Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-08-18
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE TILvER QUESTION NOT A
PARTY ISSUE.
The Sentiment so Overwhelming
for Repeal OF the Sherman Law
That No Doubt Exists Except as
to the Means TO Bc Substituted.

From our Regular Correspondence
WASHINGTON, August IL, 1898.
President Cleveland's message to
Congress has been as closely studied
as any similar document ever was by
members of congress, and it is evident
that it is going to be a powerful factor
in the financial legislation of the ses.
sion. 1t apparently opposes the ideas
of many Democrats in both House and
Senate, just as his celebrated tariff
message OF 1887 did, but honest and
conscientious belief is conspicuous in
every sentence OF it. And the opposi-
ton to what are known as silver Dem.
ocrats is more apparent than real, for
they all agree with the Presidents rec
concentration for the repeal of the
Sherman law, only differing as to what
shall be substituted. The message
recommends the repeal and leaves the
question OF substitute to the wisdom
of Congress, and nine-tenths of the
Democrats are certain that the recon-
mendation as to repeal will be followed,
and that other financial legislation,
which will be equally satisfactory to
the silver Democrats and to President
Cleveland, will be agreed upon by the
Democrats in both House and Senate,
and that the persistent efforts OF the
Republicans to split the Democratic
party on the silver question will fail.
Acting on the maxim quoted in the
Presidents message" He gives twice
who gives quickly"-the Democrats in
the House, both silver and anti.silver
men, are trying to reach an agreement
to take up and decide the silver ques-
ton without waiting for the appoint
ment of committees and the adoption
of rules. 1t will be easy to take the
matter up without an agreement, only
a majority vote being required, but If
an agreement can be reached upon just
what is to be voted upon and how
much time is to be given to discussion
much time will be saved that would
necessarily be wasted if All agreement
is made, to say nothing of the posi-
bility of endless filibustering.
The silver men have in caucus de-
cided to vote for the repeal OF the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman law, if
the bill for its repeal provides for the
free coinage OF silver on such a ratio rs
will provide and maintain the parity
between gold and silver. The fact that
no particular ratio is mentioned is sig
nifcant. 1t means that the caucus OF
silver Democrats did not believe it pos
sible to succeed in maintaining the
present ratio OF 16 to and that they
are willing to increase the ratio.
1t is now claimed that careful poll
of the House, made this week, shows a
majority of 35 in favor of the repeal of
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
law. The Senate is much more doubt.
full, and it is much more difficult to
ascertain how Senators whose positions
are not clearly defined will vote. but
stong efforts are now being made to
bring the Democratic Senators to-
gether, and the indications point to
success. A caucus of Democratic Sem
ators this week appointed committee
OF five-Gorman, Ransom, Gray, Voor-
hees and Blackburn-to consider and
report plan with that end in view.
The Republicans, unintentionally, OF
course, added largely to the probability
OF united Democratic action in the
Senate by their attempts to make po-
litical capital, which were promptly
and properly rehuked by Senator
German, out OF the present financial
situation.
The Senate Committee on Finance,
of which Senator Voorhees, is chair