The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-02-26
The SILVER QUESTION
Il Causes a Wrangle in The DEMO
cratic Caucus.
UNABLE 10 REACH 4 CONCLUSION.

Chairman Holman Decides Mr..
BANDS Resolution Urging Inn
mediate Consideration in order,
aud the Antts Declare rhcy WIN
Not Abide by the Caucus Decision.
WASHINGTON. Feb. e0. The unusual
interest manifested III the silver guess
ton as a party issue was evidenced last
night BY the large attendance Of Demo-
cratic members Of the house at the eau
Gus Of the majority, which took place IN
the hall Of the house. or the 286 Demo
cratic members of the lower house fully
100 were present. The Democratic SEN
ators had also heen invited to attend.
but Senator Butler. Of South Carolina,
was the singlerepresentative Of his party
colleagues.
The caucus. or meeting as it was
termed in the call for the assembly, was
called to order ut s o'clock by Mr.. Hol-
man, OF Indiana, the permanent chair
man of Democratic conferences. After
the roll had been read Mr. Bland sub
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. providing that the
Democratic members Of the committee
on rules be instructed to bring IN resO-
luton setting apart date not later than
March IS for the continuous consider
alton Of the Bland free coinage bill until
final action.
Mr.. Harter raised the point OF order
that only the resolutions calling the cau-
Gus could be discussed. The point was
overruled by Chairman Holman, who
decided that anything connected with
the silver question was admissible.
Speaking for Free silver.
The discussion then took the form Of
d general debate on the silver question.
the good Of the party being the burden
Of the larger number Of speeches made.
Mr.. Bland INDUCED In some criticism
of Mr.. Harter's course In endeavoring
to side track the free coinage bill and
urged the adoption Of his resolution Of
| instruction to the committee on rules.
| Speeches In favor Of the resolution In
| troduced by Mr.. Bland were also made
| by Messrs. Bryan Of Nebraska, Fowler0f
New Jersey and BOOKER Of Mississippi.
Mr.. Pierce, Of Tennessee, made strong
appeal from political standpoint IN
| favor Of the resolution. He c0ntendedl
TINT Mr.. Cleveland was elected presi-
dent when he had liberal silver plank
ran in opposition 10 free coinage, he was
| defeated. Mr.. Fowler commended that
| New Jersey would be stronger to the
Democracy with free silver plank IN
| the next national platform. and that II
such plank were inserted the state
would 60 Democratic BY an increased.
majority.
The Antis' Protest.
Mr.. Williams, of MasE6enusetts, a.
member of the committee on C0InRGk,
weights and measures, led the assault
on the resolution, contending that the
passage OF free coinage bin means POI
litical disaster to the Democratic party
in the east. Messrs. Wilcox, Of Con.
necticut, Herbert, Of Alabama, McKin.
ney, Of New Hampshire, and English, Of
New Jersey, supported Mr. Williams III
his stand. Most of the speeches Of the
anti-free coinage men were protests
against the free coinage bill based on
the belief that it would cause disruption
IN the party and bring ignominious de-
feat in the next general election. Sew
eral OF the ants stated that they would
not be bound by any action the caucus
might take In the matter.
The discussion continued for nearly
two hours, and then Mr.. Oates. Of Ala
balna, obtaining recognition, said Il was
obvious that the free coinage men were
In the majority, but that no results
could be had because the antis would
rot be bound up by caucus action. He
therefore moved that the caucus adjourn.
The IN tion was put and Mr.. Pierce,
Of 1e- nessef. Mr.. Bands principal lieu
tenant on the coinage committee, called
for the yeas and nays, but almost imIne-
diately withdrew 1t. The caucus adj
journed sine die by vote Of 50 to IS,
many free coinage men voting for adj
journment.