Newspaper Page Text
8
FROM WASHINGTON.
FUJI COKGH ESS lIJS BEES DOIXG
DVRIXG THE PAST WEEK.
>fr. Vest of Missouri. Outspoken in Favor of
Free Coinage —Senator Gordon’s Reso
lutions—How Georgians Will Vote.
Washington. August 14.—(Special.)—The
Silver debate dragged slowly in the house
today. There were no great speeches on
either side. Some are. liowetei, pioinised
later.
In the senate today Mr. A est, of .Mis
souri. launched forth in a two-hour speech
in favor of free coinage and against the
recommendations ol the president lor an
unconditional repeal of the Sherman law.
The indications slill are that the Wil
son bill for unconditional repeal will go
through the house though that is not a
certainty. There are fully tifty demo
cratic members of the house who do not
know just exactly how or where they
Stand and there may be some amendment
loftered in the shape of substitute legisla
tion dealing with silver that will catch
them. There are those in the house who
believe that a. free coinage bill at a twenty
to one ratio may carry; should it the sen
ate would almost certainly adopt it. The
impression is growing stronger every day
that an unconditional repeal bill cannot
carry in the senate. Several senators,
notable among whom are Senators test,
Voorhees and Cordon, who have been
counted for unconditional repeal, have an
nounced against it within the past forty
eight hours. Free silver men undoubt
edly have a majority, as matters now stand,
in the senate, and if they remain firm the
passage of such a law cannot be prevented.
But in this connection the question arises
ns to what Mr. Cleveland would do in the
event of the passage of a free coinage bill
with a second section repealing the Sher
man law. It is given out by those who are
nearest to him that he is going to stand
by the unconditional repeal or nothing and
that it would matter not at what ratio a
■fpup roinnixv bill should. bo adpptod lie
would veto it.
Senator Gordon’* Resolution.
Senator Cordon introduced a resolution
in the senate this morning which detines
his position in save- of bimetallism and
against the unconditional repeal of the
Sherman law. though advocating its repeal,
lie asked that the resolution lie on the
table as he desired to address the senale
<m it later. He will perhaps make his
speech this week. In it he will declare
squarely for free coinage.
Senator Cordon’s resolution reads:
Resolved, That pledges made to the people
in order to secure power should bo
religiously redeemed in good faitn and in
justice to the people, who. relying upon those
pledges, conferred that powei.
Resolved. That in compliance with these
promises made to the people, in recognition of
the demand made by the people, and in ord'*)'
to establish confidence among tile people, and
to bring urgently n< eded relief to the business
of the country. the committee on finance
be and is hereby Instruct: .: to report at ilm
v . ir iiest dav practicable a bill or bills repealing
tile purchasing clause of the statute called the
Sherman law. and providing tor “the use of
both gold and stiver as the standard money
of the country,” and for "the coinage, of
both gold and' silver without discriminating
ttgains"? either metal” and for making "the
dollar unit of coinage of both metals *
* "of equal intrinsic or exchangeable val
ue.” , .
Resolved, That under proper guards and
restrictions, so as to secure uniformity,
the power of chartering and establishing
banks of issue may safely and wisely
restored to the States: that to deny t its tj to
den,, the e:tpa< it} of the states ror Wll>ol n
liient: and that the said committee <>n linaii.
le ami is hereby instructed to report also a
{•ill repealing "lite prohibitory 10 per cent
tax on state bank issues.
Ki!ly < »•«♦»». i*»r KimH <»n One Thinir.
' Senator Bill' Chandler, of New Hmnp
tib.iro, has declare,! in favor of Lite free corn
age of Silver. When mwh New England
representatives as <'handler Hop over to
free coinage it is evident that the senate is
certain to give a big majority lor muictal
lisin. A few more such speeches as Senator
Volt's. of Monday, and Mr. Bryan s of
today may cause an unexpected rush for
the free coinage band wagon.
How the t;«.>r t mti‘ Will Vote.
In all the Georgia delegation Mr. Caba
piss js the only member who favors an 1111-
romiitional repeal of th- purchasing clause
r>f the Sherman law. lie is oppose! to
making the attempt to attach a free com
pge bill or anything else onto the repeal
lull, though he is an advocate of bimetalism.
He says he thinks that the Sherman lull
should be repealed at once and then the
matter of substitue legislation nitty bo
considered. He is for ft coinage, how
ever. but for repeal right now. All the
Other members of the delegation will vote
for free coinage at some one of the ratios
that will be voted upon.
Should al] the amendments to the Wil
»on repeal bill be voted down the majority
of the members of the delegation will per
haps cast their votes against that bill,
though there are several who will vote
for it. On this latter question several of
the Georgians, like other members, have
not made up their minds.
A Bill bat AV ill Bass.
The indications are that the bill allowing
national banks to issue currency to the
par value of their bonds on deposit, will
pass tiie senate within a few days. Many
senators on both sides of the silver ques
tion will vote for it. Though there is
some very decided opposition the prospects
are that the majority in favor of it will
prove large when the vote is taken.
The situation an it Mow Appear*.
Senator Vests’s very decided and unmis
takable free silver speech in the senate on
Nlonday has had the effect of making the
silver men more sanguine in their state
-1): ‘iits that the uucoiiditi' nal repeal of the
Sherman law is an impossibility.
The fact that Senator Vest, who has al
ways stood very close to the president, has
declared against him in this fight has, in
deed, had its effect. Now that Senator
Vest has taken the lead there tire many
senators, heretofore considered weak
kneed, who will follow him, and it is be
ginning to appear that the president’s mes
sage has not bad the effect expected of it.
The silver men are growing more de
termined never io allow the repeal of the
Sherman law without free coinage or a new
measure which will satisfy their demands.
i n tiie 1! <ium‘
Hi t ate on the financial situation was re
»umed in the house.
Mr. Daniels, of New York, was the first
speaker, ile declared himself in favor of
the purchasing act of tile Sherman law.
