The Portland daily press., 1892-02-19
ALITTLE FAMILY QUARREL.
Mr.. Bland objects to His Democratic
Brothers Circular to the G. A. r..

Brothers Circulaf TO UifS Gfs a. N.
WASHINGTON, February Is. - The
Speaker laid before the House today the
response of the Secretary of the Treasu-
ury to the House resolution asking fo1
information as to the authority by which
the Al per cent loan was extended Mr..
Bland of Missouri wished to discuss the
matter for five minutes, and Mr.. Dingley
of Maine desired five minutes to respond
Both were cut off by objection from Mr..
Peel of Arkansas, and the communica-
ton was referred to the committee on
ways and means.
Mr.. Bland had read circular letter
written by Mr. Harter of Ohio, to vari-
GUS Grand Army posts in denunciation of
free silver, urging the posts to urge Con-
gress to vote against it, as it would prove
detrimental to the interests of pension
ers. This circular Mr.. Bland character
lied as bulldozing document. 1t was
an
Effort to Intimidate Members
and was part of the bulldozing tactics
of millionaires which had always been
carried on in opposition to measures
which would give free silver to the coun-
try. He denounced it as unfair and un-
becoming the dignity of member.
Mr.. Harter of Ohio admitted the au-
thorship of the circular letter. The
gentleman from Missouri had spoken of
it as a bulldozing circular To men
afraid to have the expression of their
opinions made public, such circular
might seem bulldozing, but to men who
entertained opinions which they were
willing to maintain under all circrlm-
stances, he could not see how the epithet
was applicable. 1t was fair and proper
that the people of the country not famil-
lar with legislation proposed by Con-
gress should receive information. The
gentleman from. Missouri
Referred to Him as Millionaire.
He was not a millionpire nor was he the
owner of any national bank. He was
more of a farmer than was the gentle
man from Missouri. He was as good a
Democrat as Mr.. Bland. He was opposed
to class legislation, whether it came un-
der the head of protective tariff or I'M
der the head of protection to silver pro-
ducers at the expense of the Whole coun-
try. He was as much opposed to giving
silver bullion producers the earnings of
the people as he was to giving them to
manufacturers. The measure which the
gentleman advocated would contract the
currency ruinously and cruelty If the
bill passed it would elect Benjamin Har-
rison to q second term, and this would
be done by Democratic House under
the leadership of the gentleman from
Missouri. He had sent the circular to
inform the pensioners that the passage
of the free coinage bill would entail upon
them a loss of 80 cents on every dollar
they receive. He would like to pay the
members of Congress with 70-cent dol
lar and
See How They Would Like 1t.
If anything should be made legal ten
der it should be the corn of Kansas, not
the silver of Colorado.
Mr.. Bland had the clerk read Mr.. Har
ter's biography as published in the con,
gressional directory to show that his bus
mess life had been spent as banker and
manufacturer Mr.. Bland said it was
not proper for member of the House to
prompt Grand Army men to send tele-
5,rI.;1ns to their congressman in order tc