The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-26
ASKIRMISH OVER SILVER.
TIE CAUCUS ADJOURNS WITHOUT
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

The Free Coinage Question Left Just
Where It Was Before the Caucus
Met-The Silver Men in a Majority,
But the Minority Unwilling to Be
Bound by the Caucus Action.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The anti>free
coinage men won a signal victory IN the
conference Of the House democrats tonight.
No vote was taken on any proposition, but
the vote of so to 55 to adjourn without
action indicated desire on the part of the
majority of the party to postpone the ques-
ton. No other conference is likely to be
held. Messrs. Crisp. McMillin and Catch
ings Of the committee on rules, who were
all present tonight. need no further in
structions. They will bring in a rule to
riye the Bland bill consideration
in spite, but will see to it
that the tariff bills, appropriation bills,
before any attempt is made 20 get vote on
the Bland bill. There is now no probability
that it will pass the House at this session.
Iii is not formally postponed. it will be
informally postponed by filibustering.
THE.CoNFERENCE EXCITING.
Although there were so many absentees
tonight, including especially Senator Hills
New York friends, the conference was in
telesting and at times exciting. There was
much plain speaking, the whole discussion
turning on party expediency. Mr..
Bland, while resenting the attempt of
the Bland bill bottled up in the
House and Mr.. Harter's attempt to kill it
altogether was much more emicabe than
the opposition expected. He disavowed any
disposition to rule or ruin, and said be
wanted to help and not to hinder The party,
but wanted the south and west considered.
George Fred Williams, who made the
speech of the night. was applauded almost
as vigorously by the free coinage men as by
his friends. as he pleaded with them not to
kill the Democratic party Of the northwest.
I'VE have stood by the SOUTH" he said.
81 voted for Tilden in 1876,
although a republican, because, in
common with many New England men, l
wanted the south given a chance. Yet now
you men Of the south are pressing knife in
our ribs which threatens our political ex-
istence."
THE MOST EXCITING EPISODE.
The most exciting episode was the COLO
guy between Messrs. English and Fowler of
New Jersey. Mr.. English having asserted
that New Jersey was opposed to free COIN
age and could not be carried on a free coin-
age bill MIR. Fowler interrupted to say that
his district seemed to favor free
coinage, since he had been reelected by a
larger majority on free coinage platform
after having supported free coinage bill
than he had received before. Mr.. English
attempted to explain that the increase in
Mr. Fowler,s vote was due to the fact that,
first time he ran, he had a democratic as
well as republican rival at the polls and
that free coinage had nothing to do with
it. Mr.. Fowler insisted warmly that he was
right. Mr.. English insisted that he was not.
At this juncture Farmer Edwards of Vir-
ginia, thinking enormously that he had
been given the floor by the chairman began
TO shout something above the conflicting
voices This excited Mr.. English, who
calculated, II thought this was conference
OF gentlemen. not of blackguards," but as
few heard what he said and Mr.. Edwards
kept on talking in high tone. while Messrs.
English and Fowler took their seats, noth~
ing came of this warlike utterance.
The vote on the motion to adjourn, made
by Mr.. Oates of Alabama, a free coinage
man, but in favor of delay, was a surprise
to most members. 1t was regarded as the
more decisive for shat reason.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
By the Associated t@TeSs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The democratic
members of House met in conference to-
night for the purpose of considering the fol-
lowing resolutions. which are now pub
1shed as submitted to the caucus, havin z
been revised since the call was circulated by
Representative Harter Of Ohio:
Resolved, That we are in favor of continued
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 cir
culat.on
RssOlUed That IN Justice to the Democratic
party and with due consideration for the gen
eIa business, industrial and financial interests
OF the nation we deem 1t the duty of the demo
cratic members of the Fifty second congress to
oeier any definite action on the subject Of free
coinage until the question of its wisdom and
justice is distinctly made in the election OF 1892
The call continues:
We ask you further to invite the democratic
members OF the Sentate to this conference.
A BAD NIGHT.
1t was wet, disagreeable night for the
caucus, or conference as it was called, and
the members came to the capitol rather
slowly, so that it was s o'clock instead of
'50 when Chairman Holman called the
caucus to order. At that time many more
members had arrived and the caucus was
very we'll attended. Ii Mr.. Harter expected
mat the invitation to the democratic sem
a'ors to be present would be generally ac-
SSepted, be was mistaken, for Mr.. Butler oil
south Carolina was the only senator
present. A number of leading democratic
senator's were asked during the day if they
l1'ended to attend the conference. All de-
cared that they would not do 30, and that
.uey mad enough to occupy them with affairs
VI their own side of the capitol. The usual
rue limiting speeches in the caucus to five
"inutes, was adopted.
HARTER OPENS THE PROCEEDINGS
Mr. Harter of Ohio opened the proceed
ogs with speech. in which he stated the
ytolect be had in view when he circulated
r e call Tor the caucus. In accordance with
~ programme which had been outlined at
p conference between Messrs. Bland,
noe naetce' Lanham, Robertson and other ear
" S. y Tree silver men, 1.-The question was put to
o'ne ants whether or not they would
sIee to be bound by the caucus proceed
sn s', After some little discussion it was
s.oeo that the conference should not be
.Ssstued as binding upon any one, and
N 'Ge members should be free to vote as
"eey chose.
Hs.. stating the object of the caucus Mr.,
81 bi,tHe made speech against the advisa-
IA Ivy VI passing free coinage bill.
81 =, BLAND PROPOSES A DATE.
n struI. Bland then offered resolution in.
In psclng the committee on rules to bring
d.. special order fixing March 25 as the
I'm st Gn which the silver bill shall be taken
up,S SHsscussed and kept before the House
lhally acted upon.
Naas aluse Nuse this resolution Mr.. Warner OF