Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1898 — CONGRESS TO WAIT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS TO WAIT.

Though Still Imjatient, It Won’t Act Until the Message Comes. LEADERS ACCEPT THE SITUATION. Stroma Impression That the Message Moans War Unless Spain Shows the White Feather and \ Backs Down. \ Washington, April 7.—Notwithstanding the impatience of disappointment caused among the republican members of th* house by the withholding of the president’s messag* Wednesday the frank statement of th* president to the leaders and to several prominent democrats that such a courle was deemed absolutely necessary by Consul-General Lee to insure the safe departure of the Americans still in Cuba has caused them to accept the situation in good faith. Bome es th* moat radical after hearing the statements of those who saw the president appeared satisfied. Meseaare Means War. Those with whom the president talked came away with a very strong impression that the message would mean war unless Spain backed down squarely. One of them, who has been very active in antagonistic delays, says the message will be perfectly satisfactory to him and will fully meet th* expectations of the country. Pending the transmittal of the message, In view of the situation presented by the president, all plans looking to action in the house will be abandoned. But those who have been taking part in the radical movement and who always admit the possibility that the time may come when they will hav* to part company with the president are, according to the leaders of the movement, more determined than ever to ultimately obtain what they desire. They, however, are at present satisfied with the assurances they have received as to the character of th* message. Preparing to Act. But this has not prevented them from organizing for possible contingencies. The conference which was to have been held Wednesday night after the mes-

sage was in was abandoned, but 50 of those who originally inaugurated the movement met immediately after the house adjourned to discuss the situation. All who were not heartily in sympathy with them were Invited to leave. Those at the meeting Unanimously agreed to wait upon the message, but the movement for a caucus started by the president’s supporters, which was also abandoned during the afternoon, exposed to them a danger upon which they had not reckoned —namely, that a caucus of republicans might be called to bind them by the party action and place them in the position of bolters if the occasion arose for them to adopt an independent plan of action. A committee of eight was therefore appointed to count noses, to watch the situation and to devise ways and means to meet any tactics of the opposition. The committee is as follows: Messrs. Hopkins (Ill), Lorrimer (Ill.), Tawney (Minh.), Cooper (Wls.), Hepburn (la.), Brownell (O.), Joy (Mo.) and Knox (Mass.).