'Terror, lie said, had taken hold of the pub
lic mind that disaster was bound to follow
fr<>m the accumulation of silver bullion in
•he treasury and inis fear had been crieed
)>y the president. Congress should give some
ineasure of relief to the people by changing
the financial policy.
Mr. Cooper, democrat, of Florida, said that
Jie would vote tor the Wilson bill against
ea-h and every one of the propositions pre
sented by the silver men. lie admitted that
lie did not. know much of the industries of
this couiftry; 'out, as far as he could get in
formation. he was convinced that the mills
were not closing up for Lp'k of money, or
•for lack of orders, but they were closing
because they could not get the cash. He
argued that the Sherman law was the
cause of the present depression. The want
of public confidence had caused the runs
upon banks had caused the failure of
•ml stantial banking institutions aild had
brought about the present financial strin
gency. He could not resist saying one tiling
stud ‘ that was that when the democratic
party had governed the country for four
years, at the end of Mr. Cleveland's first
term, it had turned the country over to the
republican party prosperous and happy. The
republican party turned it back to the dem
ocrats in a condition of depression, with
the country going over the financial preci
pice into the abyss of disaster.
Mr. Cooper is a new member and the at
titude taken by him fins somewhat of a
surprise to his friends, lit* is a young man.
with a strong voice, a ready flow of lan
guage. a quickness for repartee and a pleas,
smi manner. He bids fair to join the ranks
«.f the rising young members of the house.
Mr. Goldzjer. democrat, of Illinois, spoke
In favor of the repeal of the Sherman bill
and raised his voice in support of the cred
itor class, which did not. he said consist
<,f th«* bankers and brokers, of Wall street,
but of the great mass of the people.
Coiigrrscnion Llvinc#t.on shells the Woods.
Washington, August 19.—(Special.)—Col
onel Leonidas Livingston of Lha county
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA. GA.. TUESDAY. AUGUST 22. 1893.
of Newton, had a good clean shave this
morning, donned his best suit and walked
nervously about the hall of the house for
several hours before his time came to ad
dress the house and the country on the
great pending issue. When lie did get the
floor he caught, the true old Newton camp
meeting hallelujah lick in his arms, shouted
to (he "brethren” to open their eyes ami
for an hour and a half he chunked sound
facts and solid argument about him promis
cuously.
The republicans attempted to interrupt
him several times, and they asked him some
hard questions which he, perhaps, couldn’t
answer, but he didn't let them know it.
He would pound them in return with clubs
that he did know how to use. and he drove
every one to cover. He made a good,
sirong. wholesome speech that, was listened
to attentively and applauded. There have
been more eloquent speeches, but lew
stronger or more directly to the point.
Colonel Livingston opened by saying
that he concurred with General
Catchings, who had preceded him and
had spoken in favor of unconditional repeal
that, in considering this qnesli-c. repre
sentatives should rise above party. On
this subject there should be no republicans,
no democrats, no populists. 'l'here was no
reason why men should not rise above
partisanship and discuss and dispose of the
pending question as sensible men and pa
triots. He favored bimetallism ami Hie
plain question now presented was between
a single gold standard and bimetallism.
The Chicago platform had denounced the
Sherman act a cowardly makeshift. z\
makeshift for what? A makeshift for a
single gold standard? No; a makeshift for
tin* free coinage of silver. The bill for the
repeal of the purchasing clause of the Sher
man act did not place the democratic party
where the Chicago platform proposed to
leave it.
He denied that the purchasing clause was
responsible for the present financial and
business trouble. A few years ago the
farmers had come to congress asking for
relief and they had been greeted as “ca
lamity howlers." He had then predicted
to the present: govern*! - of Now York that
within two years the "calamity howlers’
would come from another quarter. Who
was now howling for relief? The farmers?
They had ceased to be calamity howlers.
They bad been squeezed until there was
nothing more to squeeze from them. The
bowl now came from the banks and the
bankers. It was now proposed by placing
the United Slates on a single gold stand
ard to put this country into the hands of
a receiver and turn it over to England, 'rite
money men and the business men of En
gland were getting shaky, and they said
now that this gold craze had taken deeper
root than they had expected.
He made the prediction that, if the pur
chasing clause of the Sherman act were te
pealed. the price of products in this coun
try would not be increased. The gentleman
from Kentucky, Mr. McCreary. had spoken
in favor of an international monetary con
ference. Whv not have :«n interstate mon
etary conference. “He that provide! h not
for his own household hath denied, his
faith and was worse than an infidel.”
FOR AND AGAINST SILVER.
The Debate Still Goes on In the House—
Tuesday’s Proceedings.
Washington, August 15.- In the house, after
prayer and the reading and approval of the
journal, before a small attendance of mem
bers. Mr. Burrows offered a resolution gt'-
ing Charles E. Belknap the right to contest
the seat of George F. Richardson, from the
fifth district of Michigan. Mr. Richardson,
the sitting member, asked that the resolution
be laid over until tomorrow and it was so or
dered. , . ...
The silver debate was then resumed. Ml.
Hutchinson, of Texas, concluding ids remarks
began vesterdav in favor of the free coinage
of silver. He attributed the present business
depression to the bulls and bears of Dall
street. The real controversy was not gold
versus silver, but it was money against credit.
Hollars could not b»* obtained lor industrial
enterprises because tile dollars were piled up
In Wall si reel.
Mr. Blanchard, in speaking in favor of 11 i
coinage, reviewed the silver legislation of the
country and quoted front both the democratic
and republican platforms, and each expressed
his opinion tiiat. if the republican platform
meant anything. not twenty republicans
would vote tor tile Wilson lull. The Clucago
platform had declared for the repeal ol the
Sherman law and then had declared for bi
metallism. That portion of tin* platform
ought to bo curried out in a single bill and
oil a bimetallie standard, if the friends of
silver yielded to this demand of the goal peo
ple they yielded tiiat which nothing but rev
olution ’ could regain. If the purpose of the
gold people was aeliieved tile mints would be
stopped to the coinage of silver, and no
method was proposed to replace silver will:
other currency. The I’uited States had
reached a point in wealth, prosperity and in
dustry that it could afford to lead and not
follow. (Applause).
