St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-19
A Circular to the G. A. r. Posts
Raises the Ire OF Silver
Dollar Bland.
It's Author Scolded Vehe-
mently and Accused Of
Bulld0Zing.
Levity Intrades to Take the
Sting From Sarcastic
Reepiminations.
The Dead Kansas Statesman
EulogiZed by PETER and
Perkins.

w EcD. lO.-1 Ut
Army of the Republic has not infre-
quently been accused of being used to
subServe partisan ends. but today the
grave charge of seeking to divide a
party against itself was preferred
against the organization in the house.
Mr.. Bland. the free-coinage leader, of
Missouri, was the accuser, and Mr..
Harter, the free-trader and anti-free-
coinage Democrat, of Ohio, was the
gentleman charged with attempting to
subvert the &. a. r. to the interest of
the capitalists and monopolists.
During the course of general debate
on Indian appropriations today Mr..
Bland sent to the clerks desk and had
read circular letter written by Mr..
Harter, of Ohio. to the various Grand
Army posts in denunciation of the free
silver bill, and advising the members of
the posts to urge their congressman to
vote against it, as it would prove detri-
mental to the interests of the pension
ers. This circular Mr. Bland charac-
teriZed as a bulldozing document. 1t
was an effort to intlmidate members, and
was part of the bulldozing tactics of the
millionaire, the tactics which had al
ways been carried on in opposition to
the measures which would give free
silver to the country. He
Denounced 1t as Unfair
ana unbecoming the dignity of MEM
Der. Mr.. Harter admitted the author
ship of the circular letter. The gentle
man from Missouri (Mr. Bland had
spoken of it as a bulidozing circular.
TO men who were afraid to have the ex-
preston Of their opinions made public,
such circular might seem to be bull
doing, but to men who entertained
opinions which they were willing to
maintain under all circumstances, he
could not see now the epithet was ap-
plicable. The people of the country
who were not familiar with the Iegisla-
ton that was proposed by congress
gentleman from Missouri had re-
ferred to him as a millionaire.
He was not millionaire, nor
was he the owner of any national bank.
He was more Of farmer than was the
gentleman from Missouri. He was as
much opposed to giving the silver bull
ION producers the earnings of the peO-
pie as he was to giving them to the
manufacturers. If the free coinage bill
were passed it would elect Benjamin
Harrison for a second term: and this
would be done by Democratic house
under the leadership of the gentleman
from Missouri. He would like to pay
members of congress with the 70-cent
dollar and see how they would like it.
If anything should be made legal
tender it should be the corn of Kansas
and not the silver of Colorado. Mr..
Bland, in rising to respond, sent to the
clerks desk and had read
MIR. Harter,s Biography
as published i'll the congressional di-
reetery in order to show that his BUSH
ness life had been spent as banker
and manufaeturer. 1t was not proper.
continued Mr.. Bland, for member of
the house to prompt Grand Army men
to send kilograms to their congressman
in order to intimidate them and induce
them to vote against the free silver bill.
Mr.. Harter said that he believed i'm
good money for the farmer. For his
part, he did not care a picayune for
either gold or silver-that was, he had
no preference. This" said he, sis all
the gold l possess" and with these
words he drew from his pocket large
gold watch.
Mr.. Bland, who was seated beside
MN, was Hot 10 DC outcome and dangled
by its chain his silver watch, Offering
an exchange. But Mr.. Harter preferred
gold to the silver timepieee, and as the
gentlemen compared watches (Mr. Bu-
chanau, Of New Jersey, interfering the
query, when did you get them out?'')
the house thoroughly enjoyed the scene
and much laughter was induIged in.
Silver was then laid aside for the
nonce and consideration of the IDdian
bill was resumed, Mr.. Smith, of Arizona.
criticizing some of the features. espe-
cially the appropriations for the Carlisle
school. The bill was generally dis
cussed until adjournment. On motion
of MIR. Newberry. of Illinois, it was Or
dered that when the house adjourn Fri
day. it shall be to meet Tuesday. This
order is taken so as to enable members
to accept the Invitation to visit Chicago.