Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-07
Fate of the Silver Bill After VOL
colts Touching Tribute.
HE SCORED THE ADMINISTRATION
By Accusing Harrison of Being Afraid to
Act on the Measure.
REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTERING ENDED

free coinage of silver, and the Democrats
were naturally interested auditors to the
criticisms of Senator Wolcott upon Presi.
dent Harrison. The speech of the Senator
from Colorado, which is this evening the
leading topic of conversation, was delivered
in perfectly cool and collected manner
and from carefully prepared manuscript.
The silver bill, said the Senator, has been
put to sleep in the HOUSE. and the Senate
might as well face the truth on the silver
question. Nobody expected the measure to
become law during this administration, be-
cause the present Chief Executive last sum-
mer foreshadowed his veto; and those in his
council had openly proclaimed it since. The
friends of silver, however. had hoped that
it would at least score some advantage at
this session. If the votes of the two Houses
had been polled in December there would
have been clear majority of so for free
silver coinage in the other body and ma
jority of II in this. But, to-day, if a vote
were had on the motion to take the silver
bill from the calendar it would not be car
ried. So the friends of silver were left
fighting the air on series of general resolu-
tions
Deserters Caused the Defeat
1t was a proper time, therefore, for the
friends of free coinage, having practically
suffered defeat, to gather up their wounded
and dead, determine where the deserters
where hidden, fortify their entertainments
for the next encounter and stop, if possible,
the destructive rear-fring which had not
only damaged but surprised them. The
first great force opposed to the passage of the
silver bill was in this Congress (as it had
been for three years) the present administra-
tion. No stone had been left unturned,
no effort unemployed to compass the
defeat of the measure.
The National Convention was soon CON-
ing on, and a decisive action on the silver
question was supposed to be rather embar-
RAISING, and thing that it would be better
to avoid. The necessity of vote had to
be prevented if possible, and SO the miser-
able work had begun. The Offices had been
parceled out, the party lash had been
cracked and wavering members had been
gained. The work had apparently been
effectively done, and yet there was always
tomorrow. Nobody was deceived.
But it would have been graceful act in
the outgoing President to have permitted
the two Houses of Congress to vote accord
national Importance. The spectacle, humil-
iating as it was, showed that it was but an
amazing change of front by great section
of the Democratic party.
Democratic Pledges Quickly Forgotten.
During the last session that party had stood |
to its party tradition-hard |
money. A clear majority of its members
had taken the stump before the election, |
and pledged themselves that they would |
vote for the free and unlimited coinage of |
silver. The sudden change would be ridicu- |
lous if its effects were not tragic. One pro- |
phet of Democracy announced that tariff |
reform was the slogan. Another insisted |
that being a Democrat was the test and the |
But each political party had become, in
reference to the silver question, what Dis
raeli had once had charged the Tory party
as being, IAN organized hypocrisy" But,
unless all signs failed, each side would be
anxious before long to unload the RESPONSE
bilitv on the other, and the people would
then have their innings. Out of the wreck
of the hopes they had cherished one fact
stood
The vast mass of the people of the coun-
try were unrepresented by either political
party concerning the question which they
paramount to every other. Not
only was that true now, but it seemed
equally certain that the same condition of
forces would continue to exist
Chief Executive of Small Stature.
1t was apparent that the party in power
would with negative unanimity) renomi-
late "the present magnetic Executive"
Into this expression Mr.. Wolcott threw
most contemptuous emphasis-which at
racted much attention. Not because
\
iderable body of his party, but be-
,ause, since the letter of retirement of the
,reat Secretary who held his party bound
" ties of deepest affection and regard, no
nan Of greater stature than the present in
'umbent had been found willing to stand. |
Because of the blow thaa had struck silver
side, it seemed equally manifest that the
Democratic party would present its apostle
If tariff reform whose vision had no other
ssue, ard who desired again to be conse-
rated to public Office
These uncomplimentary illusions to Mr.. |
harrison and Mr.. Cleveland, and the highly
iattering reference to Mr.. Blaine, had all
he success on some of his audience that Mr. |
Nolcott could have desired. Smiles of ap-
,roval, pleasure and assent fitted over the |
ountenance of Senators, but no other sign |
1as given, and he went on with his speech.
Still Hopes for the Peoples Verdict.
The Senator then reviewed the silver
uestion in detail and concluded bv the pre-
ietion that the people would surely speak !
nd free coinage would be their final yer-
let
Mr.. Morgan formally offered the amend
lent to his resolutions-which he had pre-
ented vesterday-and then the resolutions
-ent over without action, retaining their
lace on the calendar. s
The Indian appropriation bill was then | c
AIKEN up, the question being on Mr.. Dawes
notion to strike out the provision for the
ssignment of army officers to the post of
indian Agents as vacancies occur. Alter
hree hours debate the motion was defeated, | !
eas %, nays 2S.
Mr. Pettigrew offered an amendment ap-
roprlatlng S1S7, 039 for compensating the
indians of the Grow Greek Reservation for s
'ss in their receiving less land per capita /.
! their diminished reservation than was re-
aived by the Indians occupying other d. ,
finished reservations, which was agreed to-
Mr.. Pettigrew also offered an amendment
the Secretary of the Interior to '
Spend not over S50, 600 in the construction a
two Indian industrial schools, one near c
hamberlain, S. D., and the other near
apid City, S. D., which was also agreed to-
The Free Wool Fight Ended.
The fight in the House on the free wool
i'll, which began yesterday, ended quietly
'-day. After the transaction of some mis-
.llaneous business Mr.. McMillin moved
lat the House go into committee on the =
zee wool bill, pending that he moved that /
L debate on the first section be limited
one hour and quarter. After some
bod natured discussion between Mr. Nc n
.illin and Mr.. Burrows, Mr.. McMillin L