Mr. Grosvenor, of (thio, said that it was to
lie regretted that the president in his mes
sage to congress had not been so void of par
tisanship as lie had asked the houses to lie.
It was unfortunate tiiat the executive of Die
country, iookimr forward Io tlte condition
which portended violent opposition to his
views, had seen tit to first appeal to partisan
ship and to unjustly proclaim to tlte people
tiiat the present peril of Die country grew
out of tlte legislation of ute republican party.
If the pending debate should develop into a
partisan discussion its instigation would be
found in tile declarations of the president
liims.-lf. The pr esident had declared tiiat Mie
republicans hail been responsible for the pres
ent condition of affairs and this declaration
would he Die origin of political discussion -
if political discussion there should be. Very
little of Die present troulde. lit* said, could be
traced to (lie Sherman net.
Mr. Hall, democrat, of Missouri, spoke in
favor of a greater volume of currency anti
of Die free coinage of silver. Tile present
financial condition put tiie people of the ITtii
t. d Slates absolutely at the mercy of men
dealing in large financial transactions in tie*
I’uited States or in any other nation with
which lie held commercial relations.
Mr. Snotlsrass. of Tennessee, could not
vote for tlte Wilson bill. It attacked but
one sentence of tin* Sherman act ami did not
carry out tin* intention of Die Chicago plat
form. Tiiat niaffortn pb'd'red tin* democratic
party not onlv to reneal Die entire infamous
act. but to coin gold and silver at a parity.
Tlte cry of the people was for more money,
and the best way to secure tiiat end was to
nrovid'e for the fret* coinage of silver. Tiie
present fielit was between tiie debtor ami
creditor classes. Tiie former were numbered
bv tiie millions, tiie latter by tlte thousands
Tlte shylocks were demanding tile pound of
flesh, while the people were asking congress
for relief, and the men who refused to grant
this relief would be branded as traitors to
tile people.
The house then, nt 5 o’clock, adjourned
until tomorrow.
Saturday’# Debate In the ITnuso.
Washington, August !!>.—The silver debate
was resumed immediately after tiie reading
of tiie journal and McCreary, democrat, or
Kentucky, took Die floor in advocacy of tile
repeal of the purchasing clause of the Sher
man act.
He, Mr. McCreary, was iiere as a friend of
silver and not as its enemy. He was in fa
vor of international bimetallism. He was in
favor of the repeal ot the Sherman act, be
cause such action would be tiie best thing
than could be done to help on an international
agreemenr. Today England imped that tiie
Cidled States would adopt a free coinage bill
and would come to a silver basis, because
then she would get our ?65<>.000,000 of gold.
The I’uited States could not afford to adopt
a free coinage policy now. No country alone
could maintain such a coinage. The only
patii to free coinage was through international
agreement, and the only way to reach tiiat
path was to repeal tin* purchasing clause of
the Shernyin act. As a bimetallist, he did
not wi<h to see this country relegated to a
silver ba.sis_.
One Mississippi Goldbug.
Mr. Catchings, democrat, of Mississippi,
said lie would vote for the unconditional re
peal of the purchasing clause of the Sherman
act and he would vole against the proposition,
directly or indirectly, looking to the free
coinage of sliver in this country at this time
at any ratio that could lie suggested. He
had come to Diis determination after careful
consideration, and after a careful study of
tin* t'hicago platform. It had been said that
no democrat could vote against free coinage.
1I« was a democrat. His democracy was as
good as tiiat of any man on this floor and he
would not. allow any man to challenge or
question it . He stood by every piank of the
Chicago platform, but that platform nowhere
demanded tiie free coinage of silver at this
time. He reviewed the sliver legislation of
Die country and expressed his opinion that
t'lie act of 1573, miscalled a demonetization
act, had not demonetized one dollar in the
whole globe. If we threw our mints open to
the free coinage of silver would not the ex
perience of India be repeated in this country
and would not there be repeated here a fail
ia value of the silver dollar. The United
States is tiie greatest nation on the face of
tiie globe and contained the proudest people.
Every man who look a silver dollar today
knew that, this great and proud people did
nor intend to lhave it depressed in value.
Every man who took a stiver dollar knew
that it would be redeemed even if the govern
ment. had to issue bonds to draw gold from
other countries. T'he silver doilars were ob
ligations of the government just as were the
greenliacks. The reason Dial the world did
not. take sliver was that Die world did not
want it except in limited quantities. He
was in favor of Die repeal of the purchasing
clause of Dm Sherman act because it would
tend to restore eontiiienee. He would go
further and say that it would restore confi
dence and untie the money that had been
hoarded up. To Die Sherman act lie attrib
uted the present depression. He did not be
lieve tiiat the failure of the Baring Bros, was
responsible for tiie panic in tills country.
There was no panic in England, which would
naturally be first affected. He did not be
lieve tiiat the panic was attributable to tiie
failure of Australian banks. 'l'here was no
panic in Australia or in Great Britain. He.
therefore, disregarded both these events as
being the cause of tiie situation in which the
United States found itself. He contended
tiiat it was absolutely impossible for this
country, single-handed and alone. Io drag
down Die price of gold and enhance tiie price
of silver. Hi' knew that his people—tiie peo
ple whom lie represented—would credit him
witli honesty and sincerity of purpose and lie
knew Diat they would 'nave tiie same eon
tempt for him that lie would have for himself,
if. after investigation of Die linanciai question,
lie had not Die courage of his convictions.
(Applause).
He was followed by Mr. Livingston, of
Georgia.
Mr. Richards, democrat, of Ohio, believed
that President Grover Cleveland was right
in attributing to the purchasing clause of
the Sherman bill tiie present business de
pression.
