The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-25
REPUBLICAN DIsCoRD.
Outlook for Two Years Ahead is Re
 ported Gloomy.

Washington Special to Baltimore Sun.
 Not ia ten years has there been a
 time when the situation in national poli-
 tics was so threatening for the Republi-
 can party as at present. We are just
 preparing to go before the country for
 the election of a new House of Repre-
 sentatfves. Apparently it will be 1899 over again. How are we preparing for 1t? We
 seem to have no leaoor. The Republicans tn the House are leaderless mob A
 minority of the Republicans there com bine with the Democrats. and that is an
 end of party responsibility and party dis cipline.
 Exactly the same situation prevails In the Senate. There is no leader, and a few Senators who were elected as Republicans stand ready to form an alliance with the Democrats-if. indeed. the alliance has not been formed already-to overthrow
 the policy of the administration and bid defiance 10 party authority. How Is 1t to | end? Unless the big men of the party come to their senses it will end in dis | aster after disaster and loss of the Pres | ideDcy in 1904
 | This statement was made today by a I prominent Republican, who was asked fol | his opinion as to what the signs of the ! times in the party meant. He would not | allow his name to be used, but he spoke | with much feeling. His expressions are | only in line with what can be heard whenever two three leading politicians | get together. On all sides the gravity of the situation Is growing. Sentiment for 1 tariff revision. Democratic unity and Re- l publican discord-that Is the situation in | a nutshell.
 Your correspondent has talked today l with many of he men who have much to | do with making the policy cf the Repub- | ican party. The burden of their tales of | woe is that for the time being Congress Is in position of antagonism to the ad- l ministration. and 1t is for the adminis- 1 tration to step in and assert itself They | point out that the Republicans have | ceased to have leaders in either branch | of Congress and that the Democrats, who 1 have had no effective leadership for years | are really molding the legislation. One prominent Republican said that the | trouble in the House was to be laid pri- | marily at the door of Representative Bab- cock of Wisconsin. who stirred up the
 question of tariff revision.
 Y Nearly all the Republican leaders, how | ever. fail to discern that at the root of | all the trouble lies the demand for a re- | duction of the tariff either by revision or | by reciprocal treaty.
 Some of the difficulty in the House Is | laid by leading Republicans to the Speak CT. This does not explain the situation
 in the Senate. which is almost parallel: l The Republican Congressional Commit | tee, 1t is said on good authority. is feel | ing very nervous and Is looking to the National Committee to take hold of the | coming Congressional campaign and hell out. It is doubtful if 1t can get any help | from the National Committee. the House | having from the outset of the present | session ignored the National Committee 2 | advice.
 The outlook is bad for the Republicans | all over the country This statement is
 made not on the authority of idle gossip, | but on reports gathered by members Of Congress who have been in close touch | with the public.