The Portland daily press., 1893-08-28
HON. W. D. BYNum.

Oeud1OE SOOIu0cS, tlOuSu Ioduy per-
haps to accept some compromise meas
ure, is for repeal of the Sherman law
Internationally. I arranged for an in
terview with him on the silver question
the other day. There was the usual
score Of Office seekers in his room, and
not wishing to interrupt the flow Of petit
ton asked if he were prepared to see me.
The "Tall Sycamore" suspect rather
likes to indulge his gift of sarcasm, and
responded: Prepared? I don't know
that any special preparation is needed to
see newspaper man. Did you expect
me to get into dress suitw The remark
reminded me of his reply to a young
newspaper man here who met Voorhees,
in the senate elevator the day Mr.. Blaine
died, and inquiring, Senator, is there
anything you can say about Mr.. Blaine?'
got this answer, "There are many things
that I might say about Mr.. Blaine, but
I don't care to say them in an elevator"
In answer to question on the financial
problem, Mr.. Voorhees, said: 81 do not
consider a vote on The repeal of the Sher-
man act a test of any mans position in
regard to the coinage Of silver as money.
Why can't I vote for the repeal of the
Sherman act? voted against it whenit
was passed, and why not now, when it
has shown itself to be worse than was
suspected then? never expect to abandon
the coinage and use of silver, but will
not hesitate, if the question is presented
to me, to vote for the immediate and I'M
conditional repeal of the Sherman act if
that course should seem the safest policy
at the time the vote is taken. The Sher-
man act is an obstruction and hindrance
to the fair and honest coinage Of silver,
and would be ready to take any step
which would get it out of the way speed
ily."
The leader of the Indiana unconditional
repeal men in the house is representative
Bynum. Mr.. Bynum is naturally a man to
lead. He is possessed of much force andis
daring politician. Under some circum-
stances he would be the leader of mob,
but if he did SO it would not be because
he lost control of himself, but for the rea-
son that he believed circumstances JUS
titled that course, and all his actions,
radical as they might be, would be cool
ly taken. The very build of the man
suggests strong, determined, forceful
character. This time Mr.. Bynum is
with the administration and is urging
immediate repeal. He is the Indiana rep
resentative on the antisilver executive
committee charged with managing the
fight in the house. He says that in his
opinion the Sherman act should be re-
pealed at once, and that the party should
sweep this mischievous act from the stat
ute books and leave to the future, when
confidence is restored and business inter-
ests no longer in constant jeopardy, the
settlement of the whole financial ques-
ton.
Another Indiana Democrat now for
absolute repeal is Mr.. George w. Cooper,
the representative from Voorhees, old
former free coinage district. He said in
answer to my question: 'It would be
most surprising state of things it con-
gress did not repeal the Sherman law.
The Democratic party is in the majority
and has always denounced that law.
its chosen leader has called congress to-
gether in extraordinary session at most
unusual season; he has brought to our
attention in striking manner, and with
circumstance and detail, the serious
financial condition Of the country and
has urged repeal of a law which its au-
thor admits to be bad. If congress should
not repeal the law under these circum-
stances, it would show most extraordi-
nary condition within the Democratic
party.
GAS to unconditional repeal, do not
see how that can do any harm. We are
now very much like the fellow who got
drunk. He first fell against post then
he sat down suddenly, and moment
later he rolled into the gutter. When ne
Law fat on his back, he grunted: I'm safe
now. I can fall no farther 1t seems
to me we are now fiat on our backs and
are like that drunken man. We are now
on a god basis, and a gold cash basis at
that. It seems to me the United States