Mr. Curtis, republican. <>f Kansas, spoke
in support of the Wilson bill, but in a con
servative manner. He did not agree with
tin* statement so frequently made that tin*
act of 1873 was passed under a misappre
hension <>r by a trick. He believed tiiat
every man wiio voted for or against that
lull knew what ho was doing. Tiie peopb
would never be satisfied will) free silver .'it
a ratio of 1G to 1. or witli a single gold
sraudard. He was 1n favor of a ratio of
20 to 1. and lie would then establish a com
mission’ with authority to change the ratio
at any time it was found to be too large
or too small.
Mr. Broderick, republican, of Kansas, spoke
in favor of bimetallism mid prosperity, which
terms he regarded as synonymous.
Mr. Clark, democrat, of Missouri, addressed
the house jo favor o_ Die free coinage of
silver. To demonetize or not to demonetize
silver was tile question that confronted con
gress. There was no sense in whipping the
devil around the stump. To demonetize sil
ver was to eontisealc one-half of Die property
of tin* United States. Quoting Die language
of Lincoln, lie declared Dial “You can fool
part of tiie people all the time; you can
fool nil of t>ie people part of Die time, but
you cannot fool nil tiie people nil tiie time,”
iind Die democrat ic party could not do so
in its party platform. He then turned his
attention to the speech of Mr. Raynor, of
Maryland, and suggested that if tiiat c ufle
nian would take a Irin through tiie Missis
sippi valley to Colorado, he would have an
opportunity to change his opinion on Die
question, while lie was wearing off ids char
acter of a tenderfoot. (Applause.)
IN THE SENATE.
Vorhees'a Bill Reported Back.
Mr. Voorhees, chairman of the finance com
mittee, reported back tiie bill introduced by
him yesterday to enable national banks to
issue circulation to the amount of Die par
value of Die bonds deposited by them. Tiie
bill, he said, had not only the endorsement
of the committee on finance and of the sec
retary of Die treasury, but a similar meas
ure had passed Die senate unanimously last
session. He did not, by any manner of
means, proclaim tiie measure as one of entire
relief, but lie looked upon it as a measure of
relief. It would, to some extent, help tiie
people. It would authorize an increase of
819.000.000 of tiie circulation of national
banks on the bonds already deposited: there
was not a doubt that it would result in an in
crease of from forty to fiftv millionsan in
crease of currency tiiat would lie. at
Hine, a solace and comfort to tiie peopiJLn
every quarter of Die United States.
i.txlge's Resolution.
At tiie close of Mr. Hunton's
resolution offered last Tues:h> '
of .Massachusetts, directing rrA-cei
finance to report at once a hili to*re,,
purchasing clauses of tile Sherman '.i«H*/*‘V J
tiiat a vote In* taken on such repeal
tiie ”2d, was laid before the committee t;‘
was tar from thinking that tiie Sherman act
was the only cause for tin* existing state of
things. He believed tiiat tile practical effect
of ils repeal would be a tendency to lower
Die rates of interest on money, niakc nionev
'•asier and relieve Die existing stringency
I he first step m restoring confidence was to
h wcr the present excessive rates of interest
English money did not come lien- b
Englishmen iiad tile belief that tile i’uited
States might at any time go on the sim-ln
silver standard. He did not forget, however
tiiat affirmative and positive legislation m
reference Io tiie currency would have to ho
enacted That logisiatlon would take time
t'lor.mgh consideration and ample discussion’
He believed that now. mot,- important than
any financial or economical discussion w' s
prompt action. What Dm people wanted
above everything was to see action some
sort of action in congress. If tin* eoimtrv
was to have free coinage let the country
know it: if it was to have a ( . o |na”,'*
iet Die country know it. an d if there was tn
be an iin.-ondHlonal repeal of tiie silver act
!<»i tho country know h. ’
At the close of Mr. Wolcott's speech, the
Lodge reso.ntion was laid aside without ac
tmn. and Mr. Hoar addressed the senate on
M.. Vest s resolution as to bimetallism His
sneec.i was a genera! discussion of the whole
question of tin* relation of silver and gold
and was a plea for conservative speech ami
action. lie announced himself in favor' of
hotli these metals .as currency on a parity.
IVednesday in the senate.
Washington. August 16. —Tiie senate spent
only three hours in session today, but tiiat
time was well tilled up. Mr. Vest's bill ap
propriating 8309,<hh> for a site and building
in Washington to be known as tiie "llati
of Records” was passed. Then tiie bill to in
crease the circulation of national banks
was taken up and positioned until tomorrow
for tile reason tiiat several senators had in
formed Mr. Voorhees tiiat they desired more
time to discuss it. But before it i
was so laid aside an important amendment I
wus proposed to it by .Mr. Cockrell to author
ize tiie redemption, at par and accrued in
terest. of such 2 per cent, bonds over S2.’>,-
tiiKi.iHKi in all—as may be ottered, amt to
authorize tiie issue of new treasury legal
tender notes in payment therefor. tiie
amendment produced considerable discus
sion.
Mr. Sherman condemned it as an unbusl
ness-like proposition and Mr. Cockrell express
ed Ins amazement and uiortilication tiiat the
friend and patron of Die national banks, the -
great gold monometallist from Ohio, slmu'd
object to an amendment that would increase
tiie amount of currency in circulation.
Another amendment to tiie bill was offered,
later on, by Mr. Allen, ot Nebraska, for !“'•
cessation of interest on tiie bonds on which
the increased iiational-'liank circulation should
be based.
Mr. Berry, of Arkansas, addressed tile sen
ate in favor of the double standard of gold
and silver. It was generally agreed, he said,
that the Sherman net was thoroughly bal.
It was a law which never should have been
passed and he was particularly gratified tiiat
not a single democratic vote had been east
for it either in tiie senate or the house of
representatives. In an evil hour for the
country the free silver republicans had parted
company with their friends on tiie demo
cratic side of the chamber and had con
sented to the passage of the Sherman act
and the repeal of the Bland act. Tlte repeal
of tiie Sherman act. without other legisla
tion, would in itis opinion, place the country
upon a gold basis: would prevent tiie future
coinage of any silver and forever practically
destroy silver as money. He (Mr. Berry),
believed in the double standard, and was
not willing to east his vote for the gold
standard of money. Mr. Cleveland had often
declared In favor of bimetallism, and he
i Mr. Berry), was confident tiiat, notwith
standing tin' put'sident's failure to discuss
bimetallism in his message. he would approve
any bill tiiat repealed the Sherman law
mid provided for the circulation of both gold
mid silver on such terms as would give them
equal value.
