The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-24
Hundreds of Letters. Petitions and Tele-
grams Arriving at the White House,
and Nearly All of the Same Tenor.
AMENDED ANTI-OPTION BILL
How Mr.. Hatch Proposes to Wipe
Out Sales of Futures" Etc.
Representative Conn, of Elkhart. I'm
willing to Test His Popularity
at the Polls Again.

WASHINGTON, March 23-Probably be-
cause it was Cabinet day and, therefore,
difficult to get the ear OF the President.
there were few Congressmen at the whIts
House to-day. But they have in no de-
gree been relieved of anxiety as TO the
fate of the seigniorage bill, and doubtless
will make up in numbers tomorrow tha
omissions of to-day.
The situation at the White House pre-
sents one strong feature of novelty in thu
fact that it appears to be the scene OF a
bloodless battle just now between the Cons
gressmen on the one hand, the large ma
jority Of whom are urging signing Of ting
seigniorage bill. and the great comznerciaE
interests of the country on the other, for
twenty-nine out of every thirty Of the COM
munications coming from them pray foE
the veto of the bill. The Congressmeu
have the advantage OF personal presence
on the field but the other side is in evil
dence in great force in the enormous NUNS
Der Of letters that burden the presidential
mail and of kilograms that come numer<
ously as to keep the wires hot and thu
White House operator occupied TO his full
capacity. These communications by NAH
and wire are coming from all parts Of thu
country, and are not. might be sup
posed, altogether OF Eastern origin For
instance. to-day there were appeals for a
veto from Cincinnati, St. Louis. San Fran-
cisco and Salem, Ore. Virginia has also
Joined the line, as was made evident by
protests against the bill from the cotton
factors of Norfolk and the transportation
interests there. A very thoughtful presenta-
tion Of objections TO the bill, coming fron1
Richmond, without doubt has made sons
impression upon the President OF course
it is manifestly impossible for the PRESS
dent to read himself in detail all Of these
communications. but they are carefully ex-
amined by Mr.. Thurber, and any new point
or suggestion on either side Of the case Is
brought to the attention Of the President
There are all sorts Of stories afoat as to
the Presidents disposition towards the bills
and some have gone TO the length Of recit<
ing that he has already PREPARED veto
message. If this be true, he has not taken
the members of the Cabinet into his conf<
dence and at the meeting to-day the sub
ject was discussed from all paints Of -yiews
with a distinct impression the minds-ls
the members of the Cabinet that the Presi-
dent is still open to conviction He has up
to and including next Thursday-nearly q
week-to make up his mind what TO do with
the bill, and there are indications that ha
proposes TO use most of this time in
thoughtful consideration OF the matter. IL IS
no man respects his action on the bill
When a Congressman calls TO urge the Sig
nature OF the bill he Is likely 10 have put
TO him a question that discourages him,
but he soons learns that his colleague who
prays for veto has had a precisely similar
experience, and both are left in more doubt
as to the outcome than before their call
1t is noticeable that some of the communi-
cations received urging veto concede that
owing to the slow formation Of popular
opinion the result may be temporary
party loss at the polls, but they insist that
I'm the end the sound and conservative
course they approve will surely be reward
ed by popular support. This view Is strong
ly expressed in the communications from
the South, which, in cases, adJure the
President to follow the line of conduct
pursued by him in making the tariff issue.
The comparatively few appeals for the sig-
nature Of the bill, a rule, are based ON
the plea that il will do no harm, and Is
absolutely demanded TO insure party unity
and control of the next House Of sRepre<
SentativeS.
rumor has found publication to the efs
feet that the President is about 10 go on
a fishing trip OF few days, probably To
Woodmont, w. Va, but the rumor can bd
positively denied.