The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-11
Only Three Speeches on That
Side This Congress-,
BRYANS CHANGE OF BASE
Things Being Done at Wash
ington for Kansas.

senate among the opposition to the Re
publican party. in connection with the
| finance bill. In all the weeks the bill has
been before the senate practically the
only speeches made in opposition to It
have been those of Senators Teller, Allen
and Cockrell. Among the other opposi-
| ton leaders, such as Jones of Arkansas,
| Tillman and Vest, to say nothing of the
| lesser lights, none has had a speech
| against the bill. Mr.. Chambers speech
today can hardly be considered an ex-
ception to the foregoing statement, since
there IS a vast difference between a Re
publican btnetallist and Pop or Demo-
cratic silver monometallist At first not
much attention was paid TO the seeming
lack Of interest. 1t was thought that
possibly the leaders Of the opposition
were preparing speeches which should
display the Democratic and Populist en-
nifty toward the bill. But as days and
weeks went on and still no silver senator
raised his voice in opposition to the
measure, there began TO be made all
sorts Of comment on the apparent neglect
of the whire-rnetal senators. Now, it Is
a constant thing to hear criticism and
ridicule of these senators because of their
failure TO respond to what a few years
ago would have been a chance eagerly
accepted by them. For 1t has not been 50
very long ago that not single PROPOSE
ton could be sprung in the senate with
out the opposition leaders, and those who
were not leaders gladly hailing it as an
opportunity to talk silver They began
the days session with it; they still talk
ed it at adjournment; week in and week
out there was surfeit Of silver speeches
injected into the discussion on every bill
and resolution. Is there a reason for it?
A good many think there Is. 1t is begun
to be recognizede here that Colonel Bry-
an has made a deal with eastern Democ-
racy whereby he will eliminate silver
from discussion in the coming campaign.
OF course it Will be in the platform, as
suggested in these dispatches some days
ago. but 1t will not be real issue. 1t
will give way to imperialism" and other
things, so the gallant leader from Ne
braska can win back the estranged bour-
bon vote of the east. Senator Aldrich Of
Rhode Island, chairman Of the committee
of finance, is the Republican leader for
the bill He has about given up in de-
spair. He recently told a leading west
ern member of congress that he saw no
way to compel the opposition to talk
against the finance bill; to discuss it be-
fore its passage. He is very much afraid |
that the bill will go to a vote without the |
discussion which 50 universally and al |
ways prevails when an important meas |
ure is before congress.
It is hard to tell at this time what the |
results will be of the visit Of William ]. |
Bryan in the east. This, principally from /
the fact that no two practical politicians !
seem to get at the same point of view. |
In New York, where the initial visit was |
made'in the warriors trip, the politicians |
are very much atvarfance with regard to !
the result. Bryan met the swells and the |
aristocracy of the metropolis. The ''un- |
washed" wanted him badly, but did not |
get him. So there is frequently heard |
the cry that the New York visit was in !
the interests of and to win the monied |
and aristocratic set. For instance there |
was the very swell dinner given by o. H. |
P. Belmont, where the erstwhile warrior |
met the leaders Of wealth, fashion and |
society. He did not mix with the plain /
common people at all. even though sore
ly wanted by them. He conferred with (
the other class and let the faithful fol-
lowers alone. But Of course Bryan had |
an object. He desires to win back the |
forces that were alienated from him in |
1896 by reason of the silver campaign.
Hence the result that silver viii be In
the national platform again this year,
but not discussed.
The National Civic club of New York
has attempted a task Of heroic proper
tons. 1t seeks to bring together the ele-
ments Of Democracy which have been
alienated. 1t proposes to bring Bryan
and Cleveland into the same camp. Il
proposes to settle the row between the
members of the New York delegation.
split in twain so recently over the selec-
ton of a congressional committeeman.
which resulted in defeat for Amos Cum
mings, the Bryan candidate. The ANAL
gamation is expected to take place at a
big dinner 10 be given soon, and results
Will be watched for with interest
BY far the most interesting and the
deepest question for consideration by the
Fifty-sixth congress IS that which will
determine the fun meaning q the term
United States" That opinions differ Is
shown by The great fight the Democrats
are making on the proposition. and the
unusually deep study and preparation
Republicans are giving IT. The librarian
of the law library says that never before
IN his experience has there been the call
for reports and statutes and opinions
that there Is now. Members Of congress
are paying almost exclusive attention %
this proposition, and every nook and cor
ner OF the library, every committee room. /
every available place about the house end
Of the capitol whe-o members can satrcr
and work and read IS in usa Members
are seen with books under their 9lns 60
Ing 70 and from thA capitol Messengers
deliver them constantly. Clerks and sec
retaries are delving into the propos do1s
Involved and assisting their members
StencE-apha-s are busy az work trans
orih.ag notes. copying passages from the
books AMI from speeches Of Statesmen
Of from 50 10 10 years ago. The commit
tee Of ways and means Of The house =
Il anything more important and more
busy Just now than even in the - lst q
2 great tTaih revision. THIS committee.
which so many though; might save 70
give ID its No l place 70 the committee
% tnsuiar affairs. continues = take
precedence and VIII keep & for this seS-
SION. Il not Tor tire entire congress. TIE
debate on the substitute for the Pane
bin. IRE substitute providing for a tariff
equal to 3 per cent of ne D!ngiey law