The Lodge resolution was taken up. with
the Gailiniier amendment to it to the effect
tiiat it would lie unwise and inexpedient to
make any radical change in the tariff prior
to'March, 1897: and Mr. Gallinger addressed
tiie senate. He declared himself ready to
vote, at the earliest possible moment, for
the rtpeal of tin* Sherman act, though he
diil not believe that that much utilised law
was largely responsible for existing financial
eviis. His prescription for Hie evils afflicting
tiie body politic he gave us follows: “Let the
bill permitting banks to Increase their circu
lation be ena< ted into law; and let this res
olution and lie adopted mid con
fidence in our liananees will be at once restored
both at home and abroad: trade will brighten,
and another ora of prosperity, equal to the
marvelous prosperity of the administration
of President Harrison will speedily come to
the people of the United States.”
After a brief executive session, the senate,
at 3:15 o’clock, adjourned until tomorrow.
VOKHEES’B VOTE
Reports an Unconditional Repeal Bill to
th<* Senate.
Washington, August ’lß.—(Special.)—
Senator Voorhees, of Indiana, went over to
tiie goldbugs today and voted in the senate
committee on finance to report an uncondi
tional repeal bill. His vote carried tiie bill
through. Without it the committee was a
lie; 5 to 5. '(’he vote stood: Yeas— Voor
hees, McPherson, Sherman, Morrill, Aid
rich, Allison, the last four being republi
cans; nays—Harris, Vest, Vance. Jones,
of Arkansas, and Jones, of Nebraska.
The bill as reported repeals the purchasing
clause of rite Sherman law and then de
clares for bimetallism.
'.•Tie full text of tiie bill is as follows,
omitting the enacting clause:
That so much of the act approved July
14. 1890, entitled an act directing tiie pur
chase of silver bullion and issue of treasury
notes thereon, and for other purposes, as di
rects the secretary of Die treasury to pur
chase’ from Dine to time silver bullion to
Die aggregate amount of four million five
hundred thousand ounces, or so much thereof
as may be offered in each month at thejnarj
kel price thereof, not exceeding $1 for 371.55
grains of pure silver, mid to issue in pay
ment for such purchases treasury notes of tiie
United States, be and the same is hereby re
pealed.
And it is hereby declared to be Hie policy
of tin* I’uited States to continue the use of
bolih gold and silver as standard money and
to coin both gold and silver into money into
equal interest and exchangeable vaiue. Such
equity to bo secured through international
agreement, or by such safeguards of legisla
tion ns will insure the maintenance of the
parity in value of the coins of the two metals
and tiie equal power of every dollar at all
times in the markets and in the payment of
debts. .
And it is hereby further declared that the
efl’orls of tiie government should be steadily
directed Io the establishment of such a safe
system of bimetallism as will maintain at all
times tiie equal power of every dollar coined
or issued by the states in the market and the
payments of debts.
This bill gives the senate something
tangible to proceed upon and opens the fight.
Senator Voorhees will speak upon it. 'lues
dtiy. His speech will begin the considera
tion of tiie hill by the senate.
In It a Trap ?
Some of the conservative silver men like
.fudge Culberson and Mr. Bankhead are
becoming somewhat doubtful about (lie re
sult in the senate. They fear the influence
of tiie adininistralion may cause others to
go over to tiie unconditional men like Sena
tor Voorhees did today. The declaration
for bimetallism after tin* repeal clause, in
the bill reported in the senate today, while
it means nothing, is only a catch-penny
declaration to give them sufficient room to
clamber out upon, and it is possible for such
a bill to go through. Should such be the
case, it means the postponement of bimet
allism for a very long time, ibis declina
tion is an overture from the single stand
ard men. but no one who lias studied the
silver light which has been in progress in
congress for years, believes they have the
faintest idea of standing by such declaration
should they repeal the Sherman law with
out substitute legislation. It is a trap into
which Senator Voorhees walked and other
senators are in serious danger of being
caught in the same.
Discutifeed Ht the Treasury.
The treasury officials are now discussing
a plan to supply the threatening deficiency
in the treasury, to get rid of the accumu
lation of 6,1H)0 tons of silver bullion and
supply the country with $150,000,000 oi
new currency.
The cash balance on last I htirsday drop
ped a. half million. The constant tall in
tiie cash balance has attracted the atten
tion of Mr. Carlisle again, and he has sev
eral plans under consideration to relie\e
ibis steady pressure. One of these plans
is the issue of temporary loan certificates
a-minst the future revenues, such as are
regularly issued by the British government,
bearing 1 per cent Biterest. .
If the needs of the treasury were all in
tiie situation it is quite probable that this
Plan would be adopted. The need ot more
■iirrency, however, makes the alternative
-*m attractive to Mr. Carlisle. it
<-■<uie .linte transfer of tile sil
.-r;inm.iw‘piir<'li:ise<l under lite Sherman
•rtw to’ tin* silver coinage fund and Die
issue of certificates against tiie big pile of
silver at its coining vaaie. It would not
|,e possible for the mint to coin the silver
in less than live years in connection xtith
other necessary coinage, but prompt actiofl
bv congress would authorize the issue or
silver certificates of the same denomina
tions and character as those issued undo
Die Bland law. and their immediate ctreu
la.ion. It would not even be necessary to
.....pare new plates and dies, for n-w
criifieates would be a continuation of he
old issue, and could be printed ft om 11
same forms. Even better than this, nfflnj
of the notes are already stacked up in he
treasury waiting to bo seasoned, and coifid
be paid out before the ink «as dij on
the signature of the president tpprmmg
e u'w legislation. It would be currency,
resting upon silver, but the government
airoady owns the bullion, has no use f r
it under the existing laws, and ' H b
no more if the Sherman act is repe i.l si. Ih<
use of the silver in this manner womd not
, ir the security of the Sherman notes,
Ib.-.v *.«■ K:
ning as gold notes secured by the gold
S, The gold reserve, in the opinion of the
exnerts’’ in the treasury department.
be rapidlv built up if the department had
red need hut gold is now being paid out
one g os t;- ( -^ Ü b"aus;
car a7S £
t he propose, jla• * I in tllo
with the approval of the finance
S,nat< 'H..e to the bill now pending, ex
comini.t't • reul ition of national banks.
