The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-10
CLARK IS AMBITIOUS
Montana Senator Looks Even as
High as the Presidency.
DEMOCRATIC ISSUE PLAIN s'ANTP'
Mr.. HansbrOugh Benefits From ''Sen-
at0rial Courtesy" of the
Choicest Brand.

From The Journal bureau, Room 90 Fost
Washington, March 1O.-It is whispered
that Senator Clark of Montana would be
"tickled" if the democrats were to- elect
him the chairman of the democratic con-
@gressional committee. By making a
winning fight this year, and thus making
the fifty eighth congress democratic, he
would be brought into great prominence
in 1904, and might-stranger things have
happened, the thinks-be available for the
presidential nomination in that year. Mr..
Clark is very ambitious and regards the
presidency as none too high a place.
The pressure on Representative Bah
cock to continue as chairman of the re-
publican congressional committee is very
strong, but it is quite likely that he will
resist it. The reason is apparent. He
purposes to urge the consideration of
his tariff bill at this session of congress,
and while he is now at peace with the
leaders Of his party, there is no telling
how soon his program will bring him into
conflict with these leaders. He would not
care to accept post which might embar-
rass him and the party in the campaign.
1t is said that he is the best chairman
had, and the desire on the part Of re-
publican members from close districts to
have him stay is very pronounced.
The republican policy in the approach
Ing campaign will, of course, be defense
of every thing Mr.. McKinley's and Mr..
Roosevelt's administrations have done
The democrats have no clearly defined
policy Democratic leaders of the house
when questioned, all said that it would be
negative policy-that is, be ''agin the
administration at every point. Things
may transpire before the close of the
col tIo+ will IL oso1>
vantage points for effective fighting that
they do not now see. One thing they ad-
| NIT and that is, neither the silver ques-
tlon nor the tariff question will be made
an issue. They have been beaten so eff
fectively on these two issues that they
think it unwise to force them again this
| year. A wave of hard times might lead
them to urge tariff revision, but not 9TH
erWlse. In general, their slogan will be:
''The republican administration has been
VIGOROUSLY eXtravagant. The Philip
pines, Cuba and Porto Rico have been
! treated with rank injustice, and trusts are
| in the saddle
In congress the republicans have ma
jority OF forty three over ALL The con-
gress to be elected next fall will contain
| thirty additional members. These thirty
will be elected in tWenty-one states. A
! reasonable guess is that the democrats
will carry fourteen of the thirty districts
| one in Arkansas, one in Colorado one in
! Florida, one Of the three in Illinois, one
IN Louisiana, one in Mississippi, one in
Missouri, one of the two in New Jersey,
one of the three in New York, one in
North Carolina, one in West Virginia and
three in Texas. The republicans should
| carry one in California, one in Connec-
| ticut, two of the three in Illinois, one In
| Kansas, one in Massachusetts,, perhaps
| two in Minnesota, two of the three in
| New York, one of the two in New Jer-
sey, one in North Dakota, two in Penn
| sylvania, one in Washington and one in
| Wisconsin. 49,.
! This means that the democrats, free
| silver men and populists combined must
overcome majority of fifty. In other
words, they must gain not less than thirty
! districts to get even the lowest majority
that could be reasonably depended upon.
True Senatorial Courtesy.
| The senate has way of passing i'm
! portant bills out of compliment to It's
members. The shipping subsidy bill is
to pass by very large vote; the irriga-
ton bill passed recently with almost no
opposition Back of the former is Sena-
tor Frye of Maine, president pro tenn
more Of the senate; back of the lat
ter is Senator Hansbrough of North Da-
kota. Mr.. Frye has been fighting for a
subsidy for many years. No subject is
nearer his heart. Mr.. Hansbrough is an
ardent advocate Of irrigation and his in
! f1uence in the senate is of character to
demand the extension Of this courtesy
In neither instance, however, did the SEN
| ate act unadvisedly. 1t is claimed by
leading men Of both house that it was
pretty definitely understood before the
! irrigation bill went through the senate
that it could not get through the house
on account of the hostile attitude OF
Speaker Henderson, who can prevent ac-
ton at will by refusing to permit the
report of a rule for the consideration OF
! the bill. With the ship subsidy bill the
case is different. The speakers attitude
is unknown, but it Is known that the
OPPOSITION to subsidy among house repub-
1icans is perhaps sufficient to prevent pas
sage, even should there be a favorable
rule for the consideration of the bill
1t is compliment to Mr.. Hansbrough
however, even should this have been the
explanation for the smooth shedding OF
the irrigation bill through the senate
that his standing in the upper house Is Of
a character to call for this kind of con-
/ siderate treatment.
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