The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-08
Cochran Made Overtures
to Bland.
GOLD MEN IN A BIG RUSH.
An Expressed Desire to Get to
Work Even Before Speaker Crisp
Selects His. Committees.
, Special to THE MORNING CALL.

men are the aggressive element in the
House of Representatives. Ever since the
etizatiOn Of silver in 1873 the silver
men have been the aggressive element in
every Congress and have yearly demanded
that atonement be offered for "the crime
Of 1873" and that silver be restored to it's
place as money metal. The militant
spirit of the free coinage element is still
to the front, but there has suddenly ap-
peared an equally aggressive spirit among
the hitherto conservative anti-free coinage
men, who have suddenly put on paint and
demand that the purchasing clause Of the
Sherman act be repealed, and that it be
Zone Internationally and at once.
The leader of this element is man who
Bourke Cochran of New York. He has been
known for many years as high chieftan of
Tammany and as ono of the greatest
orators of the day, but now he appears in
a new role as the popularly recognized
champion Of the Presidents financial pol
icy in the halls of Congress. 1t is the ele-
ment that has Cochran at its head that to-
day hoists the black flag and declares no
quarter to the advocates Of free coinage.
The immediate and unconditional repeal of
the Sherman act without reference TO COM
mitee is the policy of Cochran. and he to-
day conferred with the silver men to in.
duce them to agree upon plan whereby
the issue may be fought out In the halls OF
Congress without awaiting the appoint
ment of committees.
According to Bland no agree ment upon
the subject of the silver debate in the
House is probable just yet. He said this
evening to a reporter Of the Associated
Press that Cochran and himself had been
talking about the matter. but that no au-
thorized proposition had been made and
no conclusion reached. II told Cochran
that / would consult with those interested
with me in regard to the question, hut l
have not yet been able to do So"
What were the terms of the proposition
Cochran made"
There has been nothing definite pro-
posed as yet. Cochran asked if we would
onsider a proposition looking to an ar
rangement under which the silver Ques-
tion could be discussed at once aad / told
him we would listen tn him."
Whit condition or limitation governing
the situation would he acceptable to the
silver men?"
I'VE do not want to unduly delay
action in-the premises" responded Bland.
'but we must have opportunity to offer,
discuss and vote upon the amendments
which we shall offer to the bill to rereal
the Sherman law. This must be granted
or there can be, in my opinion, no agree
inent regarding the matter"
The position of Bland is accepted by the
anti-slver men as an indication that the
free-coinage people will stubbornly con-
test every stage of the repeal and yield
nothing that is not wIested by force of
superior strength on success sive rollcall.-
If indeed the repeal men have the numeri-
cal strength TO successfully force the issue
to determination.
In a statement to the press tonight
Cochran explained that his proposition to
I Bland related rather to measures than to
time. "The whce question" he said. "is
exhausted in three propositions: First
To repeal the silver purchase act uncon-
ditionally. Second-To repeal the silver
purchase law and revive the Bland act of
1873. Third-To repeal the silver pur-
chase law and provide for the free coin
age of silver. My suggestion is that these
be offered to the House in turn and de-
bated. AS fast as they are defeated, II
they should be defeated, let everybody
talk that wants to. and on these three
ropositions'everybody can be heard"
"What limit of time do you propose?"
Il shall make none not entirely agree.
able to Bland; but what l want and what,
If you please, the anti-siver men want is
that the country nav know that this II ouse
will go right to work on the subject at
once, and come to a vote some time. That
is the main thing 10 be desired, that the
country will be assured of action
Representative Bynum. who is credited
with being the associate of Cochran in the
effort to bring about an agreement, said
when asked about the matter: II should
con slider it rather an supplementary pro-
ceeding to enter upon debate in advance of
the full organization Of the House. Still, 1t
might be done by resolving thesHouse into
a committee of tho whole upon the state of
the Union, and utilizing the time until the
committees are appointed and ready to
work. am in favor OF the repeal of the
Sherman law"
1t is not probable that at the caucus
which the Republicans have called for to-
morrow morning they will take up and
discuss the question of party policy. The
caucus is called for the purpose of deter
mining who shall be chosen as the repre-
sentatves of the minority on the clerical
and working forces of the Senate. Con-
cerning the policy of The party a promi-
nent Senator, who has always been a
leader for his side of the Senate on the
floor and in caucus. and who has hereto.
fore been a stalwart partisan, said this
evening that the Republicans were
anxiously awaiting the suggestions of the
President.
1.-The Republicans" said he, 'are too
patriotic to attempt to prevent ANYTHING
that is for the good of the country. and if
there Is any measure That the Democrats
can possibly agree upon that will restore
the confidence OF the people we as a party
will support it."
At the suggestion OF Represe tentative
Bourke Cochran in the House number
Of lis members. principally Of the New
York delegation, met at the Arlington
Hotel tonight and informally discussed
the best method of securing the immediate
consideration and the fixing of the time
for taking vote on the silver question.
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