The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-08-16
WASHINGTON LETTER,

WASHINGTON. d. G, Aug. II, 1893.
President Cleveland's message to congress
has been as closely studied as any similar doc
ument ever was by members of Congress and
it is evident that 1t is going to be powerful
factor in the financial legislation of the session.
It apparently opposes the ideas of many demo-
Gratis in both House and Senate. just as his cell
ebrated tariff message of 1857 did. but honest
and conscientious beliefs conspicuous in every
sentence of it. And the opposition to what are
known as siIVer democrats is more apparent
than real. for they all agree with the Presidents
Recommendation for the repeal of the silver
purchasing clause of the Sherman law. only
differing as to what shall be substituted. The
message recommends the repeal and leaves the
question OF a substitute to the wisdom of Con
gress. and nine-tenths of the democrats are
Ger tain that the repeal will be followed. and
that other financial legislation. which will be
equally satisfactory to the silver democrats and
to President Cleveland. will be agreed npon by
the democrats in both House and Senate and
that the persistent efforts of the republicans to
split the democratic party on the silver question
will fail.
Acting ON the maxim quoted in the Presi
dents message" He gives twice who gives
quickly'-the democrats in the House. both
silver and anti.silver men. are trying to reach
an agreement to take up and decide the silver
question without waiting for 1.-THE appointment
of committees and the adoption of rules. 1t
will be easy to take the matter up without an
agreement only majority vote being required
but if an agreement can be reached upon just
what is to be voted upon and how much time is
to be given to discussion much time will be
saved that would necessarily be wasted if no
agreement is made. to say nothing of the possi-
bility of fllibustering.
The silver men have in caucus decided to vote
for the repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman law, if the bill for its repeal provides
for the free coinage of silver on such a ratio as
will provide and maintain the parity between
gold and silver. The fact that no particular
ratio is mentioned is significant 1t means that
the caucus of silver democrats did not believe
it possible to succeed in maintaining the pres
ent ratio of 16 to 1 and that they are willing to
increase the ratio.
1t is now claimed that careful poll of tn
House. made this week. shows majority of 35
in favor of the repeal of the purchasing claus
of the Sherman law. The Senate is more doubt
ful, and it is much more difficult tC
ascertain how Senators whose positions are not
clearly defined will vote. but strong efforts are
now being made to bring the democratic Sena-
tors together. and the indications point to sue.
cess. A caucus of democratic Senators this
week appointed committee of fve-Gor man.
Ransom Gray. Verhees. and Blackburn-to
consider and report plan with that end in
view The republicans. unintentonslly, of
course. added largely to the probability of
united democratic action in the Senate by their
attem pts to make political capital, which were
promptly and properly rebuked by Senator
German, out of the present financial situation
The Senate committee on Finance. of which
Senator voorhees, is chairman. held its first
meeting yesterday. The committee did not lack
for business, either. as more than score OF
bills which have been introduced in the Senate
and have been referred to the committee. A
majority of this committee are bimetalists. but
some of the most prominent of them. includin g
the chairman. have declared their belief in the
vicieusness of the Sherman law and their will
lingness to vote for its unconditional repeal
The senate is naturally deliberate in all its
actions so it will not be surprising if the House
takes Up the silver question before this commit
tee reports bill to the Senate. The resolution
| of Senator Lodge. of Force bill fame, directing
the committee to report a bill for the repeal oi
the Sherman law and providing that a vote
should be taken thereupon on the 22nd of this
month was only bit OF republican buncombe
and the adoption of the resolution would have
surprised NO one more than its author,
The bitterest pill in the Presidents message
for the republicans 10 swallow. was the plain
statement thai he txpec ected Congress to obev the
| will OF the people aid proceed to reform The
| iniquitous tariff as soon as the finances have
| been looked af,er. Because the Itroub les
brought upon the country by republican fnan-
cial legislation have so conspicuously forced
| themselves upon public attention of late re.
publicans have allowed themselves to believe
that the Mckinley law was to be undisturbed
by this Congrets. They know better now, and
the knowledge doesn't please them.