Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-20
HARTER VERSUS BLAND
The Two Sides of the Silver Question
Ably Represented.
THE DEBATES BEFORE THE HOUSE
Gain Nothing for Either Side - An Answer to
Nr. Harter's Letter from a Missouri Grand
Army Post Read Before the House at
the Instance Of Mr.. Bland.

The silver question will not down. It's
discussion was resumed In the House
to-day upon the presentation by Mr..
Bland of a letter in response 10 one OF
the Harter circulars 10 members OF the
q. A. x. The scene was one OF con-
fusion and excitement at times, but oc-
casionally a good home thrust from one
side or the other brought forth hearty
and continuous laughter.
Mr.. Harter was more than emphatic
in his denunciationS Of the free silver
bin. which he characterized as infamous
apd predicted thatif il passed, the Dem
ocraIic party would march 10 certain
defeat in November. Warming 70 the
subject, he declared that ''if this free
silver bill shall pass the time will come
when a man as a Democrat will not be
given a decent burial in a Democratic
Cemetery"
Repeated attempts were made by
points Of order and demands for the
regular business TO take Mr.. Harter
from the floor, but he persisted in pre-
sentlng his views 10 the House and II
HaS compelled 10 hear.
The House was called TO order by Mr..
Kerr, its clerk, who read communlc2-
l!on from the Speaker designating Mr..
Mcmillan, Of Tennessee, as Speaker
pro TEN. In his prayer the chaplain
invoked the divine protection OF the
Senators, Representatives. and members
OF the press In their trip to Chicago.
The House went into Committee OF
the Whole (Mr. Richardson, OF Tennes-
see. i'm the chair,l on the private cal
endar.
The first bill upon the calendar
(which was laid aSide), gave rise to
some discussion, during which Mr..
Reed. OF Maine, made some OF his char
acteriStic remarks as TO the adyiSabllity
OF counting a quorum from the mem
bers present and not voting. The Chair
man and Mr.. Reed thereupon had
short colloquy, which the Chair subse-
ouently alluded to as 'an alteration"
~ hope the Chair will not designate II
as an alteration" " said Mr.. Reed.
1T was an alteration Of words" re-
spouded the Chairman.
That was all the Chair meant to
say"
Nlr. Reed trust that the Chair will
not designate 10 in that way. That
would be unjust 10 the Chair and to me.
The Chairman-The Chair does not
mean TO be unfair 10 the gentleman,
Mr.. Reed think it is unfair to the |
Chair as we'll a to myself.
The Chair-The Chair will try TO
take care Of himself and OF the gentle
man from Maine, and will not do him
an injustice.
The next bill, for the relief Of A. J.
Duncan .of Tennessee, was the axle
upon which reyolved another silver
wheel. 1t was set in motion by Mr..
Bland, who sent to the Clerks desk
and had read a letter from Grand
Army post in Missouri asking him to
inform the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Harterl In response to his antl-Silver
circular that the Grand Army posts
were able TO attend 70 their own busi-
ness.
Mr.. Bland again criticised Mr.. Har-
ter'S attitude on the silver Question,an
said that he felt it TO be a duty TO his
constituents 20 have this letter read.
Mr.. Harter said that he ascrioed to
his friend what his friend did not as
cribe 70 him, honesty OF purpose. The
free silver bill was an Infamous meas
ure. and yet he aScribed TO the gentle
man an honest purpose In submitting II.
This same class OF legislation, called
protective tariff legislation, which was
against the many In the interest OF the
few was infamous and outrageous. He
would be the last man in the world to
saw that his friend and relative, MIR.
Mckinley, was an infamous man. The
difficulty was not with the heart OF his
friend, Mr.. Bland, but the tronole was
with his head. Laughter
IL this free silver bill were passed the
time would come when man as Dem
ocrat would not be given decent bur
ial In a Democratic cemetery. II II Is
passed before November came the Dem
ocratic party would be the laughing
stock Of the nation. Laughter.
Mr.. Butler, of Iowa-f this bill IS
uudemocrstic why is it that the Demo-
cratic delegation from your own county
voted 10 put the free coinage of silver
in its platform? Mr.. Mckinney, OF New
Hampshire, raised the point OF order
that this discussion was entirely out OF
order. not being directed to the bill un-
der consideration by the committee.
The Chair sustained the point OF or
der, but after many efforts Mr.. Harter
again managed to secure the floor and
proceeded with his prediction which
was that II the House passed the meas
ure which invited all the degraded sill
ver OF the world to free coinage in this
country the Democratic party would
lose the votes Of the men who labored
for their living and when the party
marched 10 the polls In November ln-
stead of marching TO an overwhelming
victory, It would march 70 certain de-
feat. s
Mr.. Lind, lofy Minnesota, asked
whether he understood the gentleman
correctly in defining the principles OF
the Democratic party to be free traue
aud a single gold standard.
Mr.. Harter. The position OF the
Democratic party is in favor OF dou-
bic standard and in favor OF keeping
every dollar worth 100 cents lapplauSe
on Republican side and demands for the
regular order from the Democrats).
Mr.. Lind pressed his question as to
the attitude OF the Democratic party
in regard to free trade, and
Mr.. Fithian and Mr.. Holman IN
vain tried 10 take Mr.. Harter
from the floor when he demanded to
make his reply. The Chair appealed -
Mr.. Harter TO proceed in order and
speak TO the bill under consideration.
Mr.. Harter said he would do so. This
man from Tennessee wanted an appro-
priation. Laughter The appropri-
alton was raised by taxing the people,
and the question asked by the gentle
voan from Minnesota was highly perth