Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-13
BY THE EARS
The Democratic Leaders All at
Sea on Silver.
SPRINGER A FOIL For CRISP
Il Is Believed That He Voices the
Speakers Wishes-A Silver Bill Must
Be Reported This Session


wAsHIxGrox. ID. c., Jan. livery
serious difficulties confront Chairman
Springer and the leaders in the house
who have been endeavoring TO force
their piecemesl tariff legislation upon
that body. They have discovered that
the democratic representatives from
the wool-growing states are IN earnest
in their declarations that, il free wool
bill shall be presented without some
consideration for the farmers, these
representatives will move as an amend
ment free WOODEN goods, a nd wall insist
upon full debate and a vote upon that
question. IL this shall be done, of
course it will be impossible TO keep the
biii from being discussed IN the CON-
mit.ee OF the whole, where 1t Will be
subject Ia general amendment The
result will inevitably be iual 1anff
discussion and there - very little prob
ability that the bills will come out on
that discussion in the form of which
they were agreed upon by the Demo-
cratic leaders.
The managers of the house are evi-
IDENTIFY endeavoring TO shape all iegisia-
ton or attempted legislation IN such
manner that they hope to secure sup
port IN The eastern states, and not pay
any attention To the silver or the wool
growing states. But they have dlscoy-
cred tnat things are not moving as
smoothly as they hoped, and they are
not certain that they VIII be able TO
carry out this program. The whole
scheme Of the piece-meal tarih legisla-
ton IS To couciliate the free law ma
terial element in the New England
states. But there is already fo-,nid-
able revolution threatened i'm the demo
cratic ranks, and some OF the old time
leaders insist that the policy of the
party ought not to he shaped in the
hope of securing electoral votes from
states from which no democratic cleo
toral vote has come since the war. and
where none are reasonably to be ex-
pccted.
Cannot he de-Tracked.
1t is stated that the interview and
speech of Springer's in New York, as
we'll as the general circulation which
was given 10 both, were conspired from
the same quarter, and that they repre-
sent the speakers desire of few Of
the democratic managers in congress.
The difficulty, however, is that the
great majority of the democrats in both
houses do not agree with this policy,
and that they are committed to the
passage OF free coinage bill. 1t will
be almost impossible To dodge the silver
issue by passing any bill winch is de-
signed as a subterfuge, or agreeing up
on any resolution for an international
cuinage scheme. The fact is, that the
control of the free coinage movement
in congress Is largely IN the
hands of the tow senators from
| the silver states. Thev maze great
party sacrifices to the democrats
last year in defeating the election bill
In order to secure some benefit for free
silver. They supposed that the ar
rangement which was entered ito
then would be binding in the future.
There are already indications. however,
that the democrats are ungratefui, as
they always have teen, and that they
are likely To- leave the northern men
! who depend uron them IN the iureh.
| Ii there was an offensive aud defensive
| alliance entered into between the free
coinage republican senators and the
| democratic leaders IN the last congress
this congress. Bat TIE senator's and
representatives from the silver states
laugh at the Springer pan. and say
that the silver issue can not be side
tracked in that manner.
Advocates Of FREQ Coinage.
The great majority of the democrats,
| in both senate and house, are on record
rs the persistent advocates of free COIN
| age. The house committee on coinage
IS controlled by extreme free-coinage
men, Mr.. Bland of Missouri, beng
chairman. IL is difficult TO see how
the passage of free coinage bill
through the house can be prevented If
the question shall come before the
house IN any form. There are CON-
parativcly few, moreover. OF the demo-
cratic senators who would vote against
free coipage bill without stultfylng
themselves. The probability, therefore,
is that the silver legislation ~
| this country will be indicate 10y
the representatives from the sll-
yer states, just rs il was in the last
congress, and that the Jauniy predic-
tons of Chairman Springer. and the
| few men with him who are seeking 10
lead the democratic party IN the IN
terest OF party prospects IN the eastern
states. will not be realized. The repre-
! sentatives from the silver states do in
sist that the democratic party should
not abandon them, as - evidently the
intention to do by the proposed effort
| TO evade the silver question and 70
| eliminate il from The presidential cam
| paign. The silver men from the SILVER
states are chagrlned at the determina.
ton of some ot the democrats, and
! they are beginning TO feel that they
cold out their republican bsrthrlght for
a mess of democratic potage, and arc
! not CERTAIN that they will receive thf