Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-21
.SENATORTELLERT TALKS
To His Colleagues on Silver Coinage
and the Force Bill.
he DENOUNCES THE FORCE BILL
As the Most Infamous Measure Ths! Bver Crossed
The Threshold Of the Senaie-Hs Warns His
Party Not to Make a Break Against Free
SlYsr-Ths President Scored

WAsH1NGroN, D. c., April 20.-After
the usual morning business Mr.. Sher-
man notified the Senate that further
examination Of the ChiueSe immigration
question had convinced the committee
on foreign relations that the existing
Chinese exclusion legislation would not
expire till 1894, and that there was
therefore no pressure for immediate ac-
tion on the question. He would, how
ever. call it up az the convenience OF
Senators who desired 10 speak upon the
subject. ThereupOn the silver resOlu-
tion offered by Mr.. Morgan was taken
up and Mr., Teller proceeded 70 address
the Senate upon it.
MIR. Teller said. We are told that now
8 question which affected the welfare and
prosperity of the whole country was not OF
so much Importance and consideration as
was the question Of having certain man OF
one political party or Of the other elected
as Chief Executive for the next four years.
That annoyance had been felt In the Sen
ate and flo had been felt in other places. Inc
revolt against the Republican party In
1890 was not against tariff legislation
but against currency legislation. Ine
great metropolitan journals or the
Republican party had made the assertion
that the President would veto free silver
bill. the principal claim for the renomin-
alton Of the present incumbent Iney had
represented that the President stood Ike
wall against the wishes OF The House ana
Senate on the silver question, and that
while the people might get wild. ana while
the Senate Supposed 70 be the most con-
servative body in the world might lose It's
Judgment. the President, with greater
patriotism, with greater intelligence,
with greater devotion 70 the inter-
ests of the country, stood as
the safeguard for Wall street and
its money bags. No man could deny tthat
executive influence had been during last
wear a potent influence which governed
Republican representatives in the House,
He had been for nfteeR years Inundated
observer Of the power Of Federal patron
age. The silver bill lacked q majority IN
the House to-day because the Democratic
marty was afraid that If the Democrats in
the House should put themselves squarely
on the que stiOn of free coinage, the State
OF New York would cast its votes for the
Republican party. He knew whereof he
spoke when be said that the banks OF New
York city had organized themselves Tor the
purpose Of defeating silver legislation
NV attention has been called recently 70
some public utteranceS in reference 10
which j desire TO make statement. There
,aue from the House Of Representatives
Of the last Congress a bill which has been
commonly dubbed the Force bill. IL was an
election law I was member or the ma
iOrltv of the committee 70 which ~ was re
ferred Without my vote that bill could
not nave got 10 the Senate. consented
that it might De reported; but reserved
TO myself the right to move any amendment
TO il and to propose any modification OF IT,
declaring as 10 then stood 10 would not
receive my vote. Nearly two years nave
since elapsed. I have read that Dill with
care and attention more than twenty times.
j have read it in the light OF calm CON
sideratiOu. and 1 repeat now, tnaJ II IL
were presented 10 me now, with the alter
native OF party support or party dismissal,
I should not vote for the bill A more IN
famous bill. in my judgment, never passed
the threshold Of the doors Of the Senate.
Avowedlv in the interest Of good govern
ment. 10 was instigated, In my Judgment,
by men whose interest 10 was 70 pre-
vent q free expression OF the Will Oh
the voters az the polls. have no
time now 20 speak OF 10 In detail. was az
that time labOriug under disability OF
voice which prevented me speaking. But
i want 20 say here now that my attitudeon
that bin bad no relation, no connection, 0l-
rerflv. remotely or otherwise, with the
question OF silver There Is not member
who stood with me on the silver question
who will oOt bear me out when say tnat
the statement that we contracted with
Senators on the other side Of the chamber
for their support 70 the free coinage OIL, on
the ground that we would vote against the
Force bin. is absolutely untrue and without
the slightest foundation.
III that story had not been repeated 40
1auseam. would not add what now add
only repeat what the late distinguished
senator from Kansas Mr.. Plumb dld say
this Senate, that the opponents OF the
iver bin in this chamber entered INTO
Ayotiations (sOme Of them, az least with
kators on the other side of the chamber,
proposed 70 them that. If they would
rack free coinage, the others would
~ack the Election bill The late
&elUo0 SnftOr from Kansas made that
statement
Mr.. Teller serted that if there was an
attempt made the Minneapolis conven-
tion to place { Republican party in an
tagOnism 70 Syyer, the four silver produc-
ing States void not hereafter be able TO
act ia co-oper(tion with the eastern Repu6-
licans 10 the Senate or any other body. he
was, ne said, ia favor Of an international
conference, but he would never have one
until an execptive was elected who really
favored it.
After an executive session, the Senate
adjourned.