Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-26
WOULD NOT BE bound.
The Anti-Silver Men Positively Re-
fuse to Agree to Abide
BY THE DECISION OF THE CAUCUS,
And as Result the Silver Legislation Proposed
for the Fihy-Sscond Congress Stands Just
Where II Did Before the CauScas Was
Held-BlandS Resolution Killed.

WASHINGTON, d. c., February 25.-
! The Democratic members OF the House
met in conference tonight, pursuant to
call issued by Representative Hol-
man, for the purpose of considering the
! following resolutions:
"ResolUed, That we are in favor OF
the continued use OF both gold and sill
yer as money, and that we are unalter-
ably opposed TO any legislation which
will drive either metal out Of general
! circulation.
"ReSOlUed, That in justice to the DEM
ocratic party, and, with due consldera-
tion for genera, business, industrial and
| financial interests Of the nation, we
deem it the duty OF Democratic members
Of 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 continues: "We ask you
further to invite the Democratic men,
bers OF the Senate TO this conference" ="
In accordance with programme
which had been outlined at conference
between Messrs. Bland, Pierce, Lam
ham, Robertson and the earnest free
silver men, the question was put TO the
Auti's whether or not they would agree
10 be bound by the caucus proceedings.
After some little discussion 10 was
agreed that the conference should not
be regarded as binding upon any one
and that the members should be free to
vote as they choose.
In stating the object OF the caucus
Mr.. Harter made speech against the
advlsability Of passing free coinage
bill.
Mr.. Bland. Of Missouri, then offered a
resolution, instructing the Committee
on Rules to bring in a special order fix
ing March 25 as the date on which the
silver bill should be taken up, discussed
rnd kept before the House until finally
acted on.
Speeches were made by Messrs.
Bland, Bryan, of Nebraska, Fowler, of
New Jersey, and Hooker, Of Mississippi,
in favor OF the Bland resolution. Mr..
Williams, OF Massachusetts, spoke in
opposition TO the resolution.
Mr.. Herbert, of Alabama, urged de-
lay in considering the silver question,
and thought that the interests OF the
party would be served by passing the
silver bill.
-l,fessrs. Wilcox, of Connecticut;
Lynch, OF Wisconsin,: English, OF New
Jersey, and Mckinney, OF New Hamp-
shire, made speeches agaiast the bill
and resolution. The debate grew some
what tiresome, and as II was evident
that any conclusion reached would not
be binding, members were In favor of
adjournment.
Mr.. Oates, Of Alabama, free coinage
man, therefore moved TO adjourn. A
split occurred among free coinage men
over the motion TO adjourn, some favor
ing the caucus adoption OF the Bland
resotion. 1t was finally decided, how
ever, to adiourn-s0 TO So.
The result of the caucus seems to be
that the silver question is left just
about where il was before the caucus
was held, the silver men evidently be-
ing in a majority, but the minority be-
ing unwilling to be bound bya caucus
action,