Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-10-20

In the meantime, the English bank
ers became satisfied that they could
not obtain from the United States
sufficient gold with which to msintain
their credit and they ther. fore called
upon the Bank of France for all of
the money it could spare. You will
remember that that loan was accom-
plished. The loan was 90 enormou
that it was made an item of the world
over and every newspaper in the land
had statement of the interest that
was paid. It was almost beyond COM
putation.
When it became known that the
Bank of England was fortified with
oil OF this gold from France, the PRES
sure ceased, just as you know the
pressure will cease when . run is
made upon . bank. and when the
community becomes satisfied that the
bank is solvent again. So it was in
London; and when the pressure
ceased in London it ceased in New
York. and while our Senators we're
wranRling over what they would do,
the danger was over and We not only
lost the bill for tho free and
unlimited coinage of silver, but we
lost the bill which would have pur.
chased all Of the surplus silver in the
United States, aud the increase from
four million FIVE hundred ounces per
month to six million ounces per
month.
This was the FIRST mistake We made,
and call your attention to it because
it is part of the silver history OF the
last two years, and for the reason that
| want you to take into consideration
every fact in connection with this
question and not make any more miss
takes.
Now the next legislation We had in
this country came during the present
Congress. You all know that it was
supposed throughout tho United
States that We had in the House of
Representatives q majority of Fifty in
favor Of the free coinage OF silver. In
due course OF tice bill was pres~ nted
to the House and, as you know, a
vote was never taken upon that meas
ure.
Now let us fix the responsibility.
not for the failure to pass the bill, but
for the failure to vote upon it; be,
cause If there WAS a majority in the
House opposed to the free coinage of
silver and they voted mon the bill,
we would have no complaint. We
would then be in a position to renew
the fight and know who our enemies
were. But We were entitled to q fair
vote upon that bill and it was denied
us.
Now, mark you, fifty men in the
House Of Representatives can prevent
the passage of any measure for an in>
calculable length of time. Indeed it
would be utterly impossible to pass
any bill through the lower house of
Congress during the entire session if
fifty men oppose it. They may stop
legislation by the tactics called fli-
clustering, and what is known as the
sacred right Of the minority to fill
buster is so great that it blocks the
legislation of the country if that mi,
nority sees fit to exercise it. Its
seldom exercised save upon extraor.
binary occasions or in opposing extra.
ordinary measures. Therefore, to
enable the passage Of bills necessary,
such as appropriation bills or any
other great measures that may be
deemed Of absolute necessity, 4 com.
mittee sappointed called a Committee
On Rules. 1t is selected from the
leading members and the Oldest mem.
bers of the respective parties in the
House OF Representatives. The ma
jorty in the House of Represents
lives is supposed to be responsible to
The country for the Legislation OF the
House. They therefore select for this
Committee on Rules their most expe.
rienced leaders, and the Speaker OF
he House is ex.officio chairman OF the
In the present Congress ;
Mr.. Speaker Crisp. Mr.. Mcmillan of
Tennessee, who was himself a e.ndi |
late for speaker, Mr.. Catchinps of |