The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-24
Called an Infamous Outrage by Mr.. Pierce.
Who Says 1t Is an Attempt by Cleveland
to Bulldoze congressman Elect.
Hilary A. Herbert's Appointment Re.
garded as Slap at the Silverites.
The President Elect Evidently Preparing q
Black I,ist-Treasury Stock of Gold Now
Reduced Almost to the Danger Line.
HARRITY'S CIRCULAR.


Attempt to- Influence Legislation.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Chairman Har-
rity's attempt TO influence the next House
upon the repeal of the Sherman silver pur-
chasing act by means of "confdentiap
circular, as exposed by Philadelphia dis
patches published this morning, caused
gread deal of comment among both Repub-
licans and Democrats in Congress to-day.
Many Democratic Representatives who are
mem bers-eleet to the next House. are of
Tended By Mr.. Harrlty's circular. They in
terpret it as meaning that Mr.. Cleveland,
having failed to bring about the repeal of
the Sherman act through the influence OF
Mr.. Dickinson and Mr.. Willard. has now
called 10 his aid the chairman Of the DEM
ocratlo national committee. In their
opinion the head of the national party or
ganization ought not to use his influence
in that position to interfere with the inde-
pendent action of Congress upon non parti.
san legislation. OF course it is the free
silver wing of the Democratic mem bership
of the next Hoase that is most bitterly of
Tended by Chairman Harrity's circular.
1t is doubtful whether this attempt to in-
1uence legislation will not do more harm
than good TO the cauee OF repeal III the
next Honse. 1t Will stir the free-silver
to discount the effect OF Mr.. Harritv's cir
cular. The circular was generally inter-
preted as foreshadowinR an extra session.
1t was also accepted as evidence that Mr.
Cleveland is preparing black list OF Demo-
cratic member of the next House who are
not IN accord with his policies. and that he
wishes this list at once for use at the very
outset of his administration in the distrib-
uting of patronage.
As illustrating the bitterness and resent.
ment which MIR. Cleveland's prospective
distribution of patronage Is exciting
among the Democrats there may be cited
an instance which occurred on the floor OF
the House to- day. Mr.. Herbert. of Ala
bama. had just entered and was receiving
hearty cheers from his friends on both
sides of the house upon his selection as
Cleveland's Secretary OF the Navy. Mr.
Tillman. of South Carolina. a free-silver
Democrat. who owes his election to the
House to the suppression of the cOlOred Re-
publIoan vote In bis district, cried TO an
other Democrat who was epplauding Mr..
Herbert TO sit down and keep STILL because
Mr.. Herbert had voted against the free.
silver men, thereby securing the favor Of
the President-elect.
- sss, WHAT THE CONGRESsMEN SAY.
The open discussions in Congress to-day
were not half so interesting as the private
discussion of the Harrity silver lotter and
the com plete Cabinet of the next adminis-
tration. The two subjects were inter-
woven In conversation, and many of tho
views expressed were exceedingly forcible.
Speaking of the HarrIty letter. Senator
Harris. of Tennessee, said: Il, for one. will
never consent to the repeal of the Sherman
law without the substitution of something
IN its place that recognizes the use OF silver
as money"
Senator Pugh, of Alabama, made the fol-
lowing eaustic comment on the appoint
ment of MIR. Herbert and Mr.. Cleveland's
purpose in making 1t: II am constrained
to believe that the ruling motive for Mr.
Herberts appointment was the courage be
displayed in being the only member from
his constituents on the free coinage Of
silver. Mr.. Herbert Is the only Democrat
of prominence In Alabama who agrees with
the enemies Of free coinage. There is not
man in Mr. Cleveland's Cabinet from the
South or West who represents bis State or
the Democratic party on the silver Ques-
tion, If &c is Mr.. Cleveland's purpose IN
making his Cabinet unit against 80 per
cent of his party to disrupt or muster il
into the service Of the money kings he 10
doomed TO the most signal failure"
Tho Popuiists." said Mr. PETER. regard
Mr.. Cleveland as being In sympathy with
the legislation that fattened the pampered
derstood to be intended to correct the
evils in that direction. Naturally such
man would select for his Attorney general
just such person as Mr.. Olney, who is a
corporations In all that he does and is."
Referring to other members of the Cabinet
Mr.. PETER continued: The President
elect has selected for his Secretary OF
with Western ideas on any subject. thor
Oughly committed to class legislation, and
especially favorIp 9 the Eastern view of the
money question, and under corporate infiu-
ences generally. There is but one member
Of the new Cabinet who IS independent OF
party lntiuences-I refer to Judge Gresham.
Summing up the whole Cabinet, regard it
as constructed specially to perpetuate ex.
ietlng conditions. against which the Pop
ulists propose to wage war to the end"
Over on the other side of the Capitol the
Harrisy letter was discussed. Nh. Bland
said "It is an unprecedented proceeding,
and every member of the House who has
the least spark of manhood and self-re-
spect will simply tell the members of that
committee that 1t 10 none OF their business"
IAN INFAMOUS OUTRAGE"
Representative Pierce. OF Tennessee,
said: 81 think the letter an infamous out
rage. 1t is another effort to bulldoze in
coming members of Congress, back Of
which believe is Mr. Cleveland. just as
belive he was back of o recent editorial
saying members who voted for free coinage
would find the administration fghting g
them in their districts"
Representative Andrews. of Massachu-
setts. said: "The Democratic party is
pledged to repeal the Sherman law and it
Is simply desire to know how members
stand. | do not regard it as coerrion. but
as an attempt 70 get needed legislation. IL
is a matter of great interest The repeal Of
the law is demanded by the entire busi-
ness community. irrespective of politics"
Representative Hatch, of Missouri: 81
em q Democrat without one single varia.
tion from the Democratic platform, and
have always regarded the free coinage of
silver as a cardinal Democratic principle.
l believe In making free silver coinage q
party test, just as we fought Randall and
his friends on tariff reform"
Representative Cultivate. of Ohio, said:
81 think it an emiDently proper thing for
the national committee to endeavor to find
ont how mcmbers stand. 1t shows the
Democratic organization Is attempting to
keep Its pledges TO the people. Perhaps IL
the organization had taken hold of the sill
yer question in systematic manner, in.
stead of stragRlers attempting to shape
legislation In this Congress. something
might have been accomplished. No. do
not think it means coercion of mem bers at
all. think 1t docs mean the strongest kind
of persuasion."
We'll" SAID Mr.. Watson. the Populist
leader from Georgia, II have not read it