Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-10-20

hat rule must be sustained BY ma
jority. but have never known . case
in which the majority Of the House
did not sustain its leaders.
In this case. when the bill for the
free coinsge of silver was presented,
Mr.. Band. the chairman Of the Conn
mittee on Coinage, applied to the
Committee on Rules for the consider
alton Of and a vote upon tho bill.
The Committee on Rules brought
in . rule providing that the bill should
be considered for three days, com.
mencing Tuesday after the morning
hour, and the consideration to end at
8 o'clock on Thursday afternoon.
There was no question discussed dur
ing tho last session OF Congress that
elected half the interest occasioned by
the discussion Of that bill, OF course
the members were all present, because
it was . matter of vital importance,
and the galleries were packed BY day
and by night. 1t was impossible after
the doors had been opened ten min
uses for an outsider to crowd himself
into the galleries. l mention this fact
simply to show you that the question
is as of much interest and Importance
in the East as 1t is 10 the West.
After the hour of 5 o'clock was
reached on the third day, motion
was made to lay the bill on the table,
and while We supposed we could de-
feat that motion by from rs to so
votes, and while the known opponents
Of silver represented that they did not
have any doubt of our ability to best
it by that number of votes. that
motion to lay the bill on the table, the
first motion that had been made in
connection with the silver bill, would
have been carried had not Speaker
Crisp directed that his own name be
called, and he voted against it.
What had become OF our strength
DO not know. Yes, l do know. The
older members told me that there had
not been in Washington since tho
close Of the war SO powerful or ski!lful
u lobby as had been present during
the consideration Of that bill. At any
rate the bill was not tabled and the
fight was continued until o'clock the
next morning. Mr.. Bland, chairman
OF the Committee on Coinage, Weights
and Measures, then moved to adjourn
and Of course bis followers went with
him and the House adjourned.
. That was the end Of the silver bill.
Mr.. Bland, in an interview, stated
that the Speaker told him he would
bring in rule fixing a time when the
vote should be taken. The Speaker
stated that he did give Mr.. Bland to
understand as much, but when he did
it he supposed that majority OF the
Democrats in the H,use would sign
a petition to him for tina. purpose.
You will remember that Reed md
The Republicans of the 5lst Congress
were severely criticized by their Dem.
'cratic associates for the rules that
guided the actions of the las House,
md the closure rule was . special
object OF criticism. Therefore Speaker
Crisp promised the Democratic caucus
when it elected him Speaker, that he
would not bring in a clc,ure rule un
ess q majority of the Democrats of
he House petitioncd him for It.
Bland, Pierce aud other Democrats in
he House, who favored the free coin
&c Of silver, circulated petition and
hey could not to save their lives come
'ithin seven votes Of ma ority.
Then the silver fight was ended so
ar As the first bill was concerned.
hat naturally discouraged the silver
nen in the House; it discouraged you,
nd discouraged the friends Of silver
u over the country; it was q surren.
er that should not have been made.
do not criticize Mr.. Bland for IT.
'ecause l know he did not intend to
uiurc the causo of silvar whoc h.