Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-23
some DlSCORD IN EACH PARTY
Difficulties That Lie in the Way oi
Legislation.
OUTLINING THE PROGRAM

dc and what they can do is recognized
Moreover many ere in doubt as to what
ought to be done with respect to a number
ot important matters. There are still some
important things not ripe for action con-
cernng which it will be difficult to main
tain silence and still more difficult to speak
upon understandngly.
Neither Party Wholly in Concord.
Neither party knows just how far it can
depend upon its members in the two houses
OF Congress to agree upon questions now
uppermost in the public mind. There are so
many shades of difference that it will re-
quire the greatest delicacy 10 blend them.
There Is a general impression at this time
that the financial question and that of
panSion will at once take the foremost
place in the consideration of Congress- Yet
it may not be easy to get either to the
front soon as intended, and other mat
te may absorb attention, There are
sons why both parties may not object 10
an old-fashioned partisan squabble u exci;e
party spirit before anything is done. TIE
republicans have but a small majority i'll
the House, and though they have quite a
large majority in the Senate in proportion
TO the size of that body. it is COM
posed as not to be assurediy we'll in hand
for action.
some not satisfied with the financial meas
ure proposed. In fact, there is fair pros
pect of the Senate being decidedly out CT
line with the House. Considerable influence
will have to be brought to bear upon the
Senate and 1t will be particularly difficult
to deal with those senators who are dis
posed to play politics. But first of all, it
will be necessary to whip into line those
republicans in the House who manifest
disposition TO shy at the financial measure
proposed With so small majority the
party cannot afford to have any recalci
trants.
Again on the subject of expansion there
are some of the majority party in both
houses who have sentimental notions about
the consent of the governed and these
have got to be taken into consideration in
trying to carry out policy.
The minority party, too, is composed of
some incongruOus elements, and it cannot
hope to present an absolutely solid front on
either the expansion the financial ques-
ton, though there will be fewer recalci-
trants to contend with to the latter
question. A considerable number of the
minority party believe in. expansion and
think that We have already expanded. and
that it Is no longer open to discussion
whether or not we will expand.
With this confused state of things with
in each party and "a general uncertainty
just how things are going to turn out at
some unexpected moment, there will be
disposition to engage in considerable fenc-
ing.
To Fire Party Spirit.
good old-fashon party fight over pure
ly partisan questions will be regarded as a
suitable preliminary to the real business of
the session, being calculated to tighten
party lines and to render men less apt to
act outside their party account of per-
sonal conviction. With a bitter partisan
fight on, it is difficult for a>member to vote
contrary to the decision OF his party eau
Gus.
There is plenty of fuel with which to
start the fires Of party spirit burning. The
election contests which are to be expedited
in the House afford ample opportunity for
such discussion of election methods as
will set the partisan temper into a blaze
and no one can tell but that some propo-
sluon TO correct the election methods in the
south or to cut down representation where
a considerable number Of citizens are de-
prlVed of their right to vote may suddenly
develop that question an issue over
which there will be a bitter and distracting
struggle.
are apt to be considered with more delib-
GRAFTON, Will create q diversion in that
body. and the matter of reorganza tion may
create some disturbance.
These questions in politics more personal
10 the members and senators themselves
ana Affecting the professional game of pol
ltcS 90 at times easily distract attention
from all things else and have a very decid-
ed influence in shaping the course of events
with respect to broader questions of state.
Making Campaign Capital.
The two parties are likely to devote con-
siderable time to working themselves up to
a proper state of partisan frenzy before
anything substantial Is seriously under
taken. The first consideration will be to
fill the Congressional Record with all con-
celVable matter that might be serviceable
as campaign literature. Everything of any
possible consequence that has been said or
done with reference to the Philippine pol
icy, Cuba, Porto Rico, Samoa, China, the
trusts and what-not since Congress ad-
journed, will be reviewed in a hundred diff
of view on both sides The conduct of the
War Department, the SchIey- ampSon con-
troVersy, the utterances of Mckinley, the
speeches of Bryan, Hannaism in Ohio, Goe
beliSm in Kentucky and QuayiSm in Penn
sylvania; Aguinaldoism in Boston and Otis
ism in Manila; trusts and prosperity; Wall
street specuiations, bond purchases, farm
ers complaints of the price of wire-fencing,
the question of wages and the question of
railroads: immigration, and annexation
these ana as many more things as can be
thought OF will be dumped, conglomerate
mass of rhetoric into the Congressional
Record. so that the mass may be picked
over and sorted out by campaign commit
tees later on and selections be made to suit
the various sorts of people whose votes are
to be influenced in the presidential contest.
Handicap to business Session.
There is wide range of opinion as to
what real business will be accomplished
during the coming winter. The unreal
business Will be enough to take up a very
considerable part of the session. Many i'm
! portant things are to be attempted, but
there promises to be a constant conflict of
| opinion between those who think it proper
to make record by doing things and those
who deem it the part of political wisdom to
| refrain as FAR as possible from making
| new record on anything during the ses-
/ sion of Congress just preceding a presiden-
| tlal election. Those who belong to the lat
| ter school of thought will endeavor far
| fn haxr
| ton delayed until another session of Con-
| gress, after the election Is over. The drag
| that the existence of such a sentiment will
contriblte to the difficulty of accomplishing
| all of the great amount of work that is
| mapped out for this session.
| The Republican Program.
| The recognized authorities of the majority
| expect to be able to adopt the caucus com
mlttee financial measure, to pass the ship
ping btll. to give Hawaii a government and