The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-26
THESILYER QUESTION
1t Causes a Wrangle in the Demo-
cratic Caucus.
UNABLE TO REACH a CONCLUSION.

Chairman Holman Decides Mr..
Biands Resolution Urging I'M
mediate Consideration in Order,
and the Ants Declare They VIII
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2B.-The unusual
interest manifested in the silver ques-
night by the large attendance of Demo-
cratic members of the house at the eau
Gus OF the majority, which took placs in
the hall of the house. Of the 1856 Demo-
CT attic members of the lower house fully
ators had also been invited to attend,
but Senator Butler, of South Carolina,
was the single representative of his party
colleagues.
The caucus, or meeting" as it was
termed in the call for the assembly, was
called to order at o'clock by Mr.. Hol-
man, of Indiana, the permanent chair
man Of Democratic conferences. After
the roll had been read Mr.. Bland sub
mitted asub-resolution providing that the
Democratic members Dc the committee
on rules be instructed TO bring In reso-
luton setting apart date not later than
March 25 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 eau
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
| 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
PRODUCED by Mr.. Bland were also made
by Messrs. Bryan of Nebraska, Fowler of
| New Jersey and Hooker of Mississippi
Mr.. Pierce, of Tennessee, made a strong
appeal from a political standpoint in
favor of the resolution. He contended
that Mr.. Cleveland was elected presi-
dent when he had liberal silver plank
in his platform, while in 1888, when he
ran in opposition to free coinage, he was
defeated. Mr.. Fowler commended that
J New Jersey would be stronger to the
the next national platform, and that if
such a plank were inserted the state
would go Democratic by an increased
majority.
| The Antis' Protest.
Mr.. Williams, of Massachusetts, a
member of the committee on coinage,
weights and measures, led the assault
on the resolution, contending that the
passage of free coinage bill means po-
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 in
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 it was
obvious that the free coinage men were
in the majority, but that no results
could be had because the ants would
not be bound up by caucus action. He
therefore moved that the caucus adjourn
The question was Iut and Mr.. Pierce
of Tennessee. Mr.. BANDS principal lieu
tenant on the coinage committee, called
for the yeas and nays, but almost iInme
diately withdrew it, The caucus nd
journed sine die by a vote of 80 to 90
many free coinage men voting for ad
journment.
Bourgeois Succeeds Rouyicr.
I