P \no hffl' ' mendment suspending purchases
wouldi-^-e e
’"Xd’ I is thought here that this
X.rmnise would meet with the approval
of the
IOWA REPUBLICANS.
The State Convention at Iles Moine. Wednee
)lllT_lt» Platform.
~ • • t,i August I(s.—The republican
1)M ” wi . t he re today, ex-United
~ tat f .Xeu itor Harlan, chairman. Only
states • • eleven on the resoni-
tbree U,, Zl‘ tec art prohibitionists. Ten
''•'’''lidMe" for the governorship were before
i-andldate Jackson was nomi-
Uu, - econii biHot , rhe remahu ier
nated on in follows: Lieutenant gov-
o f the tick' i- - I)|lllgiUli o f Chariton; su-
‘’superintendent of public in
-lIaIUV n Henry Sidiin. of Des Moines.
St The utterances of the platform regarding
fi "\v\fe U n i’n*sklen l i o Ghwelan<l said in his re
'' "Km to congress that our unfor
een 1 plight ‘with the evil condi-
euh-'ted. 'are principally chargea
il!o" t . congressional legislation touching the
purchase and coinage of silver by the general
h , J-nineut' he otnited the largest producing
e‘ ul se This ls tlu! sinister effects of tiie
threatened democratic attempt to overthrow
rote -t on and a protective tartfl as em
r -ed in the McKinley measure.
■•For Hie relief of Hie people, to get stabili
ty* of business, tiie laws should provide tiiat
[he payment of debts shall be the return of
eqtiivaienl purchasing power, estimated by
1 Hu' rent, interest and the wages of labor.
••We ire in favor of maintaining both gold
■ind silver money as unlimited legal tender
for the pavmeiit of debts. And in doing this
congress iliall provide that every dollar,
whether gold, sliver or paper, shall be kept
of equal value.”
This is the liquor plank:
■•Prohibition is no test of republicanism.
The general assembly 'has given to the state
u nrohibitory law as strong as any tiiat lias
ever been enacted by any country. Like any
other criminal statute, its retention, moditi
cation or repeal iwiist bo determined by the
general assembly, elected by and in sympatli.v
with the people, and to them is relegated
the subject, to take such action as they may
deem just and best in the matter, maintain
ing the present law In those portions of the
state where it is now or can be made efficient
and give to Hie localities such methods of
controlling and regulating the liquor traffic
as will best serve the cause of temperance
and morality.” ...
There was a great fight, on this plank, l a
denionittin reigned for two hours over it, n
ail efforts to amend it or eliminate it raitei.
and that was the case on adopting tne plat
form.
HON. SEABORN WRIGHT
Writes to The Rome Tribune, Fearing a
Split Jn the Party.
In a letter to The Koine Tribune Hon. Sea
born Wright, of Koine, says:
The financial policy of tiie republican paity
in a quarter of a century has concentrate 1
more than half the wealth of the country in
tiie hands of 1 per cent, of the people. It las
concentrated almost the entire money wealth
in a few great centers north 1 , 1 ,.,
laboring people from Maine to ( alitoi ni.i a••
practically without money. In the south and
west ail the people, rich and poor altk'.
have not enough money to meet the common
expenses of life. A few banks tn New Yolk
absolutely control lite country. 11 the I"' 0 } 1
protest against any of their exorbitant de
mands the money supply is cut otl.
paralyzed and tiie vast laboring masses thrown
°This state of'tliii'gs I say has been
war has condemned it.
Force the demonetization of silver: bring
the nations of tiie world to a single standaid,
and it means that the men who now cont ot
the world’s supply of gold will rule tiie woth..
Gold will steadily appreciate in value, and as
certainly a fall in value of every product or
1 'The demand for the single standard in this
country is based upon a preposterous assump
tion that the value of the American dollar is
Io be determined by others than Americans.
We want distinctively an American dm.ar; not
a dollar to suit the European holder of Ameri
can securities. An American dollar—a full
legal tender for all debts, public and private,
good wherever tiie flag floats. Not a dodar
moulded to tiie gluttonous demands of a tor
of Anglo-maniacs. stock jobbers and gammers.
The message of Cleveland on this line is one
of sickening subservieii(;ji to titese robbers
who have fattened on the people without the
fire or flavor of patriotism.
What will be the effect? Unquestionably
Hie dissolution of the democratic party.
Northern and eastern democracy is republi
caiiism in disguise. There is nothing, abso
lutelv nothing but tiie name which binds the
democracy of the sections together. An over
shadowing question is at issue. J lie south
and west must surrender their opposition to
tiie financial policy which has bled them for
vears arid threatens their absolute ruin, or
sever their connection with Die gold democra
cv of the north and east.
If southern ad western democrat is con
gressmen had the courage of their convictions
thev would declare independence of tlte trait
ors’ to Hieir platform and form a new democ
racy, Hie hope and salvation of the country.
Next year tiie people of Georgia will de
mand the nbsolule separation. The present
democratic organization in t.eorgia can sine
itself onlv bv political independence of the
-old democracy of tiie north. T'oliHeal union
between the south and west is inevitable.
Tile question in Georgia next year wul tie on
which side—with the north and east, or our
brothers in thejwest'*
HOW THEY STAND.
The Democratic Majority Is Overwhelmingly
for Free Coinage.
Washington, August 17.—(Special.)-
If the decision of the financial question were
left to the party in power, free coinage
would triumph. There is no doubt oi this.
