Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-29
BLAND'S BILL DEAD.
The Missouri Silver Leader
Gives Up the Fight.
DIED FOR WANT OF THE "CLoTURE.r

Crisp Declines to Agree to Such Rule
Unless Demanded by a Majority of the
House Democrats, and That Is Not
Forthcoming-Salisbu Last Note
Clears the Behring Sea Horizon of War
Clouds-Gen. Boynton Tells Who Gives
Away the Secrets of Executive Sessions.
WASHINGTON, March 29.-Speaker Crisp
rang the knell of the free silver movement
yesterday. He told several representa-
tives that no rule for ''cloture" would be
reported unless a petition signed by ma.
Jority of the Democrats of the house was
presented asking him for such rule. As a
number of free coinage Democrats will
not sign such petition and as the ma
Jority in favor of the Bland bill if a
direct vote were taken could be counted
on the fingers of ones bandit indeed
there was majority at all-it was evi-
Bent that the speakers dictum was a
death blow 10 the measure, and such proved
to be the case. After consultation with
some of his supporters Bland decided to
endeavor to get the requisite number OF
names to a petition. But on further con-
sideration the Bland men decided that
they would withdraw the petition and
give up the fight.
Thirty-fve Opposed to .'CIoture."
The anti-s;lver men circulated the report
that thirty-five silver Democrats had re-
fused to sign the petition, and this had the
effect Of keeping many of those who had
heretofore supported the bill and pro-
gramme from putting their names to the
paper. The Bland men were much dis
couraged by this falling away in their
numbers, and it was after they began to
see how large the detection was that they
decided to withdraw the petition. Bland
said yesterday afternoon that he had given
up the fight, and would make no further
attempt to bring the bill to vote Speaking
for Bland and the free silver men, Pierce OF
Tennessee said: I'VE viii not push the
matter further, but will let the committee
on rules assume the responsibility for the
defeat of the bill before the people Of the
country"
Charging Crisp with Bad Faith.
There is much i'll feeling expressed by
the silver men on account of Speaker
Crisp's stand, as they claim that by de.
Gliding against reporting a cloture rule un-
less supported by a majority of his party
he has broken his word given to Bland.
Pierce, Stone of Kentucky and others.
Bland said yesterday afternoon that
Thursday night, just before he moved to
adjourn the house and thus lost the sup.
port of the special order for voting on his
bill, he had a consultation with Speaker
Crisp on the best course to pursue in order
to save the bill from defeat, and that
Crisp assured him that if he moved an ad.
iournment the committee on rules would
bring in another special order providing
for a direct vote on the bill and pending
amendments and also a provision fOr
cloture.
Can't Understand the Speaker.
Satisfied with this Bland says lre moved to
adjourn, and next day under the guidance
and advice of the speaker drafted the resolu
tion which heintroduced setting apart yes
terday for a vote on the bill, and also pro-
viding for clotUre, Crisp, assured him
said Bland, that he would vote for this
order in the committee on rules, and that
it would undoubtedly be brought in. In
view of these assurances Bland thinks
that the speakers present attitude is in
consistent and hard to explain, and he
says he cannot understand why CrisI
NtLAi btaCiA Oi thC pAOilliStSo NC SdNS ~ LIZ
self and the other gentlemen mentioned
Wants His Party Behind Him.
When the speaker was asked concerning
the matter he said 1T is true have taker
the position that unless assurances art
given me that a majority Of the Demo
cratic members viii vote for a cloture rule
l will vote in the committee on rules
against its adoption. / think l am right
in assuming this position. l stated in eau
Gus that l would not make changes in tht
rules or bring in any new form of proceed
ure unless l received the support of my
| party, and it is this position that am as
suming now