The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-23
G0RMAN A FAILURE.



Washington Letter in New York CONNER
cial Advertiser.
At the beginning of the new Congress the
Democrats in the Senate find themselves
hopelessly divided on the plan of attack up
on the administration. With the return OF
Senator German especially after his sue
cess in the Maryland election. IL was sup
posed that for the first time In several
years there would be compact and ag-
gressive minority in the Senate under in
telligent leadership. The very first test
shows that this expectation was i'll founded.
The minority. seemingly, Is I'm a state OF
hopeless confusion.
Nominally Senator German is the MI
nority leader. At the special session in the
spring he was promptly made chairman OF
the caucus. There was no opportunity then
for him TO display his leadership on any
political question. but the conduct Of the
administration in Panama was supposed 10
offer him the desired opportunity. His pro-
gramme was Well and deliberately con-
trived. Il was to keep up continuous at
tack upon the President, holding him per-
sonally responsible for every measure
which might seem TO contain the germs or
popular criticism. while at the same time
presenting to the people a Democratic pol
icy which would meet with acceptance
But Germans plan has fallen down at the
first Democratic conference. He proposed
TO draw the lire between Nicaragua and
Panama. insisting upon the literal enforce
follow the Republican majority and the adj
ministration in constituting the Spooner
act in the light of events. His programme
was to vote against any treaty With the
new republic OF Panama which might be
brought in looking TO the construction OF
canal, and to charge the administration
with bad faith in not turning at once TO
Nicaragua after the failure OF the Hay.
Herran treaty Other Democratic senator's
will not follow him In this. Most or the
Southern senator's. for. local reasons, arc
too eager for a canal somewhere to run
the risk of antagonizing home sentiment
by any vote which will look toward delay
in construction; The South would prefer
take the Panama route than nave no cahai
at all.
Democrats made it plain at yesterdays
Republicans 10 ratify treaty with ran
anna TO insure Its ratification.
Behind all this there is lot OF psrsonsl
feeling against German. With all the ao-
milation for his political astuteness. ne
has not been able to convince an aggres-
sive minority of his own party In the sea
ate that he is the most available man Tor
a national leader. There Is strong
prejudice against him as a possible canoi-
date for President West OF the Alleghenies
the feeling Is un1r1enOiy 10 ohSh nks
dubois and Teller think that Judge Parker
would be a better candidate and a sood
many of the Southern senator's have the
same feeling in spite OF Gorman's attempt
| to curry favor with the South by EN-.
phazir the race issue In the Maryland
campaign
game of presidential politics is being
PLAYED on the minority side OF the Senate,
which shows itself in the disposition TO
| discredit Germans leadership In the House
| the Democrats are standing behind the
new leader, s. Williams. of Mississippi In
| a way that insures united action and an
sure to be division with q scattering hre.