A majority' of the democrats in congress
are lor legislation favorable to silver, while
tiie great majority of republicans are sin
gle gold standard men. If left to the
lleuiocrats, free cointige could be adopted in
tiie jiouse bv a majority of about forty if
not, more. There is a small minority of
democrats, principally eastern members,
who are opposed to bimetallism under an.'
and all circumstances, and the danger, o.
course, arises from the combination of these
men with the republicans.
Mr. Bryan, of Nebraska, says a large
majority of the democrats of the house
are for free coinage, but the proposition
will probably be defeated by a combination
of democratie and republican votes.
"It mav be.” said he. “that all the pro
positions in Mr. Bland’s resolution will be
voted down. 'l'lloll I believe the house will
vote the Wilson bill down and allow the
entire matter to go to a committee in ordet,
that some other plan may be agreed upon.
Mr. Brvan holds the above opinion almost
alone. The great majority of members
have no doubt lint that the Wilson hill "ill
pass the house, but the best men in the
democratic party are against such action
as this. When defeated it will be by a
combination of anti-silver democrats and
republicans.
One of the leading free coinage men of
the house, conservative in all things, told
me tonight that according to his figures
when the other propositions are voted down
as they will be, tiie Wilson repeal bill will
pass bv from sixtv to one hundred ma
jority. ' One hundred would not surprise
him. Continuing, he said, however, that
that would not mean the loss of the fight
to the free coinage men, one of whom In
is They would win in the senate and then
force the house to some compromise silver
proposition.
CLEVELAND’S FALSE POSITION.
The Distinguished Governor of Missouri
Talks Free Coinage.
Manitou, Col., August 16.—Governor
William J. Stone, of Missouri, arrived here
todav on a tour of recreation.
Speaking of the president s massage he
said: “Mr. Cleveland has taken a false po
sition. 1 think. He has not, to my mind,
taken hold of the real cause of our Iniancta
troubles at all. The Sherman act has had
almost nothing to do with it. Ave are sin
tering from a stringency ot the money mar
ket —there is too little c«isli to do our busi
ness. To me it seems that our political
doctors will be about as sensible it they
entirely demonetize silver as those old
time barbe” surgeons who use to bleed a
man on principle, no matter what ailment
lie had. , , , c
“I'm a democrat, a free trader and a free
silver man. 1 am also inclined to be optim
istic. 1 am confident that if the senate
agrees to repeal the Sherman act it will'
only be because it will at the same time
pass a far preferable substitute. The presi
dent’s message needn’t frighten our people
to death. He is president, but he is not
congress. It is not what he wants, but
■what he proves, that counts. In my opin
ion he has proved nothing.”
DID NOT COME UP.
The Bill Allowing National Banks to Incrcas
Their Circulation.
""Washington. Apgust 17.—Contrary to
general expectations the bill to al
low national banks to issue notes to the par
value of their bonds deposited to secure cir
culation, nor any other financial ineasure.
came up in the senate today. The only new
uroposition in that direction was an amend
ment offered by Mr. Gorman to Hie bank cir
culation bill prohibiting national banks from
withdrawing circulation without ,t previous
sixtv days’ notice to the comptroller of the
currency’ and without the approval of
the secretary of the treasury, and
limiting the aggregate amount, of such
withdrawals to S3,O<M».6(Kt within any
calendar month. Some two hours time was
con-- med In a dreary discussion of the case
of Mr Mantle, claiming a scat in tin* senate
under an appointment from t'he governor of
Montana, and, by unanimous consent, the
vote was fixed for 5 o’clock p. m. next Mon
day.
SILVER FACTS.
Tn silver money France st amis at the head
of all nations iti the per capita amount—slß
per inhabitant. Holland is second with sl4,
the United States is third witli SB. Germany
lias $4.25, Great Britain has $2.75.
The republican national convention at Min
neapolis declared that the people favored bi
metallism. and that the republican party de
manded “tiie use of both gold and silver as
standard money.” The democrats, at their
national convention in Chicago, declared:
“We hold to the use ot both gold and silver
as the standard money of the country, and
to the coinage of both gold and silver, with
out discriminating against either metal.” The j
people’s party, in convention at Omaha, de- ■
clared in favor of “free and unlimited coin
age of silver and gold,” at a ratio of 16 to
1, and for “a national currency, safe, sound
and flexible, issued by the general govern
ment only, a full legal tender for all debts.”
The prohibitionists, in their national con
vention at Cincinnati, ignored the sliver
question, and the socialists held no conven
tion, though they ran candidates for presi
dent and for vice presideut.
COLONEL J. W. ROBERTSON.
Writes in Characteristic Styles His Views of
the Situation.
Cornelia, Hebarsham County. Ga., August 1(1.
—Editor Constitution: In a crisis such as wo
are now passing through individual opinions
are valuable only in making up a concensus oi
opinion which results in public opinion usual,
ly correct.
To those who, like myself, are looked io
by hundreds of operatives mostly
women and children, for work
in order that they may be fed, clothed and
housed during the coming winter, the present
financial situation is so serious as to pro
duce great anxiety to both employer and em
ploye. The employer of labor, however,,
though greatly and anxiously concerned, pos
sibly more for ills employes than for himself,
is consoled by the knowledge, gained from ex
perience, that most financial panics are
caused by unbridled speculation or imagina
ry fears which end sooner or later in estab
lishing a financial equilibrium in values and
confidence which results in a season ol
healthy prosperity. Not so with the wage
earners. J’he majority of them cannot bridge
over nature’s demands for the present wilt
hope for the future. Hope may feed the sout
but cannot satisfy tlte cravings of hunger;
an empty stomach cannot) be reasoned witli,
and has no “bowels of compassion.” From
this standpoint the situation financially bor
ders on the alarming.
The private financial situation is so “Siam
esed” with the political situation that sep
aration is Impossible. To the federal ad
ministration all eyes turn for relief, for the
whole of what may be properly styled our do
| mestlc currency is directly under the control
of the federal government. Under our pres
ent financial system sovereign states are ut
terly powerless, though fully able, to aid
their citizens and we find the only- local re
lief to be had is by an agreement of batiks
to give to the public the benefit of their
credit through "clearing house certificates,”
thus creating a local, temporary currency to
be used until the storm blows over.
