New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-04
THE FIGHT AGAINST SILVER.
FRIENDS OF THE ANDREW BILL EN-
COIRAGED.
DEMOCRATS DISCOVER THAT THEY ALWAYS
FAVORED CLOsURE"-AN IMPORTANT CON
FERENCE To- Re HELD-FEEE-COIN-
AGE DEMOCRATS wAvERING.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l

ACE DEMOCRATS WATERING.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE 1RIBuSE.l
Washington, Feb. 3.-Probably the most wonderful
end startling political discovery Of recent days is in the
simultaneously and recently made by Democratic
Representatives In the Lid Congress. 1t appears
that they have always been strongly in favor OF
"closure" In is parliamentary bu wholly
Unconscious Of the fact until few DAYS ago SO
petely unconscious OF 1t we're they that In Tie last
Congress they denounced the most abhorrent Of all
tyranny that which framed rules which enabled the
majority OF the House TO do business and CLOTHED the
Speaker with authority to enforce those rules At The
beginning Of this Congress they were In the same state
OF Inconsistencies In regard 10 their opinions
this subject, and they voted man 70 eliminate
from the code OF rules every provision designed TO pro-
tect the majority In its right 70 bring questions TO
vote after fair opportunity for debate ana amendment.
To-day II Is difficult TO find Democrat who fGvOrs
the repeal of the Silver Purchase act the passage Of
The Bankruptcy bill or Anticipation BILL who has not
been all the time "tyrant' In favor OF "clOsure'
without knowing 1t and WHO will not privately admit
the fact This IS indeed, remarkable discovery. and
OF Its consequences prove to be not less re-
Variable.
According 70 statement made 10 a Tribune cor
respondent to-day BY an active Democratic advocate
OF the Andrew bill. "not less than ninety 10 100
Democrats the House win vote for closure In order
TO bring that measure TO final vote next Friday
II this be true 1t discloses remarkable state OF az
fairs; these Dave not become converts 10 doc
trine which they had always Scoed at and denounced.
for they believed In II all the time; only they had
failed 10 discover It. or course having done so.
they will continue boldly and constantly 10 uphold II.
and the passage not only OF the Andrew bill and Anti
Opion BILL but OF all other measures which com
mspd Q majority OF the House Is assured. The dif-
ference between the Democrats and Republicans Is
that the latter not only believed in the right and duty
Of the majority control legislation. but knew that
they SO believed.
OF course, IL so many as 100 Democratic Repre-
sentativee vote for closure on the Andrew bill next
Thursday. will pass the eouse. because nearly every
Republican will DO the same thing. All the New
York Democratic members are fully committed TO
this line OF action by the decision Of last nights
coDference-at which, unfortunately. Mr.. Clevcland's
chief spokesman. Messrs. Cochran and Tracey, were
unable to be present. Democrats from other States,
Including Messrs Andrew and Hour, of Massachusetts,;
Lapam, of Rhode Island Herbert Of Alabama: liarter.
OF Ohio, and Cable Of Illinois, and others who have
Just discovered that they have always favored paa'
mentary closure. extremely busy trying to ascer-
tain how many other Democrats have received u
like revelation. Mr.. Gable said to-day that four OF
the five Democratic Representatives whom he had
BOUNDED to-day, agreed With him. and, he added. 1t
Is fair say that they men who thought might
be With us There Is no doubt that we can repeal
the Sherman law in the House If we can get
vote on the question:
Mr. Harter also expressed the same opinion. He
said that he thought some OF the Western members
who have hitherto opposed repeal ARE coming TO
their senses lie added: IL saw Mr.. Cleveland
recently. and In the course Of our conversation
remarked that had not hesitated in discussing the
subject to express my belief that Democratic Repre-.
sentatves who expect favors from the incoming Al
minstratim would be likely to receive them II
they should vote to repeal the existing Silver law
At this session.
awhat did Mr.. Cleveland say TO thatls asked The
Tribune correspondent
"Oh. he didn't make any reply; he laughed and
began to talk about something else"
phep arc Democratic Congressman who resent what
they regard rs the unwarnntcd interference Of Mr.
Cleveland IN sGfairs OF u Congress with which he
has no oihcal relations, end there are others who
will nnt believe that the statements made by some of
his alleged representatives warranted by him.
10 the former group belongs Mr.. Fierce, of Ten
nessee who says: In the XLIXth Congress NJ.
Cleveland. then President made an earnest effort
10 have the Blnnd law suspended. He was unsuccess.
ful. The House refused 10 agree 10 the suspension
by q vote which etOod "a yeas to 200 nays and 80
not voting This year Mr. Cleveland, the prospective
PRESIDENT is seeking to repeal the Silver Purchase law
He Is bringing all the power Of the public patronage
to bear to achieve his purpose at the dictaticn OF
Wall Street. but he Will be as unsuccessful now as he
was then l am frank enough 10 say that We Shall
never let the Bacon bill come 10 vote unless we are
bound hand and font by the closure, and do not
believe the Democratic House Is going to st'iiy itself
IN the last days Of the session by agreeing TO the
tyrnnnical methods which we denounced In the Con-
gress over which Mr. Reed presided One man can
10 up this House. and, If necessary. Will be that
man: but am glad to say that in this fight there
will be more than enough enthusiastic and determined
men to defeat any attempt which may be made TO
demoEeuzc silver"
There is no doubt, however, that Mr.. Cleveland's
keen anxiety has made deep impression upon some
Democratic Representatives. who are opposed u MS
views on the silver question. that some OF them have
elunn fllalp
considerations not very remote from the Distribution
of. ofacai patronage have not been without weight In
producing tins change. One Western Democrat To-Day
said: Al have always favored free and imlimitod
oonsge but that do not want to be kept
out In the cold during the next Administration and
l reckon l shall vote TO repeal the Sherman law,
whether We restore TIE Bland law or not. No,
cannot say that ! will vote for closure; that VIII
depend on how / feel when the time comes
That an effort is in progress to divide the opposition
10 the RENAL OF the silver Purchase law by making
oyertures for compromise there Is no reason 10
doubt In conversation with a Tribune correspondent
this afternoon. Of The most active supporters OF the
repra, aid: "Histtert are In train looking comAna
ton Of aasver Democrats and the more conservative
In s s Ss Sn nsre the
passage OF some kind OF measure. ] have reason 10
e:ay nss i' Week %a That IN
amcng the mon IN attendance Mil be william D1
W gsn Dn as Rss'
In the mean time the moderate silver Democrats
e. s.s: 81 r SS1 ssef Be- '.a ri
stand that there has already been considerable Informal
dsssuSaon and TINT some OF the silver men are DIS
posed TO insist that the repeal Of the sherman act sa
be coupled with provisions for the coinage OF oil tic
silver bullion purchased under that act and the coinage
OF 81 900 900 month Of silver thereafter do not
nyrN regard that proposition as odmissiols, ana
should compelled to oppose but II possible tha
the moderate silver men can be persuaded to onsr
terms which we coua accept In consideration OF me-,
the last two days that the moderate silver men VIII
refutc TO engage In protractsd fhbUscrng 10 prevent
The passage OF any Silver LEGISLATION whatever, ana
therefore feel more hopeful than ever that the HOUSE
VII pass some hind Of bill next week.
TIE INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS BILL.