The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-01

port necessary to pass the bill from the
Democrats or the Populists.
Upon being asked this evening
whether he did not think it would have
been better in the interest of silver fol
the silver Republicans to accept. the
Democratic compromise than to refuse
that and take in its stead uncondltlon-
al repeal, Senator Teller said: "Possl-
bly, It would have been, and probably
that would have been done If IL had
been in the power of the silver Repub.
licans to control the matter. Such was
not the case however. That was dis.
tinctly Democratic measure, and the
agreement for its support was signed
by the Democrats who did sign it with
the understanding that if all the DEM
ocratic Senators did not attach their
names it was not to be binding upon
any of them. Hence, when eight OF
the Democratic Senators refused to give
their assent to the compromise the
agreement Was no longer binding upon
those who had signed. Furtner, tnere
would have been no chance OF gettlng
the bill through even If the silver he
publicans and the Populists had accept.
ed it, after the Executive had siRni1ed
it's disapproval of the bill. 1t was not
only impossible then to get the add.
tional eight Democrats signatures. but
those already obtained could not De
held. If, therefore, all the silver Re-
publicans had allowed themselves to
be controlled by the agreement the
compromise bill would have been no
stronger than, for instance, the free
coinage amendment; not as strong ev-
en-. 1t would in that case have had
only the support of the silver Demo.
Gratis and the silver Republicans. 1T
would probably not have gotten any
POpulist support. AS matter OF TACT
however, 1T would have been lmpossi-
BILE to hold the silver Democrats. Some
of them were only too we'll pleased to
have the agreement declared OH, for
they did not consider the compromise
as desirable as unconditional repeal"
S.nator Teller is Well nigh exhausted
by his long vigil and hard work IN the
Senate since the silver fight began. He
said tonight that he did not believe
that he could have continued the or
deal for another month.
He expects to start away soon on
recuperatlVe tour, and says he will pro-
badly extend his trip to Mexico.
Senator Teller has not been hopeful
for the silver cause for month, and
he has regarded the end as near. A
week ago today, when the silver men
made their eff Jrt to secure an adjourn
ment in place of arecess, he found
they could muster only ten or twelve
votes. He took that poor demonstra-
tion or the part of the silver force as
evidence that the silver Democrats
would not consider it advisable to con.
tinue the fight for great while.
Senator Voorhees, said tonight that
he was hopeful of reaching the voting
stage by Thursday. and the opinion Is
general that the bill Will be well dis.
posed of before the end Of the week. 1t
Is not believed by any one that half Of
the amendments proposed will be reg.
ularly offered. The silver men Will
probably discuss some of these amend
ments under the five minute rule, but
it is not expected that there will be a
great deal of debate on the amend
ments. There is already talk of future
silver legislation.
One Of the leading advocates of re-
peal Is quoted tonight as saying that
be will introduce a free coinage bill
upon the assembling of the regular
session. Senator Sherman told Unit
ed Press representative that he was
contemplating the introduction of a
bill, and it would probably incidentally
make some provision for the use of
silver. Many other Senator's have f.
nancial bills in contemplation. The
outlook is indeed good that the regular
session will be flooded with financial
bills, and no one need be surprised If
the 63d Congress should develop a rec.
ord for financial discussion almost as
important as the one now closing.