The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-09
Hoar Will Still Insist that the Elec-
tions Bill Displace Finan-
cial Legislation.
With Fatuous Persistence He IG-
nores Bankruptcy and Ruin
Now Impending.
pharisaically Demanding Hostile Legisla-
tlon Against the Section that Keeps
Up Massachusetts Banks.


moved to proceed to the consideration of
the elections bill. but ON the suggestion
that Gray was temporarily absent, withdrew
the motion, and asked unanimous consent
to have time fixed Friday next) for tax
ing the final vote on the bill. Gray mean
while came in and the bill was taken up.
Gray yielded to German, who argued
against the proposition to fix time for tax
ing the vote. He recalled the statement of
Hoar at the last session, that if the election
bill was not then taken up and disposed of
there would not be time to do SO in the
short session. It had been the firm convic-
tion ON the democratic side, after what had
occurred at the last elections that the sen
ator from Massachusetts would not press
the bill; so the senator's on his side had not
prepared themselves to discuss it intelli-
gently. German continued: "We stand
to-day on volcano. We have
heard discussion rs to starving Indians,
but take no note of the fact that the farm
ers Of the land are meeting and resolving
that there is danger and trouble, II not
starvation, among them. The faces of
bankers and merchants are blanched with
fear. No man can tell whether, tomorrow
or next day, every bank in the great CEN
ters Of commerce will not be closed by the
suspension of payment, and now, in the
midst Of such q state of affairs, we, who
come here flushed with victory, had hope
that the majority party would give us the
opportunity to join with it in preventing
the wreck which is now impending. Lay,
aside this bill, which the country has pro-
o,,I InkrH &c1r
ters which all classes of our fellow citizens
are looking to us to consider. If you do
not, it you persist in the course marked
out by the senator from Massachusetts. the
responsibility must rost with the party in
power. If the senator from Massachusetts
forces the consideration Of this partisan
measure, while bankruptcy and ruin are
going on. when he goes back to Boston he
will find that merchants and bankers and
men of affairs, as we'll as farmers and la
borers, will tell him that while he is attempt
ing hostile legislation against section Of
the country. that il it had not bsen for the
products Of that section, If it had not been.
for the moving Of the cotton crop. there
would not be u bank in Massachusetts able
to pay its depositors. The only thing that
has saved them has been the fact that they
have been able to draw on the cotton crop.
Hoar replied that for four days the senate
had been listening to democratic speeches
made for mere delay and obstruction. It
the senator from Maryland had another
measure which he thought would allay
the panic or the menace to the
commercial prosperity of the country,
which had begun when the elections were
declared in favor of the democratic party,
the country having been before that in
a position Of unexampled prosperity, why
should he not, after fair and proper state
ment of reasons for voting against the
election bill let the senate vote upon it.
The election bill was measure whose sole
purpose was to submit to the judges of the
courts of tho United States. against whose
integrity and official honor no man could
bring charge, the question Of who had
prima facie title to a seat in the house of
instead OF having it de-
clared by rufiianism, fraud or violence. as
so often has been the case in the past.
Gray spoke briefly in line with Gorman's
remarks and then concluded his argument
against the bill. Berry obtained the floor.