The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-10
FREE SILVER MEN CAUCUS.
They Fall to Get n CrOwd-Only One Re.
publican Present.

They Fall to Get Crowd-Only One Re.
publican Present.
WASHINGTON, D. O., August 9.-The
hall Of the house was closed shortly be.
fore II and the friends Of FREQ silver
began their caucus. The attendance
was small and up to half past IL
not moro than fifty members made
their appearance. The door keepers
were instructed to notify each member
who applied for admission that the
meeting was confined to "free coinage"
members. Before the caucus met,
Representative Bland said the purpose
for which 1t had been called was to or
ganize the silver forces, appoint COM
lnittees and prepare generally for the
struggle before them.
To the suggestion that some silver
men would not attend caucus for the
reason that they did not want thereby
to seem to separate themselves from
their respective parties, Mr.. Bland
responded that 1t was not expected that
much aid or comfort was to be derived
from those who had not the courage OF
their convictions.
"There will be many scalp taken by
the people before this fight is over"
continued the apostle OF silver.
There arc men here representing free
silver constituencies who are panic
stricken and readyto yield to the clamor
against silver The people are not so
affected, so they will look upon tho mat.
tor dispnssionately when IL is ended and
asked their representatives what allied
them. The people do not consider the
attack upon tho Sherman law as sincerei !
nor is II to them tho question OF first
Importance. They look upon It as a
fight between gold men and bi.metal.
lists, and while they would not be will
Ing to sec the present laws relating TO
coinage Internationally repealed, what
they want first OF all Is free coinage Of
silver. That 10 the main question"
The discussion developed the fact
that thero were present some motnbora
who were not tied TO the 10 to ! ratio.
A motion was made looking to tho
preparation Of bill by which tho
Sherman law should be repealed and
free coinage Of silver at q ratio with
gold to be agreed upon provided for
Tho discussion developed that o ratio
Of 20 TO / would be acceptable to those
who felt that the old ratio should be
changed. At 1880 no conclusion had
boon reached. II was noticeable that
tho attempt to draw TO the Caucua mom'
bers oil both parties was o failure, for
but ono Rupublican--Mr. Bowers, Of
Calliornia--jolncd In tho deliberations
Of the silver mon.
Mr.. Culbortson, Of Texas, was chair.
man Of tho Caucus which is tho frat oil
its kind that has been held In the house
for several yearS
The caucus adjourned at 2i4b p. m.
After adopting tho following;
"Resolted, That we will support o bill
ropealing tho purchase clause oil tho
Sherman act and Concurrontly ptovld'
ing for the FREQ aud unlimited coinage
OF silver with full legal tonder quality
on such rattle rs will provide and
maintain tho parity between gold and
silver. Be II further
"Rcs0iptd, That q committee Of seven
bo appointed by tho chairman Of this
conference TO draft and Introduce such
o bill and take proper stops 10 secure
the full aud FREQ discussion thereof aud