St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-26
The Democratic Conference
on Free Coinage Takes No
. Action.
Free Silver Men Were in the
Majority, but a Vote Was
Not Forced.
A New Jersey Man Makes q
Bold and Surprising
Statement.
The Committee on Rules Will
Report a Special Order on
BANDS Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The Demo
cratic members of the house met in
coference tonight pursuant to call
issued by Representative Holman,
chairman of the caucus. for the pur-
pose of considering the following res
olutions, which are now published as
submitted to the caucus, having been
revised since the request for the call
was circulated by Mr.. Harter, of Ohio:
Resolved, That we are in favor of the con-
tinued use of both gold and silver as money.
and that we are unalterably opposed to any
legislation which will drive either metal out
of general circulation.
Resolved, That in justice to the Demo-
cratic party, ana with due consideration for
the general business, industrial and financial
Interests Of the nation, we deem it the duty
of Democratic members or the Fifty-second
congress to defer any definite action on the
subject of free coinage, until the question of
its wisdom and justice is distinctly made in
the elections of 1892.
The call also requested Mr.. Holman
to invite the Democratic members of the
senate to this conference. 1t was wet,
disagreeable night for caucus, or
conference. as it was called, and men,
bers came to the capitol rather slowly.
so that it was 8 o'clock, instead of 1880,
when Chairman Holman called the eau
Gus to order. At that time many more
members had arrived, and the caucus
was we'll attended.
Senators Not in Sight.
If Mr.. Harter thought the invitation
to the Democratic senators to be present
would be generally accepted, he was
mistaken, for Mr.. Butler. of South Caro-
lima, was the only senator present.
A number of the leading Democratic
senators were asked during the day if
they intended to attend the conference.
All declared that they would not do so,
and that they had enough to occupy
them with affairs on their side of the
capitol. The usual rule limiting
speeches in the caucus to five minutes
was adopted.
Mr.. Harter, of Ohio. opened the pro-
ceedings with speech in which he
stated the object he had in view when he
circulated the call for the caucus In ac-
cordance with a programme which had
been outlined at a conference between
Messrs. Bland, Pierce, Lanhan, Robert
the question was put to the ants
whether or not they would agree to be
bound by the caucus proceedings. After
some little discussion it was agreed that
the conference should not be regarded
as binding upon any one and that men,
bers should be free to vote as they
chose.
In stating the object of the caucus
MI. Harter made speech against the
adyIsabllity OF passing free coinage
bill. Mr.. Bland, of Missouri, then of
fered resolution instructing the COM
mittee on rules to bring in special
which the silver bill should be taken
up, discussed and kept before the house
until finally acted on.
Tongues Turned Loose.
Against this resolution Mr.. Warner,
of New York. raised point of order,
claiming that under the call in response
to which the members were present,
the resolution could not be considered.
The point of order was promptly
overruled and no appeal was
taken after this decision. Speeches
were made by Messrs. Bland,
Bryan. OF Nebraska; Fowler. of
New Jersey, and Hooker. of Missis-
sippi, in favor of the Bland resolution.
Mr.. Williams, of Massachusetts, spoke
in opposition to the resolution, declar-
ing disaster to the Democratic party in
the East. Mr.. Williams then appealed
to the Southern members to stand by
the Eastern Democrats, who, he said,
had stood by the South against the
elections bill.
Mr.. Fowler, of New jersey, in his
speech surprised many of those present
by the earnest manner in which he adj
vocated action OH the resolution. He
said the assertion that New jersey
could not be carried on a free silver
plan was untrue. New Jersey
was Democratic state, regard
less of the silver question. He
had carried his district by an increased
majority with free silver plank in the
platform. Mr.. Herbert, of Alabama,
urged delay in considering the silver
question. and thought that the interests
Of the party would be served by not
passing the silver bill now.
Effect on Votes.
Mr.Pierce, of Tennessee, answered
those who asserted that free silver
would hurt the Democratic party. He
maintained that free coinage was strong
with the people and would gain party
votes. He contraSted the Cleveland
vote in 1884 with that OF 1885,
With a liberal silver plank
in 1884 Cleveland had carried
New York, New jersey and Indiana.
In 1883, with hostile silver plank, he
had lost New York and Indiana. In
1854 he had cut down the majorities in
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and
Iowa to small proportions, and in 1888
had lost those states by large ma
jorities. If free silver bill
were passed he asserted that the
result would be large gains for Demo-
Gratis, especially in the West. West
Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia
were all close states, in which the party
would stand chance of losing the
presidential election if the peoples de-
mand for free coinage were not met.
Messrs. Wilcox, of Connecticut;
Lynch, of Wisconsin; English, of New
Jersey, and Mckinney, of New Hamp-
shire, made speeches against the Bland
resolution. The debate grew somewhat
tiresOme, and as it was evident that any
conclusion reached would not be bind
ing, members were in favor of an adj
journment. Mr.. Oates, of Alabama,
free coinage man, therefore, moved to
adjourn. He said that the anti-free
coinage men had stated that they
Would Not BE Bound
by the caucus action. He had assur-
ances that the committee on rules
would, if the Bland resolution were not
adopted, bring in rule making the
Bland bill special order. He saw no
advantage to be gained by row among
the Democrats. 1t was evident that the