Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-06
F ALL URE OF REF EAL
The Fight Against the State Bank Tax
Ends
Friends of the Measure Think They
Have Not Been Treated Right
AS q Party Plank.

The battle over the state bank tax was
fought to a finish in the House today After
a long debate and a struggle in which the
southern men, who were the ones most in
terested, exerted themselves to the utmost
to bring about the repeal, a vote was reach
ed this afternoon.
The friends of the measure have never
been sanguine, except just before the mat
ter came up for consideration by the House
AT that time they got some encouragement
from a canvass made by two members. 1t
soon became apparent that the proposition
would fail, and when the vote was reached
today it was with no hope on their part.
Many CT the southern men feel that they
have been badly treated in this matter by
the administration and by the members of
the House in their party from other Sec
lions. The declaration in favor of the re-
peal of the state bank tax was inserted into
the democratic platform, without any res
ervation, though it did not present a ques-
ton which had been widely discussed as a
party measure.
1t has been regarded by many as a mys-
terry how the plank ever got into the plat
form, and during the campaign the re-
publicans made the most of it to argue
that the democrats favored wild cat
banking. 1t was regarded in many sections
as calculated to seriously in lure the demo-
cratic cause, but the result did rot indi-
cate tndt IL ndu mucn erect votes
To Divide the Silver Forces.
The secret of the platform declaration
was that it was adopted as a means of
dividing the silver forces SO as to separa tie
to some extent the southern men, who
simply asked for silver means of sup
plying more money, from the men who
stood out for silver for silver's own sake.
A hard fight was ma lie 20 get 4 Tattoo; Cd
declarati ton in favor Of the free coinage Of
silver into the platform, ami f. Is believed
that the adoption OF .he state bank tax
plank enabled the nnti-silver men to con-
struct the silver straddla which has since
been so construed as. to accomplish the re-
peal OF the Sherman law.
1t was used a foil tor silver then, and
ii Is believed that ii was serviceable in the
same way when IT came to the repeal of the
Sherman law. 1t is said that while the sill
Yer question was up in Congress at the eX-
ira sesSicn Mr.. Carlisle uuau2lifeiy ap-
proved &C the state bank tax rereaI and Mr..
Cleveland himself allowed L to be under
stool that he would favor the proposition.
Adverse Position of the President.
It was even said that after the repeal of
The Sherman law he would wlite a mes
Sage favorirg the repeal of the state bank
tax 1t is not stated that he ever made any
direct promises, nor that ne was insincere
In his friendly expressions Oh tie question
at fhc time. but since then he has not only
not done anything to help along the repeal
but II is said that latterly he has taken
grounds against ii. not as a principle, but
as matter of policy at this time 1t is be-
lieved. by friends of the proposition, that
had he done anything to help them they
would have succeeded. and II is said that a
word from him finally settled the fate of the
bill adversely.
He is quoted as saying to a Representa-
tive from Pennsylvania, who was doubtful
as TO how he should vote. and who consult
n ha a mot . 1st,Ir
try had yet been educsted up to the repeal
OF this tax and that. therefore. he thought
1t would be just well If the matter were
discussed now, but not passed. He is quoted
as suggesting further that sometime in the
future when the public taste had been suf-
fciently cultivated for II the bill might be
passed. and the pledges Of the party plat
form be thus redeemed