The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-12
CARRIERS SILVER RECORD.

CARRIERS SILVER RECORD.
If the only defense of Carter from the
charge of falsity to the cause of free
coinage is to be that put forth, after
many days of silence, by the Helene
Journal, we are sorry for him. A weake,
apology for slippery record was never
made. Speaking of Carter's pair in the
house on June 5, the Journal says: Gas
a matter of fact the question of free
coinage was not involved in the vote on
the adoption Of the resolution to con.
slider the silver bill"
Now that statement is direct falsifi-
cation of the facts as we shall prove by
no less person than Mr.. William w.
Mckinley, representative in congress
from the state of Ohio, author Of the
present tariff law, gentleman who just
now stands pretty high in republican
circles. But let us 60 back to the record.
On the night of June 4 the republican
members of the house of representatives
held caucus, and, under the lash of
Reed, agreed upon silver bill contain
ing the bullion redemption clause. The
silver men in the caucus Indignantly
protested, but Reed whipped them into
line. In speech before the caucus he
insolently told them that the northwest,
and especially the new states, had been
we'll treated by this congress and it was
asking great deal to have silver bill
framed in their interest and to the detri-
ment of the east. On the following day,
Thursday, June 5, as prearranged, Mr..
Mckinley from the committee on rules
reported resolution to proceed to the
consideration of the house bill and that
consideration proceed until Saturday
when the previous question should be
ordered, forty minutes debate to be al
lowed after the adoption Of the previous
question. The free coinage democrats
who were not under the dictation of the
republican caucus protested vigorously
at this bare-faced attempt to apply the
gag. What follows we quote from the
report of the proceedings as published in
young Mr.. Harrison's newspaper of Fri
day, June 6:
Blount, of Georgia, had not objected to
the time limited for debate. but he was in
formed that the chairman of the committee
on coinage will be allowed to offer amend
rules of the house. When these were offered
there would be left no opportunity to the
minority to offer any amendment. There
would be given no opportunity on the part
Of the minority to ask the house to vote on
the free coinage of silver. At the republic
V>uA 80:
discussion and it was necessary to whip in
tho friends of free silver. BY means of this
resolution it has worked a shameful out
sage on the minority. There are many men
on the other side who would vote for free
silver but for fear that the president was in
and both were in accord with Wall street.
Bland, of Missouri, said no doubt but
large majority of the house favor unlimited
coinage. To prevent that fact from appear
ing ON the record it was proposed to gag
every democrat in the house and many re-
pubiicans. Every gentleman who voted
for this resolution voted against free silver
Springer, of Illinois, said he wanted to
call the attention of the house to the fact
that no amendment was to be offered to the
bill except as suggested by the chairman of
the committee. He denounced the action
people from carrying out their will. Will
Jams. of Illinois, said the resolution was in
tended to prevent the majority from leeis-
lating. He appealed to members on the
other side who favored free coinage to stand
by the interests Of their people. Mckinley
wanted to vote ON free silver they could
move to recommit with instructions to the
committee to report back free COIN
age clause.
Here we have the whole scope of the
controversy on that fateful day for Car
ter. Where was the Montana represent
alive that day when the friends of free
coinage were battling against gag law
and Wall street dictation? Was his
voice upllfted in defense of his state?
Was he standing shoulder to shoulder
with Bland, and Blount, and Springer,
and Williams, when, as Mr.. Bland de-
clared, "every gentleman who votes for
this resolution votes against free silver?
Was he there to answer the impudent
challenge Of Mckinley when he told the
silver men they could vote to recommit
the bill if they didn't like it? Not bit
Of it. He was dumb. He did not lift
his voice in protest. He did not vote.
He was paired-paired with Mr.. Boat
ner, OF Louisiana, a staunch free coinage
democrat! Every other true friend of
free coinage voted against McKinley's
gag that day. 1t was adopted by 40 to
lit. Had Carter voted and Boatner
been paired with gold-bug republican
the vote would have stood 1l9 to lls
And if Carter had fought for free silver
on the floor he might have turned the
scale. Even his apologists would hardly
admit that he did not have enough iutiu-
ence to turn at least one vote, and that
was all that was wanted
So much for that part Of the record,
The Journals report Of the fight is mea-
gre, but correct as far as it gees. We
quote for those who desire more side
light on the struggle the account given
by that able republican newspaper, the
Denver Republican:
The republican leaders gathered around
the free coinage republicans in different
parts of the hall and besoueht them not to
desert the party at this crisis. They said
that IL the special order should be defeated
IL would result in the failure of congress to
enact any silver legislation at this session.
The responsibility, they said, would be upon