Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-06
Tho History Of Tho Sherman Act.

The History Of tho Sherman Act,
So much has been said Of the Sher-
man silver purchase act, Of the respon-
sibility for 1t, and It's relations to the
present financial strain that it will
correct a good deal Of public misunder-
standing to recall its history and the
record Of the two parties.
The Sherman act was not an orr
glnal measure. II was compromise,
aud grew out OF difficult and danger
GUS situation. On June 5, 1890,
William Mckinley, from the commit
tee on rules of the house OF repre-
sentatives, reported resolution that
the house proceed Immediately to the
consideration of q financial bill pre-
pared by Mr.. Window, secretary of the
treasury. This was sound and con-
SENTATIVE measure providing for
limited purchase OF silver under strict
safeguards. While 1t was under con-
sideration Mr.. Bland OF Missouri
moved to recommit the bill TO the COM
mittee on coinage with instructions to
report back bill for the free coinage
Of silver" This motion was defeated
by a vote OF il6 ayes to 14O nays.
Politically the vote was made up as
follows:
Democrats for free coinage. .lOl
Republicans for FREQ coinage ................ u
Farmers Alliance for free coinage ..,.,., !
'''''llh
Democrats against free coinage .......... 10
Republicans against free collage ......u,.lH
Total ........,.........................IiO
On the failure Of BANDS motion the
Window bill passed the house ayes
1856, noes ll9, divided almost Identical
ly as on the preceding vote-and was
sent to the senate. II was reached in
the senate June II, and after some
struggle motion was made to substi-
tute measure for the free coinage of
silver. This was carried, 43 to "a, and
the bill, thus converted intoa free sill
yer bill, passed the senate by vote Of
~ to 25, divided politically thus:
Democrats for free coinage. ................. q
Republicans for tree coinage. 10
Total ...............,.., ..............'..... ~
Democrats against frno...............'...... 81
10 4 a N...N
Total .s..,,.''s..''...., .,,,. ...s''s'.''' 20
1t will be seen that all Of the Demo
,rats hut three voted for free coinage.
Of the lftoen Republicans who voted
The same way all, with the single ex-
,eption Of Mr.. Cameron Of Pennsyl-
gdnia, ca,ue from the silver States
west of the Mississippi. The free
coinage bill as thus passed by the SEN
ate was sent back to tbe house where
desperate struggle was made to concur.
The vital test came on concurring in
the senate's substitute for the first sec
lion establishing free coinage. This
was defeated by vote Of 1874 ayes to
1852 nays, divided thus:
Democrats for free coinage. ............... III
for free coinage. ........,..... %
Farmers Alliance for fee coinage .,.... |
Total.......... ....................... 10,
Democrats against FREQ coinage. ..,.... 20
Republicans against FREQ coinage .......... 100
TOTAL s''''''' ..... .... lb2
Both the house aud the senate bills
were then sent to conference CON.
mittee which finally reported the Sher-
man act as 1t now stands. IL the
Democrats could have their way we
should, instead of the Sherman act
have had the far worse evil Of free and
unlimited coinage.
Since 1890 several test votes have
been taken on the silver question and
they have shown the same general
division, The evils Of bullion purchase
became especially apparent last winter
and much complaint has been made
because congress did not then repeal
the Sherman act Mr.. Cleveland exert.
ed all his influence with his paitisans
in that direction. Yet motion to
the repeal Of this 80 called
measure was defeated in a
vote of li3 ayes to l52 noes, divided as
follows.
Democrats for repeal. ,.....loi
Republicans Tor repeal. 80. 30
Democrats against repoal-,,....,,,.,.......
Republicans against repoal,....,......'''' 30
Farmers Alliance against repeal. &c. ....... 10
Iothl 1872
AS will be- seen majority of the
Republicans were for repeal and
majority Of the Democrats, in spite Of
MIR, Cleyeland's influence were against
1t.
Two things are thus clearly demon
strated; First, that in 1890 when the
Sherman act was passed, the Democrats
were almost solidly for free coinage,
and the Sherman act was q compromise
to escape that greater peril. Second,
that last winter, even after MIR. Cleye-
lands election and after the exercise
nn oil hta la a, -.