The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
DEMOCRATS
CAN'T AVOID
CONTROVERSY
Struggle for Minority
L Leadership.
TO CONTEST BAILEYS POLICY
THEN WILL COME THE DISCARD
ING OF SILVER ISSUE.
Bourbons in the House Realize That
Desperate Steps Must Be Taken
to Reunite Their Old
Party.
TO CONTEST BAILEY's POLICY
THEN WILL COME THE DISCARD
ING OF SILVER ISSUE.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

Call Ot1ce, Riggs House,
Washington, Nov. y.
Democrats are now willing to con-
cede the next House to the Republi-
cans. There will be no speakership fight
for them now and they have some hope
that in the absence of responsibility
for legislation they may be able to
avoid an open display of their differ
ences. II is understood, however, that
they will not be able to entirely avoid
8 controversy over the leadership.
Efforts are now being made to insure
a contest of Bailey's leadership in eau
Gus, with a view of directing the party
into different line of policy from
that which MI Bailey advocates. The
question Of foreign policy and influence
of the Eastern element in the DemOc-
racy Will play an important part, and
it is likely that differences OF opinion
which exist will be displayed almost as
prominently as II the party were in
possession of responsibility.
A struggle to influence the course of
Democracy in the future is already
toreshadowed. and it appears very
proba bic that there viii be a very de-
cided shaking up in The party between
now and 1901.
The radical silver men are going to
be attacked on two sides. First, by
the Eastern element, which Will be
very strongly represented In the mi
nOrlty IN Congress, VINO VIII contend
that the Democratic hopes based on
free silver in the West have been
blighted by the result OF the election,
anu that The future of the party will
depend on the East being again
brought into line by the abandonment
OF the silver question, ana secondly,
they Will be attacked in more indi-
rect way by the element which, while
not hostile 10 silver, will be determined
10 give prominence to issues growing
out of the war with Spain and the
adoption by the administration Of
policy CT expansion.
A good many Democrats believe that
an immense amount of political CAPT
tai can be made during the next two
years out OF the course of the admin
istratiOn in dealing with Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines. They recog-
niZe that the problems confronting the
administration in this matter are very
difficult, and that no matter how wisely
they are dealt with the President can
not escape criticism from some quarter
nor avoid some embarrassment which
might be turned to political advantage
by an opposing party. This presents SO
tempting a prospect that some who
would not willfuIly advocate the aban-
donment of the free silver issue are de-
voting much more time to its considera-
ton than they are to the Chicago plat
form issue. By some it is felt to be
almost inevitable that the settlement
Of our colonial policy being the upper
most question of consideration before
Congress, political thought Will be To-
cused upon ii and issues will grow out
of the discussion which cannot fail to
take a prominent position in the poll
tics of the next two years, and which
will serve to assist in an effort which
will be made within the Democratic
party to have the money question rele-
gated to the secondary position