The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25
LECTURED CLEVELAND.
OVEK-ZEALOUs ADVOCATE or IH|
RLAKD BILL AKNOYs HIN.
III the Effect of the BIZ Upon the Coun'ry
would be Good He will sign 1t, If not
He will Veto It,

h'aAN'''-+-
shares Mr.. Clevelands confidence to
large degree, and who himself is
sturdy opponent OF the bill, stated TINS
afternoon that there was no doubt 0t
the Presidents action In the matter.
This gentleman saw the President early
in the day.
Mr.. Cleveland gave no intlma.ion OF
what his purpose wes. but he said he
was considering the bill calmly and dis
passionateIy and without regard to any
other consideration except its effect upon
the country
L. IL Right or Wrong?
If that effect would be good. in his
Judgment he would sign IL. IL IL would
be injurious, be would veto it. There
could be, he said. no middle course. II
was not question Of courage he said,
but whether the bill was right or wrong,
and his actions regarding the measure
would be based wholly upon the con-
ciusions to be drawn from these PROPOSE
tions
The Presidents visitors stated that Mr..
Cleveland was showing the effect Of the
terrible pressure which had been brought
TO bear upon him for and against the
bill lie looked years older than ne did
when he returned from his hunting trip
a few weeks ago. More than a dozen
members Of Congress called upon him
to-day and urged him TO sign the bin.
Read the President Lecture
They were all southern and western
men, and one Of the number il is re-
ported. took it upon himself to read the
President lecture regarding his dis
position Of the bill and the effect Of a
veto la the South. This gentleman stated
that under these circumstances Il would
be impossible 10 elect Democrat from
the State which ne represented. and that
Populists and Republicans would be sub
stituted i'm the next House for the present
Democratic delegation. The President is
said TO have been visibly annoyed at this
partisan appeal, and expressed himself in
sharp terms I'm reply, stating, In effect,
slat the subject was one which required
consideration from a higher standpoint
than that Of political expediency.
VIII Use All Of Ris Time
From what the President is quoted as
saying to-day, fl is obvious that he will
avail himself Of the full limit Of time
afforded him I'm which to dispose Of the
bin. Whether he signs it or vetoes it,
his action will not be taken. in all proba-
biity, before Thursday Of next week.
At one time fifteen friends Of the seig-
niorage bill were ranged about the Presi-
dent and earnestly pleading with him.
They had come singly and in State dele
cations Representatives Williams. For
man. and Mcdonald. of Illinois, came With
Representatives Martin. Brookshire. and
McNagny, Of Indiana. Accompanying
the Indianians was n son Of ex-Secretary
Of the Treasury. Hugh McCulocf. who
came as "A western banker to urge the
signing Of the bill. Representative
BRYAN, Of Nebraska, was there 70 urge
the desires Of the Northwest that the
bill be signed
The Southern Representatives.
Representative Mcmillan, Of the Ways
and Means Committee. was just back from
q visit to the State which sent him. He
said to-day that a silver veto meant
political disaster. Representatives Tucker
and Wise, of Virginia, were there with
the Junior Virginia Senator, Mr.. Hunton.
on the same mission. Representatives
Patterson Of Tennessee. Wheeler OF Ala
hama, Caruth Of Kentucky, Black Of
Illionois, and Siblcy Of Pennsylvania,
added 20 the formidable gathering Of con-
gressional leaders. Every olF of the
callers was an ardent silver man. eX-
cept possibly Representative Black, Of
Chicago. and he. too, was there 10 urge
that the people of Illinois wanted the
Bland bill signed. The President had a
cordial greeting for the various silver
men and showed much interest in the vaTi-
Gus pleas presented
one Congressman after another was
heard They spoke with great earnest
ness. No effort was made 10 conceal the
feeling that the existence Of the present
majority in Congress depended on the
signing Of the bin. Mr. McMillin Tenn)
said that no Democrat could be elected
| to Congress In his State wko would en-
dOrse a silver veto. He was just back
from Tennessee, where, he said the most
intense feeling existed I'm opposition 10 a
veto. Representative Bryan CNeb) took
for his text the significant fact that the
centre of popation ia the United
States was 500 miles west Of New York.
| He said the northwestern people, whether
| right or wrong. feared that the President
! had closed his eyes to them and thought
only OF the East
Mr.. Cleveland interrupted to say that
| he knew no section. and that he had the
deepest desire to act for the welfare OF
the whole people, East and West alike.
Representatives Brookshire and McDOn-
aid voiced the views Of Indiana and H.
iinois respectively.
Mr. Cl~veland's Reply.
Then occurred a striking scene. which
will be long remembered by the represen-
tatves present. Mr.. McCulloch. son Of
the ex-Secretary. and now an Indiana
banker bad urged that the western banks
| We're not afraid of an oversupply of sill
Yer. He instanced his own bank. I'm
| which he said, there was a constant call
for silver The metal was never on hand
in quantities greater than the demand.
The people appeared TO hoard it as much
as any other class of money.
| At this point President Cleveland framed
| the reply 10 the many pleas which had
| been pouring in upon him, and which up
| TO this point he had not attempted 10
answer or parry except by casual re-
marks. He stood beside his large desk,
with one hand resting upon II. and spoke
! 10 the fifteen or twenty earnest men be-
fore him. His words came slowly and
with deep earnestness. He spoke Of his
anxiety to help the congressman and their
| people by such action as would be best
for the whole country. II was a question
above majorties IN Congress or of any
other personal or selfish consideration.
He told them that they had his sympathy
and that he earnestly wished that he was
| at liberty 10 look al tine matter and act
| solely from their point Of view.
| In fact nothing would please him more
| than TO leave the matter to be settled by
| Congress. But Congress had turned IL
| over TO him and upon him rested the
responsibility which he could not and
would not evade. The performance OF
his full duty Obliged him to consider
not the interests of this or that section.
but the welfare Of the whole people. and
that duty he should cndeavor TO discharge
TO the best Of his ability. To that end
he had sought information from all
sources and heard all interests. He
intended to take all Of the facts into con-
sideraton and to base his decision upon