Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-27
THE SILVER FLANK MOVEMENT.
What Mr.. Bland Says Of the Present Condi-
tiOn-The Politics in the Case.

tion-The Politics in the Case.
The sudden and successful flank movement of
the silver men in the Senate yesterday divided
with the presidential gossip the attention of
Congressman at the Capitol this morning. and
these two subjects occasioned a great deal of
talk and monopolized conversation completely.
The silver advocates were all smiles and affa-
bility. Their joy is all the greater because this
turn OF affairs in their favor has come just as
they were settling down into a condition of
respondent resignation to the apparently newt
able postponement of their most cherished de-
sire. All at once they see bright gleam of
hope ahead, and now they talk quite confidently
OF pushing their pet measure through both
houses of Congress at the present session. and
at an early day.
ME-. BLAND is HAPPY.
One Of the happiest men at the Capitol today
is Representative Bland of Missouri. the gen.
eralissimo of the silver forces. He said to a
STAR reporter that he felt very much encour-
aged as to the prospects of the free coin age
cause and thought the chances were now de-
cidedly favorable to the passage Of the bill at
this session. At the same time. he said. it was
not safe to count on ii as a certainty, because
there was SO much politics" mixed up with the
question. This. being interpreted. means that
u %,
though favorable to free silver. are rendered
tin,id by their apprehensions as to the effect of
silver discussion and legislation upon the well
fare of the regular party organizations, and es-
pecially as to its effect upon certain prominent
individuals and candidates of those parties at
the present juncture. The out-and-out silver
champions. like Messrs. Bland and Bartine.
Senator Stewart and Others, regard the question
OF free silver coinage as the question of
prime importance. and they are devoted to ii
with devotion which outranks all considera-
tions of mere party or personal fealty. But the
average politician considers his party first and
silver second.
THE HOUSE WILL PASS THE BILL.
Mr.. Bland said, however, that if the Senate
should pass the Stewart BILL be didn't believe
the House would refuse to pass it also. He
didn't see how it could afford to refuse when
SO large a number of constituencies back of the
members-numbering undoubtedly a majority
OF the entire body OF constituencies de-
handing legislation on the subject. He said
that ne had been told by Senators that the bill
was almost certain of being passed by the SEN
ate by majority of at least four or five. In
that case the excuse which had sheltered so
many members of the House in the former
contest-namely, that there no use in put
ting the bill through the House because it was
sure to be killed in the Senate-would. he said.
no longer be available. On the contrary. the
House would then find itself confronted with
the necessity of indorsing or repudiating free
coinage bill which had actually been passed by
the other branch; and it was hardly doubtful
how the House would decide to act in such an
emergency.
THE POLITICS IN THE CASE.
Conversation with other leading Congress
men this morning showed that Mr.. BANDS ref
erence to politics in connection with this
latest silver movement is obviously quite in ac-
cordance with the facts. 1t is evident that ore
of the objects in view on the part of many of
those who are stirring up the silver cauldron
anew is to damage the political prospects of
President Harrison and of ex-President Cleve-
land and to create embarrassment among the
friends of those statesmen and presidential
candidates The candid declaration of Senator
Morgan yesterday, to the effect that the de-
mocracy would have to throw Mr.. Cleveland
overheard on account of his views on silver. is
regarded as highly significant and important,
proceeding, as it did, from one of the most in
fiuential of those southern democrats who were
formerly among the stanchest friends of Mr..
Cleveland and energetic supporters of his adj
ministration.
WILL PROBABLY PASS BOTH HOUSES.
As to the prospects Of the silye: bill in the
Senate and House. it is the general opinion that
it will certainly command a majority in both
houses if it can be brought to a direct vote
What may be hereafter done to stave off vote
by filibustering and otherwise. remains to be
seem but it may be said with positiveness that
if the bill comes over to the House from the
Senate. as passed by the latter body. the au-
thorities controlling the rules and proceedings
of the House will not throw any further OBJ
stacles in the way of its consideration by the
lower branch of Congress. They will then con-
slider tina: the conditions have been changed
that the result in the Senate indicates that
silver is a live issue and that there is popular
demand for its present consideration. and that
it is the duty of the House to face the music.