Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-10-12
The Silver Fight in the Senate.


sion for the consideration of the bill re-
pealing the silver-purchasing clause of
the Sherman law and continued it
through last night. 1t took the Senate
lust one hour aud eight minutes to
make the plunge, that time being con-
sumed in statements from Mr.. Voor-
bees. representing the administration
democrats Mr.. Dubois, representing
the silver republicans; Mr.. Harris and
Mr.. Butler, representing the silver
democrats, and Mr.. Dolph, who is one
of the republicans who favor uncondi-
tional repeal but who are not willing
to attend the continuous session after a
failure to command quorum.
The scene when the Senate embark
ed upon this long and desperate strug-
gle was fully as dramatic as betitted
the occasion.
Mr.. Allen, the Nebraska populist,
had taken the floor from the wearied
Mr.. Cockrell at $50 o'clock, and was
monotonously chanting an argument
as long as Chinese play, and as dull
as Upper essay. Councils of war Oh
the eve of the battle were gong on in
every part of the chamber. Mr.. Har-
ris, of Tennessee, the parliamentarian
of the silver democrats, was consulting
with Teller of Colorado. Voorhees,,
German and Mcpherson made group
Of administration democrats, with their
heads close together. Populist PETER
wandered dreamily about the chamber
whispering to himself through his
whiskers. So loud was the iuces-
SAINT murmur of conversation that the
unlucky Mr.. Allen was repeatedly
obliged to appeal for order. As six
O'Clock approached, the galleries rapid
ly filled with spectators, who gazed
upon the arena below nnder dull
glow of gaslight from the illuminated
ceiling.
Mr.. Allen, who had evidently been
waiting for an interruption from Mr..
Dubois, yielded the floor to the latter,
Mr.. Dubois. looking over at Mr.. Noor-
hees instead of moving to adjourn him
self, to ask Mr. Voorhees, whether he
did not propose to move TO adjourn as
usual,
i feel it my highest duty,n said Mr..
VOORHEES,, mot to make that motion
this evening, but, on the contrary, to
ask the Senate to sit in continuous ses-
sion until the pending measure is dis
posed Of"
Dubois said he understood that this
meant continuous session until vote
is reached on the pending bill or until
it is demonstrated that vote cannot
be reached After characterizing the
movement as an attempt to rush legis-
lation through by inhuman efforts and
brute force, he denied that the silverites
had wasted time in the debate, and said
50 Senators on each side had spoken on
the question, and added that 80 'anti-
silver Senators" had never answered to
a roll call when it was done to ascer-
tain if quorum was present. The
friends Of the pending bill had consum-
ed about one-third Of the time of the
Senate in discussing the measure.
The debate had many interesting
features. Among other things, it show
ed the staying quality of Mr.. Cockrell
Dem of Missouri, as speech maker.
Mr., Cockrell in his address made a
sarcastic reference to President Cleve-
land.
Mr.. Smith (dem.), of New Jersey,
made an able speech in favor of the re-
peal bill.
As a senatorial debutant Mr.. Smith
was decided success. His speech in
support of the bill was able, sarcastic,
sententions, and it was delivered in
clear, strong tones.
Mr.. Irby (dem.), of South Carolina,
argued against the bill, and declared
that he and his people would part COM
pany with the democratic party if it
persisted in its anti-silver policy.
Silver Senators, including Messrs.
Harris and Butler, declared their in
tention of continuing the session as
long as the advocates Of repeal would.
Mr.. Voorhees, announced that he
would prefer defeat to compromise on
the bill, and asked Mr.. Dubois, who
defended the action of the friends of
silver in the Senate, to name a day for
vote, which Mr. Dubois failed TO d..
Late in the evening Mr.. Dubois, IN
the part Of the silver Senators, thew
off the mask when Mr.. VOORHEES, an
nounced continued session, ard said
the silver men would hold out to the
last. Mr.. VOORHEES, explained his posi-
ton and that of the friends of repeal,
and the battle to the death began. He
declared impressively that he stood in
the Senate fighting for great princi-
pie, and he would be carried from his
desk feet foremost and taken to his last
resting place before he would sur
render. Before concluding Senator
Voorhees, set at rest all idea that he
would use any irregular method of
reaching vote by declaring he would
as soon think of high treason or open
murder as of going outside the rules of
the Senate which he had sworn TO up
hold. He did not dispair of success.
The spirit of the government was on
his side, and the spirit of all civil liber-
ty was with him.
At midnight Mr.. Allen still had the
floor. He relieved himself from time
to time by having the clerk read ex-
tracts from various economic writers.
There were few Senators on the floor,
but the galleries remained crowded.
While he was still speaking Mr. Dubois
made the point of no quorum, and a call
of the Senate was ordered. Sixty-two
Senators answered to their names Mr..
Allen proceeded, and at , o'clock this
morning another call was ordered.
Fifty-fve Senators were dragged out of
the cloak rooms and elsewhere to an
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