Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1889 — BLAINE’S VOICE RULED. [ARTICLE]

BLAINE’S VOICE RULED.

HIS COMMAND TO HOLD NO EXTRA SESSION OBEYED. The Meeting of Congress Delayed in Hope of Securing a Larger Republican Majority Difficulties That Will Confront the Party Leaders. [Washington special to Chicago Herald.] Secretary of State Blaine is accredited with having doDe much to influence the Cabinet in making its decision on the extra session topic. A letter from him was read arguing that the House could be organized and get to work almost, if not quite, as etfrly with the increased majority at the regular session as it could with the slim majority at the called session, and that there would be no doubt about the outcome. This was the argument that carried the day. The result is counted a distinct victory for Mr. Blaine, and at the same time it is considered here to give a decided impetus to the Speakership canvass of Major McKinley. Mr. McKinley’s own idea has always been that delay would help him, and it is generally thought that it will help no other of the candidates, it being admitted that if Congress were to meet next week Thomas B. Reed would be chosen the Speaker. But it is not by any means certain that Major McKinley will be solely benefited by yesterday's developments. Republican Congressmen are always extremely jealous of anything which seems like outside interference. If it should become well understood that Mr. Blaino is re illy for McKinley, and especially if the Reed men should run up against his influences here and there, these circumstances would probably militate against the Major. There is a better understanding perceptible among the Western candidates as to the plans of their various canvassers. It is inferred, therefore, that some Western man stands a better chance of winning, because the requisite combinations could be made quicker. Possibly Representative Cannon may yet be called upon to preside over the lower house.

The Republicans will labor under great disadvantages with their slim majority in the next House of Representatives. If Congress were called into session forthwith they would have a majority of threw This is not very large, and it disappears almost entirely when the question of a quorum is raised. There are 325 members of the House, and it requires 163 to constitute a quorum. As the Republicans have 164 altogether, the absence of two members would place them at the mercy of the minority, if the minority chose to obstruct business by not voting. The journal could not be adopted if the point of no quorum was raised, provided the minority did not vote. All the resources of the party could not keep a quorum in the House fifteen minutes if one was secured and the doors not locked. The most careless observer of legislative proceedings can see that the Republican majority is not a majority at ail, except for the momentous purpose of electing a speaker, when the attendance of every member can be secured. The suggestion, therefore, comes that it is policy to wait until the Congressmen from the new States appear with their certificates, and the Republican majority is swelled to six. The Republicans assume that when the membership of the House is increased to 330 by the admission of tne five new Congressmen yet to be elected, four will be added to the Republican and one to the Democratic column, making the relative strength of the two parties in the House of Representatives 168 Republicans and 162 Democrats. A little figuring will show that the situation would not be bettered much even if the Republican majority were so increased. With a membership of 330 it will require 166 to constitute a quorum. Assuming that the minority for obstructive purposes decline to vote, the Republicans will be compelled to produce 163 members out of a total of 168. Three absentees on the side of the majority place it hopeL-ssly at the mercy of the minority, and all the changes in the rules that can be regularly made will not affect the constitutional requirement as regards a quorum. Can a quorum be produced with such a small majority in the event of the minority filibustering? It can not be don e six times in six months. In the last Congress the Democrats had some experience in that direction. Their majority over the Republicans and independents combined was eleven. One of the independents acted uniformly with the Democrats, and practically their majority was increased to that extent. Yet on the most important occasion it was an awful task to get a quorum when the Republicans refuso'd to vote. On several occasions the Democrats had to filibuster to prevent the Republicans from outvoting them, and this with absentees apparently paired. The neglectful and delinquent members who hang around committee-rooms when they ought to be on the floor, and who are hanging over the restaurant bar when roll-calls are in progress, are the horror of. party leaders. A case in point is furnished by the Carlisle-Thoebe contest. Mr. Carlisle had been elected Speaker, even though his seat was contested. Notwithstanding the importance of the issue from a party standpoint, when the vote was taken there were enough Democratic members absent to have unseated Speaker Carlisle. As it was, a large number of Republicans voted with the Democrats, but the absentees had no assurances that such would be the result. One of the absentees was a New York Democratic Con-' gressman, who was repeatedly telegraphed to make his appearance. There were plenty of trains to enable him to get to Washington without losing much time. When too late to get here, he telegraphed that he was detained by an important law case. It afterward turned out that he was trying to get remitted a fine of imposed on one of his constituents for illegal liquor selling. Most party men would have preferred to have paid the amount rather than risk the consequence of delinquency, yet this member took the chances rather than take the trouble to come to Washington. The above is a sample of Democratic experience. In the coming Congress the Democratic leaders will grin while they watch the efforts of Republican leaders to poll the full strength of their party.