The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-22
PRACTICAL POLITICS
DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING A NEW
GAME FOR THEM.
CUBAN CAUCUS RESPONSIBLE.
HAVE LEARNED VALUE OF STICK
ING TOGETHER.

Tack and Spirit of Revolution Is
Manifest-The young Bucks Are
Tired of Being Held Down by the
Old Men and Are Determined to
Assert ThemseIves-The Break on
the Cuban Bill Likely to BE only
One of Many.
Washington April 21-Democratic
leaders in the House and Senate have
! thrown sentiment to the winds and are
playing practical politics. This senti-
ment was expressed by one of the most
astute and aggressive leaders of the
Republican party upon hearing of the
action of the Democratic forces in the
House in lining up solidly on the Gu
ban question last Friday 1t was the
first time in the history of the Demo-
cratic party in Congress where they
allowed themselves to be bound by
caucus decree. SO many compliments
have been showered upon the Demo-
Gratis of the House for driving home
the entering wedge which may result
in splitting the Republican party in
twain that the binding caucus plan"
promises to become a fixture in Demo-
cratic politics so far as the House is
concerned
| Senator Joe Bailey deserves great
credit for the influence he exerted in
inducing the Democratic minority in
the House to stand together on the
Cuban question. He does not claim
any personal credit for the result, but
| ga, l..
not hesitate to bestow upon him un-
qualified praise for the good advice
and practical suggestions he ventured
to give when the subject was brought
to his attention. Ever since Mr.. Bailey
come to Congress he has been
consistent advocate of
binding caucus system in deal
ing with practical political questions
Harmony Was Needed.
lie has claimed all along that party
action to be effective should be har-
| monious and united. There are many
other members of the House and the
| Senate of the same opinion. Until last
! Friday, it has been an irnpossibility
! to induce all OF the members of the
! Democratic party in Congress to take
| that view of the subject on purely POI
| litical questions. Individual convic-
tions and personal desires in various
directions have on more than one oc-
casion, interfered with Democratic
success.
1t is understood that the Democrats
of the Senate will follow the example
of their associates in the House and
stand together when the Cuban ques-
tion is brought forward for considera-
ton. AS Senator Martin of Virginia
remarked: "The standing together
ca, we in he
we can wen afford to try it on in the
Senate. A binding caucus rule is not
such a terrible thing after all, and it
is no reflection on a mans principles
or his convictions when engaged in a
strictly political warfare to resort to
methods calculated to disorganize and
demoralize the opposing forces. The
brightest hopes and expectations for
the Democratic party in the future rest
largely upon a break in the heretofore
solid ranks of the Republican organi-
zation."
Just now the political pot is boiling
quite merrily and it seems to be the
fixed determination of the Democratic
leaders to play national politics along
the lines of aggressive and concerted
action. New ideas, new methods and
new blood should be recognized in pref
erence to worn-out theories and feeble
attempts at consistency which might
have been useful half a century ago.
New issues and new men are coming to
the front in the Democratic party and
If they are given the support they de-
serve, there is a fair chance of the
Democratic party controlling the next
House of Representatives. This is not
idle speculation, but 1t is the concenslis
of opinion of some of the most conser-
vative men in public life in Washing
ton without regard to party utilization.
Senate Will Initiate House.
Evidences of revolution in the Repub-
lican ranks are apparent all along the
line At the White House senators and
representatives who call upon the
President are heard to grumble and
growl because they cannot control all
the federal patronage in their respec-
tive states and thus strengthen their
individual grip on the party machinery
at home. 1t is in Congress that the
disorganization of the Republican
party ia so discouraging to administra-
ton leaders. In the House Speaker
Henderson and his lieutenants Messrs
Payne of New York, Dalzell of Penn
.sylvania, Cannon of Illinois, Grosvenor
of Ohio and a small coterie of profess
siOnal politicians, who have grown gray
in the party service, pose as absolute
dictators on all party questions. There
are dozens of men on the Republican
ciQS VI Tie lne SupEflOfS OF
this group of machine leaders
who .have been kept down
and ignored in the councils
of the party until they have
banded together to break the party
tics and assert their independence. 1t
is while this spirit of rebellion is ram
pant in the Republican camp that
some of the long-headed, practical
politicians in the Democratic ranks
are determine to pursue an aggres-
sive policy and, without sacrificing
the fundamental principles, encourage
and assist in any project calculated
to promote discord in. the opposition
forces.
Young Men Take the Lead.
In the Senate new element is de-
velOping on both sides of the cham
Der. Veterans who were giants in the
political arena a quarter of a century
ago do not think or act fast enough
for the young and progressive men of
the present day. Ways and means,
which might have been effective TWEEN
ty-five or thirty years ago, have lost
their value. For instance Hoar of
Massachusetts, Hawley Of Connecticut,
Fry of Maine, Morgan OF Alabama.
McHenry of Louisiana, Vest OF Mis-
souri, and others who might be men,
toned. are not able to keep pace
with the strenuous young statesmen
who come trooping into the Senate