Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-09
A SILVER CAUCUS.
It Is Not Largely Attended by Mem
bers of the House.
THE SITUATION 4 CURIOUS ONE
JeaIousies of the Leadership Rife
in One Camp.
NO LEADER IN THE OTHER

The silver men OF the House met in eau
Gus at the Capitol today to discuss the
proposition for an agreement to go ahead
with the consideration Of the silver Ques-
ton in the House at once Whether or not
the plans they decide on can be carried out,
there Is little doubt that the matter will
come up In the House tomorrow, or the
next day, without reference to any commit
tee and without rules. The situation is a
very curious one. and 1t would be anus
ing II 1t were not SO serious. There is a lot
OF hddiing around to no purpose by men on
both sides Of the question. Amongst the
leading gold men there has arisen a ieal-
ousy and rivalry for leadership which is
liable to interfere very seriously with any
consistent and united plan OF action. There
IS very strong suspicion that some of the
leaders among the gold men are SO much
interested in their own personal welfare as
TO committee assignments and prominence
In leadership that they and their friends are
In a measure losing sight Of the thing they
are supposed to have come here for. The
fact that Bourke Cochran first proposed
the plan for an immediate consideration Of
the matter Congress Is called together to
dispose of. appears to have suddenly alarm
ed some OF his colleagues lest he should
thus acquire leadership which they feel
should go to some one else. and this rivalry
seems TO be more important matter to
them than anything else just at present.
Somewhat Onnecessnry Efforts.
AT the same time the efforts being made
by Mr.. Cochran and some Of the silver
men to come to an agreement seem to
be In measure unnecessary. The situa-
ton seems to be confused thus by jealous
les IN one camp over the leadership and an
absence Of leadership and an imperfect un-
derstandtng Of the situation In the other
camp. While the silver men are trying to
come to an agreement with their oppo-
nents. permitting them to get votes on GER
tain propositions. there Is nothing now to
interfere with their going right ahead with
out consent or agreement. AS far as they
are concerned an agreement Is absolutely
unnecessary as TO the details of procedure.
and while 1t Is better that there should be
some understanding as to whether or not
the subject is to be taken up at once yet
any member can without such understand
ing bring the question before the House.
ana any number and any sort of amend
ments can be offered and voted on by the
troduce in the House and get immediate
consideration for bill repeating the Sher-
of as alssr ISM sad an TSS!naSe s
would then at once become subject TO all
sorts OF amendments. and without any
on any proposition they want.
Danger Of q FYlibuster.
Apparently the only danger Of q hlibuster
comes from the silver men. and they would
not be apt to hlibuster against their own
measure. On the other hand, what the
gold men claim to want Is an immediate
vote on the question. which they could get
by Offering substitute for the measure
presented by the silver men: The fact is
that what Mr.. Cochran and MI Bland are
trying to reach an agreement on can be
done Just as well without any agreement
at all. What ME- Bland Is asking for, that
is. vote on a number Of silver PROPOSE
tions II what they most want cannot be
had, IS Just what no one can prevent his
enc. he merely puts in his bill and starts
the fight
MIR. Bland's Explanation.
Before the caucus net Representative
Bland said the purpose for which 1t had
been called was to organize the silver
forces. appoint committees AMI prepare
generally for the struggle before them
To the suggestion that some silver rnen
would not attend the caucus for the reason
separate themselves from their respective
parties Mr.. Bland responded that il was
not expected that much aid OF comfort was
to De derived from those vino had not The
courage Of their convictions. There will
be many scalp taken by :ile people before
this fight Is over" continued the apostle Of
silver.
There are men here representing free
silver constituencies who are panic-stricken
and are ready to yield to the clamor against
silver. The people are not so affected; they
Will look upon the matter dispassionateiy
when 1t Is ended and ask their Represent
atives what allied them. The people do not
consider the attack upon the Sherman law
as sincere. nor Is 1t to them the question
Of first importance. They look upon 1t as a
hght between gold men and bimetaliists. and
while they would not be willing to see the
present laws relating to coinage uncondi-
tionally repealed, what they want first Of
all Is free coinage of silver. That Is the
main question"
4 Slim Attendance.
The hall of the House was closed shortly
before II O'Clock and the friends of free sill
yer began theircaucus. The attendance was
small. and up to half-past twelve not more
than fifty members made their appearance.
The doorkeepers were instructed to notify
each member who applied for admission
that the meeting was confined to free coin
age members.
There was some unfavorable comment at
this peculiar instruction. and 1t was argued
that the result would be to keep out Of the
caucus many members who are in doubt
ful state of mind are not prepared to
take an extreme position.
However that may be, 1t was a noticeable
fact that the attempt to draw from both
parties failed signally, for but one republi-
can.-Mr. Bowers of California-ioined In the
deliberations of the silver men. Mr. Gull
berson Of Texas acted as chairman of the
caucus. which is the first Of it's kind that
has been held In the House for several
years.