The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
CAPITOL NOTES AND GOSSIP

On the assembling of Congress today
the Democrats apparently are as devoid
OF policy as il the recent election had
definitely settled all the issues Of the re
cent campaign and wiped out all the Off
ferences between the parties. A Caucus
has been called for this afternoon. when
1t is thought that discussion viii suggest
a programme, If it does not develop a
policy.
When the Democrats left here in June
and went back TO their people they were
uneompromisingi opposed to the three
vital measures which the leader Of the
Republican party, Mr. Hanna, has said
again and again since the election mist
be forced through at this session. These
are:
The Ship Subsidy bill;
The permanent increase of the stand
ing Army to 100000 enlisted men,
The building of the Nicaragua Canal on
the terms prescribed by Great Britain IN
tie HaT-Pauncefote Treaty
Nearly every Democrat in the House and
Senate spoken TO this morning expressed
himself IS still opposed to these schemes.
but not one OF them had any suggestion
TO offer as TO how the party can make
its opposition most effective. Even the
erstwhile fiery Mr. Sulzer of New York
seems in thoroughly subdued and hilo-
sophlcaI mood
VIII you fight the Army Reorganiza-
ton bill which your cOmmittee-that on
Military Affairs--is about ready 20 report
to the House?" a Times reporter asked
Mr.. Sulzsr
Fight is the wrong word, suggested
Mr.. SulzeT- Oppose is the word you
ought to use. l do not yet know what the
party programme will be. For my own
part am in favor Of opposing the Repub-
licans at every point. That is to say we
can introduce substitutes for or amend
ments to all of the bills you mention and
thus set forth the Democratic position. We
can thus get ourselves squarely on record
and clearly shift to the Republicans full
responsibility. They have such a large
majority in both the House and Senate
that they can run over US whenever the
parliamentary tactics OF delay and Obstruc-
lion are exhausted So what's the use OF
our fighting viciousIy with the absolute
certainty of defeat2''
Representative Carmack of Tennessee.
who viii be transferred to the Senate in
the next Congress. talks even more calm
", and perhaps iBdiferently. than does
Mr. SuIzer. - have just arrived said
Mr. Carmack, and 1 do not know what
our fellows are going TO do. / suppose
some programme viii be developed at the
caucus, and until that is done we should
do no talking
Mr.. Benton Of Missouri. a member Of
the Appropriations Committee. seems par
ticularly anxious for the Democrats to
put up a stiff fight against the Nicaragua
Canal bill as long as the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty is pending The Missouri Demo
cratic contingent voted sOIidly against this
bill last spring without having previously
canvassed on IT.. said Mr.. Benton. The
Republicans made this vote of ours dis
tinct issue IN the campaign in Missouri,
and. though I represent d district that
formerly was safely Republican, my pIu-
rality this year was increased thousand.
That certainly shows that my people are
opposed TO the Nicaragua Canal as long as
il is threatened with naturalization by the
abomiEabIe Hay-Pauncefote Treaty.
Therefore / am in favor Of my party fight
ing that proposition to the last ditch"