Year: 1879

Capt. Eads and His Newly Proposed


Modification"


Especial Correspondence of the Democrat


WASHINGTON, February 3, 1879.


/ have been trying for nearly two eeks to
get at the bottom of the demonstration so
unexpectedly made by Bragg, OF Wisconsin,
some time ago, and so ably and calmly met
by Chalmers and Hooker day before yester.
day. The Southern men were at first con-
siderably stirred up by Bragg's unprovoked
and insolent onslaught, but upon nights
reflection concluded to meet 1t in different
spirit from that in which 1t had been de-
Iivered. Naturally enough the first inquiry
among Southern Representatives was, what
does it mean 2" And it was decided by Mills,
Hooker, Chalmers and other Southern Demo-
Gratis who happened to be particularly in
terested In the subject under discussion, to
find out exactly the length and breadth OF
BRACES MOVEMENT


before they took any counter steps. The first
impression was that Bragg had been put for
ward by Sam Randall to sound the tocsin OF
an advance intended to bulldoze the weaker
kneed Southern men into supporting Randall
again for the speakership. This view OF the





now generally understood here, that Randall
| is not now as he was two years ago, first In
| the race and with prospective walk-oyer as
against three or four other cand dates un-
able to combine against him but, on the con-
trary, Is bad second, with Joe Blackburn
way ahead as the combination candidate OF
all the anti Randall elements But subse-
auent inquiry revealed that Bragg's on
slaught had nothing to do with Randal's
canvass for the speakership, Bragg himself
being a supporter of Morrison, OF Illinois, for
Speaker, and inclined to go for Blackburn
rather than Randall in square contest be-
tween the two. This, therefore, disposed OF
the theory OF bulldozing.


| The next hypothesis was that Braggs OBJ
iect was to inject speech into the Record for
use In the next canvass In his district as q
certificate OF generic


| OPPOSITION TO SOUTHERN CLAIMS
| Of oil sorts. But an examination OF Bragg g
voting record showed this to be unfounded,
| for his vote had been several times recorded
In favor OF various Southern interests, and
| he was known to be In favor Of Robertson 8
levee bill.


| Upon this 1t became apparent that his de-
sign was either covert one or none at all and
a good many OF our people here settled down
to the conclusion that his outburst was
chargeable to the general account OF bad di-
gestion and worse temper. There were some
| illusions In his speech, howe yer, which,
when taken together with certain other cir
cumstances that need not be explained, point
to the theory that his main design was to
pave the way for an attack upon the Texas
Pacific scheme. He failed to accomplish this


purpose because none OF our Representatives,
In their reioinders to his surly attack, made
the least show Of urging that scheme or even


Of defending it against Bragg,s implied criti-


cisms. 1t Is apparent, in this light, that
the Texas Pacific or the Representatives OF
the States most interested In its passage, and
In that way, under cover OF questions OF priv


iege and personal explanation" bring. on a
desultory debate upon the Texas Pacific In ad-
! vance of the regular order.


!, The objective point of all this strategy is
, said to be that OF forcing the Texas Pacific
forces into a close combination with the


Northern Pacific, which requires considerable


relief legislation and, like the traditional


Texan who wanted his revolver, needs like
Thus far the Northern Pacific has not been


able to draw much. II any, support for its


measures before Congress from Southern
members, and has had to rely on Its natural


backing from the extreme N northwest together
) with such Northeastern support as might be
actuated In its behalf by the interests oil


bondholding constituencies. !t has, there


fore, been utterly powerless before Congress


and the parties In chargeof its interests here


have been trying for more than year to
make an offensive and defensive coalition


with the cohorts that follow


THE WHITE PLUME OF TOM SCOTT.


The general belief here last session was that


this coalition had been made.or would be


for active operations this session, but there


appears now to be no foundation for that Inn


preston The result OF that combination


would have been that the Northern Pacific


would get the benefit OF 100 to ITO votes known
! to favor the Texas Pacific In return for from
20 to "a of It's own, and the total force OF the


two interests combined would not nave
amounted to clear majority OF the House.


Under these circumstances 1t seems that


Scott and his lieutenants did not deem 1t
worth while to make the coalition, preferring
to take their own chances. Viewed in this
light and voting Bragg as a Northern Pacific


man, it is easy to understand the strategical


significance OF his speech the other aa day. i i
action with the character OF an ut


terly gratuitous assault upon his party as


sociates-a quite cursory glance at the
strate conclusively that he signally failed tc


accomplish his object; for not word was


said calculated to direct public attention to
THE TEXAS PACIFIC SCHEME.


Whether the affair will tend to facilitate or


expedite the proposed coalition remains to be
seen.


Turning from this aspect of the matter t6
the more immediate question OF Southern
claims, there Is abundant food for thought in


the short but pithy speech OF Mills.


The burden Of Mills remarks was the first
) utterance ON the floor of the House OF 9
theory that / have been urging in news


paper way ever since the question Of South
.. ern claims" appeared above the politica


horizon, to wit: That Southern men who were


"loyaP' and Northern men who were dis
loyal should be put upon the same footing
III / were member OF Congress from any
State North or South, / would vote against
,, any claim preferred on the ground that tht
! claimant was untrue to the section to which
he belonged, and which. under the interpre
tation that the vast majority of his neighbors
put upon the paramount obligation OF the
citizen" had the first right to his fealty ant


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