The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-27
General Belief That It Will
Wait Till Next Session.
GAG RULE EXPECTED TUESDAY
Many Republicans in Favor of Fore
ing a Vote OH the Main Issue.
But Only Nine Republicans Arc For
Free Silver - The Tide Running
Strongly Against Unlimited Coinage
"A Victory for Cieveland's Friends.

WASHINGTON CRY, March 26-rSpecial.
The anti-free silver men seem to be hour
ly gaining strength in the great silver fight
that is still on in the House. The setback
that was given the silver men in the con-
test which ended early Friday morning
has had the effect of solstering up the op-
position to the Bland measure, and it IS
believed that several members who voted
with the Bland contingent at that time
will swing to the other side when the next
decisive vote Is taken.
1t is not so certain now that Bland is
heart-broken over the turn that affairs
have recently taken. Representative Hen
derson said today that he had received in
formation from the Bland side of the
House which indicated that Bland was
not half so anxious for the success of his
measure at this session as has generally
been supposed. All the indications
pointed to the fact that Bland had
not made the fight on his measure
that he was capable of doing. He be-
lieyed that the Missouri silverite could
have handled his forces very much more
cleverly than he had if he had honestly
desired his bill to pass at this session.
Colonel Henderson attributes much of the
sentiment on the Democratic side of the
chamber to the Cleveland influence, and
in some cases he can point directly where
this influence had some effect upon the
vote of certain members. He SAYS that n.
M. Ham, who was formerly a Democratic
national committeeman from Iowa and a
Cleveland postmaster at Dubuque, arrived
in ashington City a few days ago and
had numerous secret conferences with GER
tain Democratic members from Iowa. As
a result of HAMS work, Henderson be-
lieved that three Democratic votes from
that state had changed to the opposition.
He knew of other instances where the
Cleveland influence had had like effect
While Colonel Henderson is not confident
that the Bland measure is dead for this
session, he is of the opinion that it will
not be passed at any rate before next fall.
Representative Lind of Minnesota said
today that he was of the opinion that the
Bland measure was dead for this session,
but there was still likelihood of it's be-
ing passed by very close vote. He said
that while he believed the financial legs-
lation passed by the last congress was the
best that could be hoped for at present,
and had done the country vast amount
of good, he for one would not aid the DEM
ocrats in filibustering to prevent square
vote on the silver bill, lie said there was
still a chance for the silver measure to
pull through, because many members
from the South knew that their return to
congress depended upon the passage of
free coinage bill at this session. Under
he oir IN fhar, - Jo-
vote against it when there was a chance
for fair and square division on the
question.
Speaker Crisp said this afternoon that
he did not think rule relative to the
silver bill could be brought into the House
and called up on Monday, but that it
would probably come up on Tuesday. The
anti-silver men are making strong fight
to defeat the rule, and are hopeful of Sue
cess, but from present indications the
chances are against them. They have the
support of some Democrats who would not
vote directly against the free coinage bill,
but on the other hand, there are con-
siderable number of Republicans who will
probably vote for the rule, or not at all,
which would have the same effect, in
order to force a square test vote on the
question of free coinage. These men will
vote against the free coinage bill when it
comes up on its merits, but are against
side-tracking the bill.
Reed, Dingley and others are in favor of
voting against the silver bill in all its par
liamentary stages from now on. Burrows,
Henderson of Iowa, Hopkins of Illinois
and other Western Republicans, with
some Eastern men, will not agree to this
programme. When the question comes
up on the passage of the Bland bill, how
ever. there is no doubt as to how the Re-
publicans will stand, and there will be an
alliance between the anti-silver Democrats
and all except nine Republicans. Funston
of Kansas and Lawlor OF Ohio, who have
heretofore voted with the free coinage
men. will vote against the bill on its
merits.
The anti-silver Democrats assert that
they can win the fight on its merits. but
by narrow majority. The free coinage
men have abated to a remarkable degree
their confidence in their ability to pass
the free coinage measure through the
House, and are endeayoring to have all
their men present when the vote is taken.
A number of free coinage men are doubt
full as TO the result and expect defeat by
from one to five votes. Warner. of New
York, expressed today belief that the
bill could not pass the House 1t was
dying, but dying very hard, " he added.
The Immigration Restriction Bill.
WASHINGTON CITY, March 26.-The Sem
ate and House joint committee heard to-
day delegations from labor organizations
in favor of the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Stone, of Pennsylvania, to re-
strict immigration. Stone first addressed