seize eagerly any promise
OF bringing a scandal on the admnistra-
ucn, but more certainly because such an
Investigation may afford an opening for
the development of new issues assisting
the eastern element in their purpose to
ONerturH the work of the last democratic
national convention. An issue on the con-
duct of the cannot be brought success
fully into the congressional campaign this
fall, since no congressional investigation
can be had until after the election is over,
but an effort is to be made 10 make use
of it in shaping up the succeeding presi-
Dental campaign particularly with the
view of adjusting the relations between the
two elements of the democratic party.