The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-26

Democrats Talk on silver but Accomplish
Moth NJ.

Noting.
wAsHVeToN, Feb. 2s.--The Democratic
members of the House met in conference
last night pursuant TO a call issued by
Representative Holman, chairman OF the
caucus, for the pupose of considering the
following revolutions which are now pub
lished as submitted to the caucus, having
been revised since the request for the call
was circulated by Representative Harter
of Ohio:
Resolved, That we are in favor OF the
continued use of both gold and silver as
money, and that we are unalterably OPP
posed to legislation which will drive eth
er metal out OF general circulation.
Resolved, That in justice To the Dem
ocratic party and with due consideration
for the general business, industrial and
financial interests of the nation, we deem
IL the duty 5i Democratic members of the
52nd Congress TO defer any definite action
on the subject OF free coinage until the
question of its wisdom and justice is dis
tinctly made i'm the election OF 1892.
The call continues: "We ask you fur
thor TO invite the Democratic MEM
bers OF the Senate to this conference"
The caucus was very well attended.
only senator present. A number OF lead
ing democratic senators were asked dur
ing the day il 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.
Chairman Holman called the caucus to
order at 8 o'clock. A rule limiting
speeches to five minutes was adopted.
Mr. Harter made speech in which he
stated the object he had in view when he
circulated the call for the caucus.
In accordance with a programme out
lined at a conference between Messrs.
Bland, Pierce, Lanham, Robertson and
other free silver men, the question was
put to the ants whether or not they
would agree TO be bound by the causus
proceedings.
After some discussion it was agreed
that the conference should not be regard
ed as binding upon any one and that
members should be free to vote as they
chose.
In stating the object of the caucus Mr..
Harter spoke against the advsability of
passing a free coinage bill. Mr.. Bland
offered a resolution instructing the COM
mittee on rules TO bring in a special order
fixing March 25 as the date on which the
silver bill shall be taken up, discussed
and kept before the House until finally
acted ON.
Speeches were made by Messrs. Bland,
Bryan of Nebraska; Fowler OF New Jer-
sey and Hooker OF Mississippi in favor of
the Bland resolution.
Mr.. Williams of Massachusetts, spoke in
opposition to the resolution, declaring
that the passage OF free coinage bin
meant political disaster to the Demo-
cratic party in the east. Mr.. Williams
then appealed to the Southern members
10 stand by the Eastern Democrats, who,
he said, had stood by the South against an
election bill.
Mr. Fowler, in his speech, surprised
those present by the earnest manner in
which he advocated action on the resolu-
ton. He said that the assertion that
New Jersey could not be carried on a free
silver plank was untrue. New Jersey was
a Democratic state regardless of the silver
question. He had carried his district by
an Increased majority with free silver
plank in the platform.
split occurred among the free coinage
men over the motion to adjourn, some
favoring caucus adoption of the Bland
resolution. 1t was finally decided, how
ever. to adjourn so TO 90.
MIR. Pierce started 10 insist on the yeas
and nays being called on the motion, for
the purpose Of putting those present. on
record, but at the request of Mr.. Bland
he withdrew the motion.
The result OF the caucus seems to be
that the silver Question is left inst about
where il was before the caucus was held,
the silver men evidently being In ma
jOrity, but the minority being unwilling
TO be beund by caucus action. This leaves
the matterawith t{e rules committee to
decide whether or not special order shall
be brought in.