Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-31

disappointed by the action of the speaker.
They regarded that he made pledges
and promises as indicated in the New York
World dispatch to our opponents, pledges
and promises he did not advise the friends
of free coinage that he had made The con.
sequence is that they saw the speaker had
deserted them and many members, espe-
cially personal followers of Crisp. are now
refusing to sign any petition. The fact
that the speaker himself has changed his
attitude towards the measure and deceived
Its friends has caused a great many free
coinage people to weaken IN their posi-
ton; and | see at this time very little
hope of getting majority of The mem
bers on the petition asking that the rule
be reported"
As Told by Crisp.
Speaker Crisp, when shown BANDS
statement this evening, said he was sur
prised that Bland had SO far forgotten
himself and the true situation as to en-
deavor to misiead the public by such
statement.
In justifying MS position, Crisp said
that when the rules were being consider
ed he, in caucus, pledged the party that
no rule should be reported prohibiting
flibustering or cutting off dilatory mo
lions except at the request and desire of a
majority of the democratic members.
A majority of the democrats desired that a
time be fixed for the consideration of the
free coinage bill, but making no reference
therein to any change of rule. In response
the committee permitted three days.
The speaker said, as well as he recol-
iected, Bland did want to incorporate some
limitation of the right of the house to fiji j.,
fiuster or wanted continuing order, but
the committee determined that until the
necessity for such rule was demonstrated
they would not report it. The bill was
taken up and debated for three days
and finally saved from the table
by the casting of the vote of the speaker
Crisp said this tie vote was great sur
prise to all parties, because when the
original order was made it was generally
understood that the majority in favor of
free coinage was 80 to 40.
A majority Of democrats voted against
tabling the bill and thereby demonstrated
that they favored its passage. Speaker
Crisp said that he assumed that these gen.
tlemen so voting were in favor of the rule
which would bring the house to direct
vote on the bill and prevent flibustering
and so believing, he said to Bland that
ne had no doubt the committee would re-
port the rule. He also said to Bland that
In his Judgment there had been sufficient
filibustering to demonstrate the impossi-
bllity of the passage Of the bill without a
RUE to bring the house to direct vote.
The speaker also drew the resolution intro
duced by Band, still believing that these
gentlemen who voted against tabling the
bill were in favor of forcing direct vote
upon the measure.
But after that time friends of the sill
yer bill, as decided friends as Mr.
Bland, said the speaker, had come to him
and said that they did not desire vote
against tabling the bill to be construed
into request that the rule prohibiting
flibustering should then be reported;
that while they favored free coinage of
silver and wanted to vote for it, they OPP
p0sea any rule in a democratic house
which would cut off the right to
flibuste. The speaker said that upon
this statement he made some inquiry
among other friends of the bill and found
committee to report any rule to bring the
uoueO " q '1ItCL NOtt. w uSIouDOu, u0
thought, in pursuance of his statement In
the caucus, it was his duty TO consult the
wishes of the majority of the people in the
house.
The speaker then said to Bland and
other friends that he did not feel that, in
justice to himself, or the other party, he
could favor a rule or report a
rule which would force vote
upon the silver bill unless a majority
of democrats in the house expressed a
desire that he should do So To this
Bland replied that be would not get up
any petition, seeming to think, whether
the majority wanted it or not. the COM
mittee on rules should report such rule.
Pierce and others, the speaker said, ex-
pressed approval of the course of the
speaker and said they would get
up petition. The speaker had
not seen Bland since and does not
know what the status of the petition is;
but thinks if no direct vote is had upon
the silver bill, it will be because the vote
on the motion to table indicates to ma
jority of democrats that the bill cannot
pass, and therefore, they will not request
the committee on rules to bring in re-
port cutting off fibustering.
As to Bland references to the speakers
opposition to silver or his duplicity, the
speaker said he had nothing to say except
to recall that by his casting vote he him.
self prevented the bill from being tabled,
and to state that, as representative from
Georgia, ne favors and will vote for the
free coinage of silver.