Is not this condition a commentary on a
financial system born in the convulsions ot
war? Is it not an unanswerable argument in
favor of a safe, well-guarded local currency ?
Does it not show that the anti-federalist of
1791 was right in resisting the demands of
Alexander Hamilton and that their fears ot
the future effects of his policy were inspired
by something bordering on prophetic vision?
But iti the face of the condition which con
fronts us we find a congress pledged by sol
emn promises to tin people to give financial
relief, to maintain gold and silver on a pari
ty as our money standard, dallying over the
demands of an inordinate individualism
which, no doubt, conscientiously desires to
blot out one-half the people’s money by adopt
ing the standard of a fiurely commercial peo
ple. whose dealings with all other peoples of
the world, civilized or uncivilized, for hun
dreds of years, have proven them to be the
most selfish in demands of any other people
on the globe.
Mr. Editor, cur farmers and laboring class
es are not fools. They read the “handwriting
on the wall.” The interpretations to them
is this: Tiie adoption of England’s standard
of money will inevitably lead to tiie adop
tion of England's standard of wages. It has
•been my privilege during t'm» past four
weeks to have come in contact with many
large gatherings of what we call “the bone
and sinew” of our state, those whom Mr.
Lincoln styled tiie plain common people, and
wlioni he said “God must love very much
because he made so many of them.” I have
mingled with them, and let me tell you, my
friends in congress, those people are thinking
anil watching -thinking deeply and watching
keenly, and while they cannot probably
weave fine spun theories on financial ques
tions, or debate or bedevil over the question
of ratio, they know what they want; they
remember what they were promised and they
are fully determined that the pledges made
when they sleeted you to represent them
in congress shall be redeemed. Our people
fully endorse the language used by Mr. Cleve
land in his address to the notifying commit
tee, “that the personal fortunes of those to
whom yon have intrusted your banners are
only important as they are reiat'*d to the
fate of tile prim-ip.es tney represent, and to
tiie party which they lead.” They have not
forgotten tiiat Mr. Cleveland, iu his formal
letter of acceptance told them that “public
officials are tiie agents of the people" and
that “the administration and management of
our government depend upon popular will.
•Federal power is the instrument of that
will, not its master.” * * * “At all times
aud in all places we trust the people.” « » •
And also from the same source “that the
wants of our people arising from the deficien
cy or imperfect distribution of money circu
lation ought to lie fully and honorably recog
nized and efficiently remedied.”
Our people also know that there never
was a. policy so unanimously adopted by all
parties as that which demands both silver and
gold on a parity as the money standard of
our country. Both the two great parties dur
ing the canvass clearly recognized and insist
ed on this policy. There are some things,
however, our people do not understand. One
is that during the canvass they were told
over and over again by every democratic
speaker, candidate and journal, that iu tariff
reform would be found tiie full ineasure of
relief from their heavy burdens, and tiiat now,
by some “hocus poeus,” this question ol
first consideration during tiie canvass has been
ordered to the rear during the first months oi
tiie administration and the financial policy
on which all parties agreed has been pushed
to tiie front and made, under the pretext oi
a silver flood, a “bone of contention.” creatt
lug a widespread distrust which has taken
the daily wages from thousands. Another
tiling they do not understand is how it can
possibly injure tiie credit of a nation or an
individual to pay their obligations in just
what they promised to pay; and yet another,
why this great nation of 65,000,000 of people,
a large majority of them agriculturalists, the
most energetic and inventive people on earth,
blessed by God with boundless resources,
should be dictated to by a slow, selfish com
mercial people as to their financial policy.
Our people heartily endorse this sentiment
so well expressed by Mr. Cleveland in his
letter of acceptance: “We have undertaken,
however, to build a great nation upon a
plan especially our own;” and they are of
the opinion tiiat we have succeeded in our
undertaking, and that while the rights of
the people is the coruer-stone of this great
nation, a financial policy “especially our own ’
is, or should be, a part of the foundation.
Mr. Editor, the people are in earnest, terri
bly in earnest, in this matter of demandkig
a redemption of solemn pledges. They <io
not regard these pledges as simply the jingle
of “a sounding brass and a tinitfiug cymbal,"
and they will do just what Mr. Cleveland
said they would do when he uttered the fol
lowing deliberate words taken from his In
augural address of March 4, 1893.
“Anxiety for tiie redemption of the pledget
which my party has made aud solicitude
for the complete justification ot’ tile trust
the people have reposed in us constrain me
to remind those with whom I am to co-operate
tiiat we can succeed iu doing the work which
has been specially set before us only by
the most sincere, harmonious, aud disinterest
ed effort. Even if insuperable obstacles and
opposition prevent the consummation of our
task we snail hardly be excused, and it
failure can be traced to our fault or neglect,
we may be sure the people will hold us to
strict ami exacting accountability.”
Mr. Cleveland himself, in his reply to ths
committee of notification of his nomination
and in his formal letter of acceptance, in
scribed upon the battle flag of the democracy
the legend:
"Vox populi vox Dei!” (the voice of tin
people is tlte voice of God).
And tiie masses under the inspiration
of this slogan swept him into the executive
chair of the nation, and those who won this
splendid victory will never consent to be
marshaled under a banner on which is bla
zoned:
"Eece homo!” 'behold the man).
“The administration and management of
our government depend upon popular will-
Federal power is the instrument of tiiat will,
not Die master.” So said Mr. Cleveland in
September. 1892: *so the piopl* believe, ard
they now demand a strict enforcement of the
sentiment.
JAMES W. ROBERTSON.
M 9 Plso's Remedy tor ( atarrh is the
MM Best, Easiest to Use, and Cheapest.
uR Sold by druggists or sent by mall, ffigi
Km 50c. E. T. Hazeltine, Warren, Pa. Ka
Name thia papre , deoS—wky