The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-10
PLANS OF SILVERITES.

They Will Vote for Repeal of the Sherman
Law, but Will Demand Free Coinage.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-The caucus of
members of the House of Representatives
who favor the free coinage of silver. which
was called yesterday by Mr.. Bland, was
held to-day In the hall of the House. last
ing from 12 noon to 2:45 p. NJ. At the close
it was officially announced that the follow
ing resolutions offered by Mr.. BOatner. of
Louisiana. had been adopted by a unani-
nous vote:
Resolved, That we will support bill repeal
Ing tEo purchasing clause of the Sherman act
and cOncurrently providing for the free and un-
trammeled coinage OF silver. with full legal ten
maintain the parity between gold and silver.
Resolved. That q committee of seven be ap-
pointed by the chairman of this conference to
draft and Introduce such bill and take proper
steps to secure the free and full discussion and
consideration thereof and vote OF the House
upon the bill and proper amendments.
The committee provided for in the fore
going resolution is composed as follows:
Bankhead. Bryan and Bailey. BY vote of
the caucus Judge Culberson was added to
the committee.
When The caucus met it was estimated
that there were about forty mem bers of the
House in the hall, but during the time the
caucus session about one hundred
members were admitted. Estimates OF the
number in attendance ranged from sixty to
125, the clerk of the caucus tixiD the NUN Der
at ninety three, and Mr.. Bland saying he
counted over hundred. Judge Culber.
son, of Texas. was elected chairman of the
caucus. and Representlve Sibley, of Penn
sylvania the only Democrat present from
the Eastern States. secretary. The only
Republican present was Representative
Bowers of California. The Populists were
represented by Jerry Simpson and Mr.
KEN. of Nebraska.
The attendance upon the caucus can
hardly be regarded as test of the strength
of the silver forces in the House, for the
reason given by Mr.. Enloe. of Tennessee.
That reason was that the Democratic party
was charged by the people with the duty
of legislating so as TO remedy the present.
depression IN all branches of business.
Democratic caucus and not mixed confer
eDce should have been called to talk ov er
the situation and to formulate a plan of re-
lief. Of the entire Tennessee delegation
many Of which are in favor of free coinage
but one lMr. Cox was present at the con-
ference. The same thing was true of a um-
Der of free silver men from other States,
who did not desire to seem to separate
themselves from their respective party or
ganiZations. even on this question.
Reports from mem Ders. after the caucus,
agreed that no differences of opinion were
disclosed in the progress OF the discussion.
The question of the ratio for the coinage of
silver was not discussed. except incident
ally. and. as will be noticed, no specific
figure was named in the resolution
Speeches were made by J. G. Culberson,
Messrs Bland. Hatch and Heard. of MIS-
souri,: Grain and Bailey. of Texas; Simpson,
of Kansas; Oates and Bankhead of Ala
bama; Bryan. of Nebraska: Sibley, of
Pennsylvania; Bostner and Blanchard of
Louisiana. and Others. all in support
of the object for which the caucus
had been called. Besides the action re-
ported motion by Mr. Bland was adopted
authorizing the appointment of a commit
tee of whips" one from each State, whose
duty it shall be to canvass the House. dis
cover each members standing upon the
proposed bill. and see that every friend of
the measure is In his seat and ready 10 vote
when the time comes. This committee has
not been named.
Mr.. Bland stated after the cauc us that it
hao been in eveyy respect satisfactory to