The record-union., 1893-08-10
and Silver.
Special to the RECORD-UNIoN.

| WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-The develop
ments of to-day have been such as to
give promise of an early discussion of
the silver question in the two houses of
| Congress. The Democratic Senators, after
caucus lasting several hours, found
| themselves absolutely unable to agree
upon any line of action, and finally adj
journed until later in the day, the inten-
ton of the Senate being to adjourn from
tomorrow until Monday, in order to give
an opportunity for the fullest informal
discussion among Senators of both par
ties before eutering upon legislation.
| In the failure of the Democratic Senators
TO agree upon any party policy, the advo-
Gates for the repeal of the Sherman law
| find great encouragement.
The free-coinage men of the House held
a caucus to-day, and adopted resolutions
which Will be a revelation to the ultra
free-coinage men of the West, but it will
| be tower of strength to those who are
! fortlfying themselves against the uncon-
! dltional repeal of the Sherman purchas-
| ing Act. The resolutions are regarded as
mastery stroke on the part of the silver
men, as they practically abandon the
L
compromise ratio as will maintain the
parity between gold and silver, and inn
plies that the most vigorous efforts will
be made to induce the radical silver men
of the far West to yield to the Judgment
of the more conservative free-coinage
men of the country.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS CAUCUS.
Nearly every Democratic Senator was
present at the party caucus this morning
to decide, if possible, on the plans for
| party action relative to silver discussion
The meeting developed as wide a diverg-
ence of views as that between the wings
of the party on free-silver coinage, and,
when the time for the Senate to assemble
arrived, nothing had been accomplished
and an adjournment was taken till after
the Senate had adjourned for the day.
After two hOnrs' session the caucus ad-
! iournedi without reaching a conclusion as
| to the line of policy. There was strong
/ difference OF opinion on the silver qces-
ton, and the caucus adjourned to meet
again in a few days. Meanwhile the sub
| iect of silver repeal will not figure in the
| Senate, for the purpose is to adjourn from
! tomorrow until Monday.
| Immediately after the adjournment of
the caucus German called into consulta-
ton Senators Blackburn, Gray, Ransom,
! Voorhees, and CockrelI. Although Cor
man had not made his appointments at
| the time of consultation, their presence
gave color to the expectation that they
would be named as members of the eau
Gus committee tomorrow.
FRIENDS OF FREE SILVER.
The hall of the House was closed shortly
before u, and the friends of free silver
| began caucus. The attendance was
small. Up to half-past Y not more than
/ fifty members had made an appearance
| The doOr-keepers were instructed to
notify each who applied for admission
that the meeting was confined to ''free
coinage" members.
Before the caucus met, Bland said the
purpose for which it had been called was
to organize the silver forces and appoint
committees to prepare generally for the
struggle before them.
The discussion developed the fact that
there were present some who were not
| tied to the Is to l ratio. A motion was
made looking to the preparation of a bill
| by which the Sherman law should be re-
| pealed, and the free coinage of silver at a
ratio with gold TO be agreed upon pro-
vided for. The discussion developed that
a ratio of 20 to l would be acceptable to
/ those who felt the old ratio should be
1 changed.
! 1t was noticeable that the attempt to
/ draw to the caucus the members of both
| parties was a failure, for but one Repub-
| lican member-Bowers of California
joined in the deliberations of the silver
men. The Populists were represented by
| Jerry Simpson and KEN of Nebraska.
| Culberson of Texas acted as Chairman
of the caucus, which is the first of its
kind held in the House for several years
| The caucus adjourned at 2:45 after hay
| ing adopted the following resolutions:
! ReSolUed, We will support bill re-
/ pealing the purchasing clause of the
! sherman Act, and concurrently provid-
/ ing for the free and unlimited coinage of
silver with full legal tender quality, on
such a ratio as will provide and maintain
parity between gold and silver; be it
further
ReSolUed, That a committee of seven be
| appointed by the Chairman Of this con-
/ ference to draft and introduce such a bill
and take proper steps to secure the full
| and free discussion and consideration
/ thereof and vote of the House upon the
| bill and all proper amendments.
| The committee provided for in the for
eign resolution was composed as follows:
Messrs. Bland, Sibley, Boatner, Lane,
Bankhead, Bryan and Bailey. By vote
of the caucus Judge Cuiberson. Chair
man of the caucus, was added to the com
mittee.
Speeches were made by Messrs. Cul-
berson of Texas, Bland, Hatch and
Heard of Missouri, Craig and Bailey of
Texas, Simpson of Kansas, Oates and
Bankhead of Alabama, Bryan of Ne
braska, Sibley of Pennsylvania, Boatner
and Blanchard of Louisiana and others,
all in support of the object for which the
caucus had been called.
! Besides the action reported, motion
/ by Bland was adopted authorizing the
I appointment of a Committee of "Whips,"
one from each State, whose duty it should
I be to canvass the House and discover
each members standing upon the pro-
posed bill and see that every friend Of the
measure is in his seat and ready to vote
when the time comes.
Bland stated after the caucus that it