Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-01
The Republicans, Silver Programme.

The Republicans Silver Programme.
Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, May S1.-The most trustworthy
information obtainable at the capitol indicates
that leading Republicans Of the house have de-
cided upon programme for silver legislation
day will be set for consideration of the bill based
upon q compromise. between the senate and
house caucus committees in conference. Scarce
ly any time will be allowed for debate, and the
party will be given the choice between
voting for measure which their own
ing their backs upon it and inviting the penal
ties of desertion in the presence OF the enemy.
The president began his career in office by
KNOWING LITTLE AND CARING LESS
about the silver issue. His advisers had
warned him that silver legislation of some sort
was SO loudly demanded in the West and South
as to make it extremely probable that congress
would respond. Secretary Window urged upon
him the Importance of meeting this dem md with
a bill emanating directly from the administra-
ton, but the Window plan was too deep for the
president to master, and rather than commit
himself he allowed it to go to congress without
any sign of approval. Seeing the kind of men
they had to deal with, free coinage advocates
organized e vigorous and aggressive Campaign.
There is undoubtedly sufficient basis of fact for
their boast that they have got the senate
where they want it, - and If q vote were taken
in the house to-day, outside Of party lines be-
tween free coinage and the field. Il would not be
safe to prophesy the result. At this late stage
the truth has suddenly dawned upon the presi-
dents mind and he has decided that he must be
up and doing something. If matters are al
lowed to go on longer as they ale now going
pass the bill for free coinage outright, Or its
equivalent, and coming to the house with
prestige Of success in the other chamber its
chances of success would be fair indeed. Then
he would be confronted with very unpleasant
dilemma. II he vetoed the bill it would spread
havoc through the West and good part OF the
South,
WHERE VOTES COUNT
In presidential year, whereas il he did not he
would give offence to the North and East, where
''the plate'' must always be passed for funds to
defray the Legitimate expenses of Repub-
lican campaign. 1t is to avoid being forced into
this embarrassing place that Harrison resolved
TO have something done, and speedily. The
caucus compromise bill, bad as it
is. he regards, as better than the free coinage
bill, IL in no other respect than that nobody
pretends to know just what it means or how it
would work. Moreover, he has little idea that
it could be forced through the senate. What he
trusts to is the fact that if the house passed it,
it would operate as a bar to keep out other meas
ures there, while in the senate his friends could
make capital out of its success, and OF the GER
tainty that it would now be a waste of time to
pass an antagonistic senate bill. Thus
the new combination might be brought
about, even though the house bill should be
AMENDED OUT OF SHAPE
in the senate. To further those designs the sem
ate debate has been purposely prolonged quite
1t would not be surprising to Chairman Con II
If the house coinage committee bring the matter
to test at the first opportunity; and meanwhile
the air of the capitol is thick with rumors of
threats, and promises, and pressure, and per-
suasion, which have passed between the presi-
dent and sundzy Republican congressman, who
either are candidly opposing the administration
scheme or have not yet got down from their
perches on the fence.