The evening times., 1900-01-13
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Colonel Bryan Coming.-Colonel Bry
an is expected to reach Washington mex
Friday. He will confer with the party
leaders in Congress while here, and it is
supposed that out of these conferences
will grow something like definite, ag-
gressive Democratic programme for the re-
mainder OF the session. A gentleman who
| claims recently to have had some corre-
| spondence with Colonel Bryan on the sub
ject says the Nebraskan is very much dis
satisfied with the mastery inactivity OF
! the Democrats in both the House and
! Senate and that when he comes here lie
will try to evolve for the brethren a pol
icy of determined and unceasing opposition
/ TO Administration measures. 1t is even
hinted that he will endeavor to divide re-
1 sponsibility for the party leadership in
/ the House among a half dozen or more
members, so that the apparent timidity
which now acts as brake on partisan en-
! thusiasm will be destroyed and more
courageous and heroic course will be adopt
| ed In order not to engender factionalism
and intensity the personal jealousies al
ready existing among House Democrats,
! ii is said, Colonel Bryan will take every
! member into his confidence who stands
/ on the Chicago platform. In order TO
/ economiZe time in carrying out this pro-
gramme 1t is supposed a caucus will be
called while he is here and that before
the caucus he will make known his wishes.
Dispatches from the West say that Colo
mel Bryan has not changed his mind
about being the guest of o. II. p. Bel
mont while in New York. This Is re-
garded as very deliberate 'swipe at
the palpitating ambition of the Hon. VIII
liam K. Sulzer for the Vice Presidential
I; nomination. 1t is known that this physl-
cal reincarnaton of Henry Clay carries
rocks in his pockets to hurl at Belmont
whenever the opportunity is offered by
the millionaire leaving the sacred pre-
cincts of the Four Hundred in Fifth Ave-
nue. and wandering down toward the lair
of the tiger. But Mr.. Belmont, it ap-
pears, is aware of the danger that threat
ems. and accordingly has decided TO give
the much -heralded Bryan dinner in his
Fifth Avenue mansion, into the luxurious
apartments of which the Hon. William f.
Sulzer has never yet penetrated, and never
will, because of the suspicion against his
falling under the baleful influences OF the
plutocrats" which such visit might en-
gender among his idolatrous constituents.
Whom Mr.. Belmont will invite TO dine with
Colonel Bryan is not yet known, however,
though il seems reasonably certain that
very few of the New York Congressional
contingent will be hidden to the feast.
Ii is thought that an exception Will be
made in favor of the Hon. Jefferson NJ.
Levy, who, is is stated. desires 10 get
good chance 10 convert Colonel Bryan from
bimetallism 10 the single gold standard
PIacatIng the Neteraus.-The rapid
ity with which the Senate passed the bill
authorizing the Commissioner OF PEN
sions TO rate pensioners according to the
aggregate injuries or disabilities incurred
while in service is being pointed out as an
evidence that the Administration is trying
TO placate the old soldiers and get them
back into line until after the votes are
cast in November. 1t Is also pointed out
that passage of the bill by the Senate does
not make it law. and that the measure will
be smothered in one way or another in or
der to prevent its reaching the House for
final action. The Administration. it is
said, is at last keenly realizing the danger /.
20 the party contained in Pension Com
missioner Evans adverse course last I
spring and summer, and though Mr. Nc |
Kinley has agreed to the humiliation in /
iicted upon Assistant Secretary Davis for Z
having consistently opposed some of the (
unpopular rulings OF the Pension Bureau. /
he homes that the sop thrown to the vete- !
rams in the Senate bill will bring all OF .
the recalctrants back into the Republican
camp at least long enough to save the day
in Indiana. Illinois, and other close States
of the Middle West.
The Maryland Nacancy.-Few mem
bers of the House and particularly among
the Democrats, are able to understand why
the Hon. John Walter Smith refuses to
exercise his constitutional authority. and
al the same time discharge his party OBJ
legation. in the matter of filling the va
,ancy his election to the governorship of
has created in the House. That
he vacancy ought to be filled as matter
IF plain common sense and law, nobody
ioubts outside OF the select coterie that
surrounds the Hon. Arthur Pue German
L is conceded that Governor Smith is be-
ng influenced in his unusual course by
Mr. German. who. like Providence moves
n mysterious ways his wonders to per-
orm. 1t is said that the House Judiciary
Committee may look into the whole mat
er with view of establishing a uniform
method of procedure in all such cases in
uture Chairman Ray, in discussing the
ubject used a hypothetical case to en-
,hasize the strong points. Suppose
ase." said he. where the House would
,e Democratic by one majority and two
Democratic members from the city Of New
FORK should die. it being substantially
ertain their successors. in the event of a
pecial election, would be Democrats, and
uppose, then. the Republican Governor Of
few York would decline to order special
lection 10 fill these vacancies? That !
rould change the House from Democratic
o Republican House, and naturally
rould result in materially altering the
curse of legislation. Thus it would be
q the power of the governor of a State
0 change the political complexion of the
louise of Represent natives