The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-04-23
unexpectedly Cornered.

Unexpectedly COrnered.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
There was lively time in the
United states senate yesterday
and some Of the honorable senators
regretted for Il few minutes that
business had not called them else
where at that particular hour Of
the day. The money question came
up in unexpected fashion and be-
fore there was time TO dodge it the
senators present had to decide
whether to range themselves under
the gold standard or in opposition
to it. a bill had come from the
house sanctioning the funding act
of the Arizona legislature. As pass
ed by that legislature it provided
for the payment Of the bonds din
gold coin or its equivalent in law
ful money of the United States"
AS the bill came to the senate from
the house it provided simply for
paymet in gold coin. How it got
through the house without the eff
feet of this provision being dis
covered and provided against is
not clear, bat the quick ear of a
Republican silver senator caught
the words "gold coin" and he OBJ
iected. A Farmers Alliance sena-
tor moved to strike out the words
"gold coin" and substitute wawful
money of the United States" There
was CONSERVATION among those
who were anxious not to go on re-
cord at present upon the money
question, but there was no lodging
possible. While it could hardly be
called a square test of the position
of the senate on the subject of free
coinage of silver, it was test on
the question of the exclusive gold
standard. AS was pointed out, this
was the first bill before congress
since the passage of the resump-
tion act in which gold payments
were specified. If the bill became
a law with this provision in it
precedent would be established of
which advantage would undoubt-
edly be taken by the goldites at the
earliest opportunity.
The amendment to strike out the
provision for gold payments and
substitute payment in lawfulmoney
of the United States was adopted
by 2S ayes to 24 nays. Eight Re-
publican senators from the silver
and far northwestern states voted
wit II the Democratic and Farmers
Alliance majority to strike out
gold. Only two Democrats voted
with the Republican minority of
goldites, Gary of Delaware and
Palmer of Illinois. Senator Palmer
at first refrained from voting, but
on the recall of the roll voted to re-
tain the demand for gold. AS soon
as the vote had been declared he
was on his feet to explain that he
had voted as he did solely because
he was willing to let the people of
Arizona make the best terms they
could in getting money. Senator
Hill also let his name go without
response until the second call, when
he voted against gold. Senator Car
Isle announced that he was paired
with Senator Sherman on all fin
ancial questions, which was equi-
valent under the circumstances to
an intimation that he would have
voted with his Democratic col
leagues for the 1awful money" IL
mendment had he been free to act.
Senator German was not in the
senate chamber when the vote was
taken and Senator Brice was out
Of the city.
The vote was taken when the
senate was nearly three-fifths full,
so that the actual strength of the
anti-gOld sentiment in a full SEN
ate cannot be determined. Never
theless the silver men cannot but
feel encouraged by the vote of yes
terday and the gold standard ad-
vocates feel they have received
slap in the face.
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