Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-02-24
PRIVATE OPINIONS.
Publicly Expressed, of Some
Statesmen at Washington.
LETTER FROM HARRITY CRITICISED

Comment on the Same Governed by Where
They Stand the Silver Question
Views of the Cabinet Through the Same
Glasses-Reed Thinks He Knows why
He Got Left-Benton Hanchett, of Mich
igan, Appointed to Succeed Judge Jack
son-A Com pliment to Morton.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-The open discus
sions in congress yesterday were not half so
interesting as the private discussion of the
Harrity silver letter and the completed
cabinet of the next administration. The
two subjects were interviewer in conversa-
tion, and many of the views expressed were
exceedingly forcible. The Harrity letter is
one that Pennsylvania leader addressed to
each member of the national committee,
asking them to ascertain the probable atti
tude on the repeal of the Sherman law of
nintey members of the next house who
have not yet made a record on the question
Senator Harris, of Tennessee, said: Il for
one will never consent TO the repeal of the
Sherman law without the substitution of
something in its place that recognizes the
use of silver as money"
Herbert Had Lots of Courage.
Senator Pugh, of Alabama, made the fol-
lowing comment on the appointment of
Mr.. Herbert and Mr.. Cleveland's purpose
in making it: 81 am constrained to be-
lieve that the ruling motive for Mr.. Her
hert's appointment was the courage he dis
played in being the only member from AL
ALBANIA who voted against 95 per cent. of
his constituents on the free coinage of sill
yer. Mr.. Herbert is the only Democrat of
prominence in Alabama who agrees with
the enemies of free coinage. There is not
man in Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet from the
south or west who represents his state or
the Democratic party on the silver ques-
ton
Pefer's Opinion of the Cabinet.
Senator PETER said: There are three
members of the cabinet given to New Eng
land and New York, ali men of the eastern
type; three men from the south who are
Democrats before they are anything else.
and only two whom we can call western by
reason of location, and only one of these
who is independent of party influence
refer to Judge Gresham. Summing up the
whole cabinet, l regard it as constructed
specially to perpetuate existing conditions
against which the Populists propose to
wage war TO the end"
Divided by a Silver Line.
Over on the house side. the silver and an
ti-silver men took Numerically opposite
views OF the Harrity letter Representa-
tive Bland said; 1T is an unprecedented
proceeding and every member of the house
who has the least spark of manhood or.
self-respect will simply tell the members
of that committee that it is none of their
business
Representative Andrews, of MasSachu-
setts said; The Democratic party is pledged
to repeal the Sherman law and it is simply
desire to know how members stand. I
do not regard it as coercion. but as an at
tempt to Get needed legislation"
Free Coinage Test of Democracy.
Representative Hatch said: Il am a
Democrat without one single variation
from the Democratic platform. and have
always regarded the free coinage of silver
as a cardinal Democratic principle. | be-
lieve in making free coinage party test
just as we fought Randall! and his friends
on tariff reform"
Representative Outhwaite said: Il think
it an eminently proper thing for the ma
tional committee to endeavor to find out
how members stand. 1t shows that the
Democratic organization is attempting to
keep its pledges to the people"