The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-08
Democratic and Populist Senators
hitter Against the senate Bill, but
May Not Delay a Vote.
WANT TO DEBATE NEW ISSUES
SOME ANXIOUS TO PUSH TRUST
QUESTION TO THE FRONT.
Proceedings OF senate and House
Proposition to Teach Soldiers and
Sailors How to Play ball.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 7.--while the House
Republicans are a unit in support OF the
gold standard bill. the Democrats are d.
vided. The great majority of them viii
oppose that measure. but there are few
who will not follow their leader in the d.
rection Of soft money. Besides briggs and
McAleer. several New York congressman
other than briggs will also vote for the
gold standard. This makes up a serious di-
vision in the ranks Of the opposition, so
that there will hardly be a Democratic
caucus held on the subject, at least one
with the understanding that everyone who
participates is bound by its uscision. The
opponents OF the gold standsr bill in the
House realize that nothing tney can do viii
prevent or even long delay us massage
through that body. The final vote on It's
passage will be taken probably on Monday
Dec. IS. and the majority Tor II viii be
somewhere about thirty; that Is. II may
reach forty. and it is certain not to be less
than twenty.
The Senate gold STANDARD VIII prepared
by the Republican members of tho finance
committee is regarded by the SOFT money
Democrats as more obnoxio than that
of the House. and the Popuist and Silver
Republican Senators are ':ven more bit.
ter against 1t than the Democrats. The
Democratic leaders, however,. have &C.
cided upon the advice OF former Senator
German. 1t is hinted. not to adopt obstruc-
tive tactics towards the dill Thes viii
content themselves with making their rec.
ord complete as opposed TO the g'ii stald-
ard and in favor Of silver inonoTaetalis;n
and soft money generally. AMI the rest Of
the opposition forces will perforce be COM
PEELED to accept this prosramHe because
they are not strong enough 10 rsrry en- an
obstructive campaign ~ themselves.
though that is their preference. a lea ling
Democratic senator said to-iay that n vote
on the bill would be reached about the 1st
Of April.
The real reason for the adoption OF this
programme by Democrats Is that they be-
Iieve the enactment of a soI1 -tandari law
at this session of Congress wiz remove he
money question from National politics Iext
year, and enable them to push Trusts 10 the
front as the dominant issue. on that they
profess to believe they can win The pass
age of the bill In April wou'd. they argyle.
leave three months In which TO bring the
trust issue before Congress and compel
the parties to align themselves They In
sist that with the law on the statute
books requiring gold payments. ard The
Senate In Republican hands for tie next
few years, the money question would Tor
the time being cease TO be n leading or
even prominent issue. Just how they are
to prevent the money issue from assuming
prominence with Bryan nominated on 'be
Chicago platform, they cannot explain.
They simply insist on IL as fa.paoie facf.
One thing that looks little furious. In
view of the profession Of the opponents OF
the gold standard bill that they viii not
adopt obstructive tactics to warc IL. is that
they are raining kilograms On Governor
Poynter, Of Nebraska. urging him to ap-
point former Senator Allen, Popuiist, to the
vacancy caused by the Isatn II former
Senator Hayward. They take the ground
that he Is needed here at this ;uncture be
cause a great fight over the money ques-
ton is on. They dwell on lis ability as "a
scrapper on the floor. and especially as
long-distance orator. he having talked all
one night during the fight ove- the repeal
of the silver purchasing clause OF the
sherman act. and quitting apparently a.
fresh as when he began. OF course. per-
sonal feeling enters into the matter some
what. Allen being popular with Senators
OF all parties; for aside from his financial
yagaries. he Is an able man. besides be-
ing a royal good fellow. Still their urgency
makes IL look as though they expected .
harder fight than they want the Republic
ans and the public to think possible at this
time.