Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-14
TO FORCE A VOTE ON SILVER
Repeal Senators to Adopt
Severe Measures.
A MOTION FOR NIGHT SESSIONS
To Be Made and Carried
Early Next Week.



WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.--An import
ant conference of Democratic Senators
was held this afternoon. There were
present Senators German, Voorhees,,
Faulkner, Gray and several of the other
leaders of the Senate and friends of the
Administration measure. The results
of that meeting will probably manifest
themselves in the Senate tomorrow.
The main point to which the Senators
arc said to have addressed themselves
was the possibility of bringing the silver
question to vote. A canvass was made
of the names of those who intended
speaking on the subject, and this dis
closed the fact that the limit of legiti-
mate debate would not be exhausted
until this week had ended, and possibly
not until one or two days of the next
had been consumed.
1t was agreed that after that speech
making would be equivalent to fllIbus-
tering, and that every speech made
would be for the certain purpose of
consuming time and postponing the day
for final action. How TO prevent this Is
the question Senators DESTROYS of secur-
ing vote are seeking to answer.
Cloture is impossible, for, as one Of the
members of this conference said, cloture
had no more chance Of passing the
Senate than would measure for the
reputation oil the national debt. The
mere attempt, it was argued, would be
hailed with delight by those opposing
repeal because it would give them an
opportunity to talk upon something else
and thereby consume more time.
The vote will be reached, if reached
at all, by the test Of physical endurance,
and with that end in view the test will
be made as soon as possible. Early next
week a motion will be made-unless it
is made sooner to take effect on a day
certain-providing for night sessions,
and these sessions will be made con-
tinuous, so that quorum of the Senate
will be required every hour of the "a.
In this way, coupled with the powerful
| influence of the business interests of the
country now demanding repeal, the
| repeaters think they can force the silver
men to come to terms and consent TO
the taking of the vote. IL looks very
much as if this programme would be
inaugurated next week.
THE ELECTION BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The probable action of the House in
taking up the bill for the repeal Of
Federal election laws came in for its
share Of this discussion, and various
opinions as to the effect of such action
by the House were expressed. A divi
sion of sentiment as to this policy was
manifested. Some Of the committed
thought it extremely unwise to plunge
the House into bitter partisan discus
sion just at this time when the Republic
cans of the Senate were working witt
the Democrats for the repeal of the law
for which purpose the President alone
had called the Congress together. Others
met this line of argument with the state
ment that Senators were not to be de
tered from doing what they conceived
TO be their duty in this matter by any
agitation that might arise in thu
: other body. Still 1t was suggested
by some that final action might q
least be postponed, even if no furthe
harm came from it, and nothing woult
be lost by the Democrats from refrain
ing in this matter until after the repea
of the Sherman act had become an &C
complished fact. On the other hant
, there were Senators who urged that
was imperative for the good Of the part,
that this bill should be taken up nov
and disposed of. 1t was pointed on
I that the campaign in Virginia had begul
/ and Congress had been In session nov
V for six weeks without single pledg
& made to the people having been re
0 deemed. 1t was important somethin
D should be done that would have quiet
I ing effect in Virginia, and 1t was sal
! that this pledge was one upon whic
. the party was united, and there was n
reason why the bill should not
d passed speedily without an acrimoniou
q debate.
b The general opinion is that nothin
will be put in the way of the Houi
b doing as it thinks best in acting upo
], the bill which will be reported Thursda,