The age-herald., 1902-03-23

| in Congress, MT. Bryan wired withdraw ing his interview on the ground that he dla not fully understand the question: But he had already expressed himself over his own signature to the disgust of the Democratic Senators and Representa- lives in Washington, who understood the purpose of the Crumpacker resolution. This resolution is nothing more nor less than an effort to arouse sectional feeling to declare to the Northern and Western voters that only Democrats are, allowed to vote in the South. A number of the Northern states, however have educa- tational qualifications and many of the voters in Connecticut Massachusetts and other New England and Northern states are disqualified. The Republicans of these states are as much against the pur- port of the Crumpacker resolution as are the Democrats of the South. As a matter | of fact the Crumpacker resolution was gotten up purely for the purpose of affect ing the vote of Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. It Is nothing more nor less than an old Republican bloody shirt dodge.
 Mr. Bryans eagerness to jump into print about 1t has largely deprived him of that confidence which Democratic Sen ators and Representatives had in him. They construed his utterances. his recent visit to Washington and his talk while there to mean that he Is either striving for the Democratic nomination again or else wants to place himself in position where he can name the candidate and write the platform.
 MT. Bryan Is undoubtedly a man of much eloquence and of great learning and ability. But he talks too much. He ex- presses himself too freely on every sub iect before he understands the subject. His enthusiasm leads him into places where he has no right, or better no req son. to go. Our Democratic statesmen do not look upon him as a wise leader. They have lost confidence in him. I did not find single man in Washington who was either in favor of MT. Bryan's re-nomina- tion for the Presidency or who was in fa- vor of permitting him either to write or dictate the next national platform. In other words, the concensus of opinion in Washington was that MT. Bryan has talked himself and written himself po- | litically, to death
 Our Democratic representatives In | Washington are in a rather embarrassing position in regard to the Cuban tariff bill The Republicans in caucus have agreed upon a bill making reciprocity treaty with Cuba by which the tariff du- ties on Cuban products are to be 20 per cent less than the duties on similar pro- ducts from other countries. The Dem- ocrats believe that there should be free | trade between this country and Cuba. | But as they know that the Republicans will never agree to absolute free trade they think a reduction of DO per cent on the tariff duties on Cuban products would be only just and fair. Yet being pledg- ed to a reduction of the tariff and seeing that they can't get reduction of 50 per cent the Democrats feel that they shall have to vote for the best reduction they can get. In the meantime, the Repub- licans who are influenced by the beet sugar producers in this country and who ,, don't want any change made in the Gu
 
 agreement with the Democrats by which they will vote against the Crumpacker resolution provided the Democrats will vote with them against the Cuban Tariff Reciprocity bill. Up to this time the leading Democrats havenot decided what they shall do but it is very evident that they can't afford to vote against any reduction in the tariff, however small. They are pledged in that direction and must stand by their pledges.
 It seems to be the general opinion in Washington that poor old General Miles has completely lost his head. He seems to want to be the entire army himself. He wants to control everything. and ap- parently questions the right of the Sec retary of War to control the army and to recommend to Congress what legisla- ton shall be adopted as to the organiza- | tion and maintenance of the American l army. I don't know enough about army