Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-19
BLAND AND HARTER
Ohio and Missouri Lock Horns
on Silver.
LIVELY DIVERSION IN THE HOUSE

The Incident Serves to Break the Mo-
notony of Indian Appropriation Talk
Witty Sally of Buchanan of New Jersey
A Few Views the Prospects of
BANDS Bill - Representative Smith
and Miss Grace Howard DO Not Agree
as to the Indian-Bond Extension.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The proceedings
in the house yesterday were enlivened by
a spirited but good humored debate be-
tween Harter of Ohio and Bland, both
Democrats, on the silver question, The
incident began right in the middle of the
consideration of the Indian appropriation
bill, and was started by Bland sending to
the clerks desk circular sent out by
Harter Of Chic to the Grand Army posts
in denunciation of the free coinage bill,
and advising the members of the posts to
urge their congressman to vote against it,
as it would prove detrimental to the in
terests of the pensioners. Bland char
acterized the circular as a bulldozing
document. 1t was an effort to intimidate
the members, and was part of the bull
doing tactics Of the millionaires The
majority of the house were in favor of the
silver bill, and that measure would be
passed in spite of all opposition. No such
action as this circular, no methods adopt
ed by the opponents of free silver would
prevent the passage of free coinage bill.
Good Democrat and Able Farmer.
Harter replied that his action was pre-
meditated, and he was responsible for it,
He was too good a Democrat not to warn
his party against this folly of passing a
free coinage bill He was not part owner
in a national bank. He was more of
farmer than almost any man in the house.
He was as good a Democrat as any man
here, but was opposed to class legislation
whether II came under the head Of pro-
tective tariff, or whether it was a silver
coinage bill He was in favor of free trade
in every article which he produced as a
farmer. He was opposed to giving to the
producer of silver bullion the earnings and
savings of the people by legislation, and
he was equally opposed 10 giving it to the
manufacturer. He favored an abundance
of money of the right kind. but the money
Bland proposed would not furnish one dol
lar more money for the circulation Of the
country.
Free silver Currency Contractor.
II would promptly, visibly, radically.
and dangerously contract the currency of
passed it would be equivalent to electing
Benjamin Harrison. This would be done
by the action of the Democratic house I'M
der BANDS leadership on the silver Ques-
ton. OF course the Republicans wanted
the Democrats to pass free coinage bill.
Why should not theye 1t would elect
their president. He believed in consistency.
but free coinage bill was not consistent.
The circular he issued was to inform the
pensioners of the danger of this silver bill.
If it were passed the pensioner would lose
80 cents on every dollar he received for his
pension. He would rather pay off the
members Of congress in money worth 20
cents on the dollar. Turning to Simpson
Farmers Alliance) of Kansas, he said that
the corn of Kans as should be made legal
tender, and not the silver of Colorado
Had Fun Over His Record.
Bland then sent to the clerks desk the
congressional directory and had Harter's
biography read, amidst great laughter.
He was mentioned as a member of the
Golden club of London, the Reform club
of New York. the Young Mems Demo-
cratic club of Cincinnati, and other or
CARNATIONS Bland denied that he was
not Democrat. He had never voted any
other ticket in his life. "The gentleman
from Ohio [Harterl still holds with John
Sherman on the silver question" said
Bland.
holds with me- Great laughter
Proposal to Swap Watches.
Harter then said: There is no differ
ence between the gold and silver dollar.
have no gold except this'-pulling out his
gold watch and shaking it at Bland, who
whipped out a large silver watch, and
offered to exchange with him. Loud
laughter and applause all over the house
Buchanan OF New Jersey inquired when
the gentleman got their watches "out"
CONTINUED laughter He favored free
dom for every man, woman and child in
the country. Let them say whether they
wanted to take this silver money or wheth-
er they would let it alone. This closed the
diversion and the house returned to its
mutton, the Indian appropriation.
What Some of the Statesmen Think.
Gable says that a free silver bill cannot
be passed at this time. Bynum says he is
in favor of the free coinage of silver; that
his people are in favor of it, but that they
do not think the tariff question should be
clouded by the discussion of silver at this
time. Senator Carlisle said yesterday that
free silver would in his opinion
be beaten in both house and
senate if Senator Hill, of New York. did
not throw his influence on the side OF free
silver in order to win the support of the
south and west in the national convention.
The opponents Of free silver are well
satisfied with the outlook.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE INDIAN. |
A Congressman and Fair Teacher Who
DO Not Harmonize.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-While the house |
was debating the Indian appropriation
yesterday Smith of Arizona got the floor
and talked about Mr.. Lo in a manner that |
showed that he had no love for him. In |
the course of his speech he said, he had |
personal knowledge of the Indian. He !
knew his habits and spoke within bounds |
when he stated that the worst Indian was |
the educated one. He would favor dis !
arming the Indians. They should earn |
their bread. Congress had no right to