The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-25
SPEAKER CRISP VOTED NO,
Bland Tries to Pass the Measure, But
Is Baffied by the Filibusters.
He Finally Moves to Adjourn, and Will
Wait TIL a Special Gag Rule ia
Passed-Bitter Feeling Between the
Two Wings of the Democracy.


motion for the previous question until 5
O'Clock, to give an opportunity for greater
debate.
Williams of Illinois opened the debate in
favor of the bill. He is Democrat and
member of the coinage committee.
William selected applause when he exclaimed:
"The unit OF value is feature OF the law, and
the power of declaring what shall constitute the
unit OF value in the United states is vested in
congress alone" die criticised the adininistra-
tion for working against the bill, and predicted
that II the measure passed the House the ad-
minist-ation would exert all its mighty infiu-
ence to force gold to a premium and create
trepidation to prevent ike action by the Senate.
In a sharp passage-at-arms which now
ensued between Wike of Illinois and Will
liams. the latter maintained that the sill
yer coin of Europe was already at par
with gold. and that the United States is
capable of taking care of the bullion yet
uncoined.
Cochran of New York, the well-known
Tammany leader, opened for the oppo-
sition 10 the bill. which he vigorously at
tackled.
He eomplimented Chairman BANDS report
and declared that he had no patience with Mr.
Ha-tsr who had said: ~ credit him fBland)
with gross ignorance as the only excuse for his
attitude. Nbiie ulsputing the conclusions OF
Bland, he desired also TO dispute the statement
of Harter II there had been ignorance shown
on the floor, it had not been by the gentleman
from Missouri.
The thrust at Harter was greeted by ap-
plause, and Cochran continued his speech
at length
Cochran was followed by Cummings,
who said that his constituents were op-
posed to the bill, and he would therefore
vote against the bill.u
Dingley of Maine also spoke in opposi-
ton to the bill, saying:
lts effects would be to give the silver mine
owners OF this nation s2l,o0o,0 900 annually more
than they are now receiving for their product.
In addition to this our mints would be flooded
by silver imported from abroad.
Hatch of Missouri made a strong party
speech in favor of the bill. announcing
that he was in favor of making the bill
matter of party fealty. He told Williams
of Massachusetts that he did not know the
first principles of Democracy, and when
Williams asked if he was reading him out
of the'party, Hatch retorted:
Williams said the time was coming when the
Democratic party would have to choose between
the Democrats of New York and the Alliance OF
the South. He (Hatch) was willing to make a
choice If necessary, and would swap the bare
luoteu STATESMAN from Kansas kslmpSOQl Tor the
gentleman from Massachusetts,, and il another
swap were wanted he would take in the erring
young Democrat from Georgia NWatson) and
throw over another Massachusetts, mugwump.
The speach created almost a sensation
Lloyd of California said the first and most
potent reason why he should vote against
the bill was that in the platform of the
Republican party there was ingrafted a
plank against the free coinage of silver.
Further, in the laws of his state, in the
obligations of nearly every country, and in
all notes and contracts, there were pro-
visions making them payable in gold. To
assume that the people of California were
in favor OF free coinage of silver would be
to assert that they were living lie. He
remembered when, as a mechanic, he had
to take his 500 month in silver and ex-
change it at loss of So before paying his
butcher sud baker.
Bartine of Nevada, leader of the Repub-
Ecan free coinage men, ma le an able and
comprehensive speech, reviewing the fiscal
policy of this country and Europe on the
silver question during the past century,
and combating arguments against free
silver. The ruling classes in Eastern cities,
whose wealth had been piled mountain
high by special legislation. were swelling
into heat of Indignation at the thought
that the silver miners would realize an en-
hanced price through free coinage. The
only men in Nevada ever called by the
name of money-kings were engaged in pro-
ducing more gold than silver. 1t was
these infamous miners who had fur
nished the country over S4J0,000,000
in coin with which to pay the
national debt and the balance of trade
The farmers have more at stake in thi,
question than the silver miners The
great bulk of the wheat sold in the Euro
pean market is sSSi in competition with
silver-using countries and upon q silver
basis. 1t is perfectly plain that the In
dian producer has an advantage over the
American producer IN the English market.
Both sell at the same price. The indian
takes his silver home where it is as good
and effective money as it ever was. The
American can obtain the same amount of
silver, but if he brings 1t 10 America he
sustains loss OF 30 per cent in converting
it into our standard coin. He did not
pretend to believe that everything
abnormal in the social and industrial con-
ditions of today has resulted from silver de-
monetization. Never did he claim that
its reconciliation would convert the
American continent into aterrestrial para
disc and fill the land with Utopian bliss,
but he did believe its general result would
be in the line Of beneicence; that it would
encourage enterprise and lead TO a more
even distribution of wealth.
Hatch of Missouri believed this question
was national one, and therefore a party
one. 1t was utterly impossible for the
Democratic party to ignore its past history
and pledges to the people on this subject.
The gentleman from Massachusetts, (Will,
iams) had attempted to read him out Of
the Democratic party, and had egotisti-
cally declared that only those who agreed
with him (Wi!lians) were Democrats
Then the House was much amused by
little tilt between Hatch and Williams
The latter having asked if Hatch could re-
fer him TO Democratic platform that ever
declared for the free coinage of silver,
Hatch replied: when you want a Dems-
cratic platform yon will get it from Demo-
Gratis, and not from men whose swaddling
clothes have not been off for a week or
month or year" Great laughter
E. B. Taylor of Ohio, in the course Of
speech, expressed surprise that Hatch bad
declared the repeal of 1873 was the great
est infamy OF the century, and that it was