Middletown transcript., 1902-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.

something IN IIle nSIuAO OA "
for the Republican members Of Congress.
On Friday the committee on resolutions
appointed at the December caucus is due
to report and the struggle between Tam
many and Texas for the dictation Of the
party policy promises to be merry
war" The New Workers desire to rid
the party of the free silver incubus and
sever all connection with "the silver
iawed orator." The Texans are whetting
their oratorical bowie-knives and declare
they will have the scalps of the TRAITORS
as they term the Fasteners.
~
II will be remembered that among the
resolutions presented by Representative
McClellen, and which were recognized as
having been dictated by Mr.. Edward N.
Shepard, and as his first appearance in
the arena of national politics, was one
declaring in favor of the gold standard.
This aroused the fury Of the fiery Wester-
ners and the oily diplomacy OF Mr..
Richardson alone prevented the bursting
of the cords with which the Democratic
leaders have attempted to bind together
the populistic fiat money theorists and
the remnant of the Democratic party in
the East, with view to formulating
minority sufficiently coherent to worry
the majority in their efforts to enact nee
essary legislation. That the Democrats
will accomplish anything in their coming,
belated caucus, beyond further demon
strating the utter disruption of their
party and the antagonisms of its compo-
nent factions, is not expected.
~
In the Senate there are also signs Of
disruption in Democratic ranks and con-
spiracy lead by Senator Culberson,
whose position as a member of the i'm
portant Philippines committee has mater
tally strengthened his influence, has been
carefully nurtured with view to over
throwing the leadership of Senator Jones
and his colleagues, Cockrell of Missouri
and Daniel of Virginia, who forfeited the
respect Of the party by their readiness to
supinely yield at every point during the
last session, when by vigorous resistance
to the Spooner Philippine resolution
they might even have forced an extra
session of Congress.
~
The hopeless passivity Of the Demo-
Gratis in the Senate, which was brought
out in the interview given your cores
pondent by Senator Vest, of Missouri,
published in these letters about a month
ago, has proven a source Of grave dissat-
isfaction to the Democrats who believe
that, Notwithstanding the smallness OF
their minority, something might be ac-
complished in the way of hampering Re-
publican action. They consider that
even vigorous resistance would prove to
the county that there was Democratic
party in Congress but in their attempts
to do the spectacular they are more
likely to disgust the people than to COM
msnd respect, view of the situation
j which never appeals to the younger and
more reckless element Of the party.
~
The news that the Panama Canal Com
pany has determined to offer its entire
plant, rights and privileges to the United
States at the valuation of $4,000, 900
placed on them by the Isthmian Canal
Commission has been received in Wash
ington with the greatest satisfaction by
the friends of the Panama route and
their number is growing daily. Senator
Morgan, whom l saw as soon as the
news was received, refused to express a
further opinion, on the ground that, as
chairman of the committee which had
the matter in charge and author Of the
Nicaraguan bill, it would be improper for
him to express his views elsewhere than
on the floor of the Senate, and he re-
quested that no quotation of his remarks
be made in print but there was a twinkle
in his eye when congratulated him on
the success Of his tactics in that they had
reduced the price of the Panama property
from $1O9, ,OOO, 900 to $4O,OOO,OO0.
-
Senator Mason, whom I saw Yesterday,
was more frank in his utterance, as he
could afford to be, not being member Of
the canal committee. He said that,
while he had not examined into the
merits Of the two routes, he was in favor
of retaining two strings to our bow"
my idea," he continued, sis to appro-
pirate sufficient funds and authorize the
President to build the canal along the
route which in his judgment is the best.
There is no doubt but that both Nicar-
aqua and Costa Rica and Columbia de-
sire the canal but of course all the
countries involved will make the best
terms possible with the United States.
Therefore am opposed to burning our
bridges behind us or either route. Hav-
ing disposed of the Hay y-Pauncefote
treaty and secured a reasonable price on
the French company's plant, why not
ask for proposals from the countries
whose territory the routes traverse and
then accept the most favorable? That
seems to me the business-like way OF
conducting the negotiations" In reply
to a question the Senator said: "You
need have no fear that the Senate will be
precipitate in its action. This matter
will probably be discussed all winter and
then would not be surprised to see il
referred to the President"
*x* z
found Senator Mason preparing q
speech on the subject of reciprocity which
he expects to deliver in the Senate to.
morrow, apropos of the recusitation oi
the reciprocal treaties which are now in
the hands of the Committee on Foreign
Relations. Reciprocity, as conceived
by Mr.. Blaine and carried into effect BY
the Mckinley tariff bill" he said "wat
never intended to sacrifice the interest O.
one small manufacturer for the benefit O.
the great manufacturing concerns. III
fact it was more in the nature of mega
: tive power. 1t was intended to apply
particularly to our free list and author
lied the President to impose retaliator,
duties where foreign countries discrimi
mated against our exports, as in the casC
of Germany and American pork. 1t en-
g ables the President to impose aretaliator,
!, duty on German sugar. The same