Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-10

WASHINGTON, ID. g., august q NO
caucus OF members of the House oI hrp-
resertstives VINO favor the free coinage
OF silver. which was called yesterday Oy
Represeptative Band was held to-day
ip the nail OF the House, lasting from
12 noon 10 pas p. ID. AT the close 10
was officially announced that the follow
Ing resolution offered 0y Mr. Boatner' OF
louisiana. had been adopted, 0Y
una im0uS vote: ,,,
Re.8lUtd. That we will support a OIL
repeating tne purchasing clause oI the
sherman Act and COncurrenty pro-
vidiDg for the free and unJrammelled
coinage of silver, with full legal tender
oualitv on such a ratio as will provide
and maintain the parity between gold
and silver. BE it further
RgsO,red That a committee or seven
be appointed by the Chairman OF this
conference 20 draft and Introduce such
q bill aud take proper steps 10 secure
the free and full discussion and consld-
Grafton thereof, and a vote OF the House
upon the bali and all proper amend;
ments.
Tie committee provided for in the
foregoing resolutions was composed as
follows:
Messrs. Bland, Sibley, Boatner, Lane,
Bankhead Bryan aud Bailey.
BY vote OF the caucus Judge Culoer-
son was added 20 the committee.
When the caucus met it was esti-
mated that there were about forty MEM
hers Of the House In the hall, but during
Nfhe time the caucus was Ia session
about 100 members were admitted.
Judge CulbersOn, OF Texas, was elect
ed chairman Of the caucus, aud Repre-
. sentative SibIey, Of Pennsylvania, the
only Democrat present from the East
ern States, Secretary. The only Re-
publican present was Representative
Bowers, Of California. The Populists
were represented by Jerry Simpson aud
Mr.. Kerr, OF Nebraska. The attend
ance upon the caucus can hardly be re-
garded as a test OF the strength Of the
silver forces in the House, for the reas-
on given by Mr.. EnlOe, OF Tennessee.
The reason was that the Democratic
party was charged by the people
with the duty OF legislating
so as to remedy the present depression
Ia an branches of business. A DemU-
cratic caucus and not mixed confer
ence should have been called to look
over the situation and TO formulate a
plan OF relief. OF the entire Tennessee
delegation-many Of which are in favor
of free cOinage-but one Mr.. Cox was
present 80 the conference. The same
thing was true OF a number OF silver
men from other States, who did not de-
sire 20 seem TO separate themselves
Afrom the respective party organizations,
sven on this question.
Reports from members after the eau
Gus adjoured agreed that no differences
,fouiuion were disclosed In the progress
! of the discussion. The question Of the
ratio for the coinage OF silver was not
discussed except incidentally aud as
will be noticed no specific figure was
, named iu the resolution. Speeches
we're made by Judge Culberson, MeSSrs.
Rland, Hatch and Heard, OF Missouri;
Grain and Bailey, Of Texas; Simpson,
OF Kansas; Oates and Bankhead, Of
Alabama; Bryan, Of Nebraska; Sibley,
Of Pennsylvania; BOatner and Blanch-
ard, of Louisiana, and others, all in
support Of the object for which the
caucus has been called
Beside the action reported, motion
by Mr.. Bland was adopted authorizing
the appointment OF a committee OF
whips" one from each State, whose
duty it shall be 20 canvass the House,
discover each members standing upon
the proposed oil, and see that every
friend OF the measure is in his seat and
ready 10 vote when the time comes.
This committee has not yet been
named.
Mr.. Bland stated after the caucus that
Il had been in every respect satisfactory
10 the friends OF free silver coinage.
The steering committee, which had
been named, he said, would probably
meet the committee Of auti-silver men
tomorrow aud discuss the details Of
the discussion 20 be had upon the dill
outlined In the resolution adopted.
1--WE will require ample time," re-
marked Mr.. Bland, 80 carry out
the terms of the resolution aud do not
see how IL will bs possible TO come TO a
vote under q mouth, or probably SIX
weeks. ] cannot tell when the commit
tee will have its oil ready % present 10
the House. The question Of the ratio
TO be Inserted in the Dill was not dis
cussed, but it Is apparent that some of
the free silver men are satisfied that
the present ratio of is to l should be
changed. We shall probably vote upon
the present ratio Of 10 to 1, aud II that
Is defeated then II 20 l, and so on up TO
90 TO /, II necessary"
In the course Of the session Mr..
Bland presented the terms Of the prop
osiiion made 10 him By BOurSe Cochran
on behalf Of the antl-SilyeriteS, for an
Immediate discussion Of the whole sill
yer question. This proposition, II is
understOOk, included a limitation Of the
time within which a vote should be
taken, the number Of amendments 20 be
offered for the measure introduced for
discussion and the manner Of disposlng
OF them, etc. IL could be mad effective
only OF course by consent OF
the silver men, and theat
they might have an opportunity
10 consider IL was one Of the principal
reasons for holding to-day's caucus.
Every one who talked about the pro-
ceedings this afternoon, avoided any
mention OF the views Of the members
npop the subject, but the tenor Of them
NAV be fairly judged by the language Of
the resolution adopted and that Of Mr..
Bland. The inference seems that the
proo1sitlon Of the anti-silver men was
NOT acceptable to the advocates OF free
Roinage and that for the present. At
s,st. there will be no general consent
Arrangements for direetlRg the a'scas-
n the bill 70 repea4 the Snsrmar