Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-08-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
What is Thought of the Message
Leaders on Both Sides-old and
New Faces in the House.

,
President Cleveland has spoken in no
uncertain sound on the financial ques-
ton. He is commended on all sides here
in the East for his vigorous utterances.
Republicans and Democrats vie with
each other in expressing praise at the
position taken. The endorsement of his
message proves, as he said, that the f.
nancial question is not party question.
But the West, as whole, does not by
any means, if We are to judge from the
sentiments of the press, endorse the mes
sage. The East and the West have drift
ed good way apart on this great ques-
tion, and no man can tell what the re-
suit will be. Bourke Cochran has as
sumed the leadership of the anti silver
forces, and is endeavoring to push the
repeal of the Sherman act to a debate
and vote just as soon as possible. His
conferences with Mr.. Bland, the silver
leader, have resulted in nothing practical
as vet. By debate in the Committee of
the Whole, at once, time would seem to
be gained now, but whether in the end
there would be any gain is questionable;
there certainly would not be unless a
fixed agreement limiting the time of de-
bate could be reached. The silver eau
Gus did not seem to be willing to accede
to Mr.. COchran's proposition just at
present, so it holds fire. The agreement
of the silver men in caucus to vote fOl
the repeal of the Sherman act, with the
condition that free coinage act should
pass for the coinage of silver at ratio
higher than now used at the miRts, is
bold and wise action for their side of the
question. If they could agree on ratio
of about 20 to l, they could hold many of
the conservative silver men who were
abont ready to change their position, and
vote for the unconditional repeal of the
act. By urging the ratio of 2Oto l, they
could argue for the coir age of silver
dollar, so much nearer the value of gold
dollar, that they would knock out the
strongest arguments urged by their op-
pOnents.
Senators Hill and Stewart have entered
the lists early with theil remedies for the
great trouble David B. Hill wants the
purchase clause repealed, but he throws
sop to the silver men in the hope that
he may attract some support. There
is no doubt the silver men would go
to Hills support before they would
accept clear cut repeal as advocated by
the President. But Senator Hill has not
bid high enough for the silver men, and it
will be many days before they flock to
his standard, to say the least Stewards
bill, of course, desires free coinage, and
the old gentleman doesn't seem inclined
to listen to anything in the line of CON-
promise. Of all members of Congress,
Stewart holds probably the most radical
position, as he has long made free coin
age his hobby.
The opening session of the House was
quite impressive, and the 336 members,
within twenty of the total membership
present, showed their great interest in
the present session. AS one looked over
the House there were many faces recog
nized, that have played important parts
in our history for many years back. The
well-remembered face of old Gen. Sickles,
who at the opening session of Congress
in 1857, first took the oath of office as
member of the House of Representatives,
at 30 years of age, attracted good deal of
attention. What history the old veter-
an of II has seenl He was a leader on
the Democratic side of the House during
the bitter debates on slavery that pre-
ceded secession. The old man bears his
years well. What an eventful life, al
ways shadowed during the latter half by
that awful family tragedy, which sent
Keys to his grave, and ruined the lives
of Others. Henry Blair, of New Hamp-
shire, a well-remembered figure for many
years in the U. S. Senate, succeeds Par
son Luther Mckinney, of the First New
Hampshire District. Blair is typical
refOrmer-always ready for reforms in
any line. He returns to the House,
where he commenced his Congressional |
career sixteen years ago. 1t is said that
in spite of his many failures, he is again
ready to introduce his famous education
al bill. The familiar figure of Joe Can
non, who went down in the general del
uge of 1890, but who rallied last year, and
convinced the people of his district of |
their great mistake, looms up on the floor
of the House. Joe is good fellow, and
political friends and foes alike welcome
him back to the House. Ex-Governor
Gear, of Iowa. who also went down in the
fight of '90,again steps into his old place.
Gear has been very valuable member
in the past. He has been almost contin-
ally in office since 1872, with the exception
of the last two years. John G. Black,
Congressman at-large from Ills, stands
out prominently in the Illinois delega
ton. His record in the Pension Office
for four years under Cleveland's first ad-
ministration. is well remembered by all.
Black has long been one of the most pop
ular Democrats of Illinois, and in the gen.
eral victory of that party last fall, carried
the State. General Black came out of the
war Briagdier General before he was
"a In the Ohio delegation we see the we'll
remembered face of Gen. Charlie Grosven-
or, of Athens. The familiar face of Judge
Taylor is missed from the Ohio del
egation. He was here good many years,
serving since Garfield left the House in
1880. Blount, Herbert, Farney, Ketchem,
Cable, Hemphill, Tillman, O'Neal and
Mansur, of Missouri, ,well-remembered fig
ures in the past, are all gone, and their
places filed by new men. The dropping
of Sergeant-at-Arms Yoder, from the
roll of officers of the House by the Dem
ocratic caucus was a disCracefnl affair