The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-03-25


Clevc!and's private office at The cXecu-
tive mansion was center of unusual
activity today, as the leading silver
men Of Congress appeared before him
10 urge that he sign the Bland bill.
Al one time there were fifteen of them
ranged about the president and earn
esty pleading with him. They had
come singly and in state delegations.
Representatives Martin, I}roollshire,
and Mcdonald. of Illinois, came with
Repres. ntatives Martin, Brookshire,
and NcNagny. OF Iowa. Accompanying
Shem was son of eX-Secretary Of the
2Feasljry NcCuIoeh, who came as a
western banker tc ulge the signing of
me ain
Representative Bryan was there to
urse the desire of the far northwest
that the bill be signed.
Representative McMiiiiu, of the
Ways and Means Committee, was
just back from a visit to his state,
which satisfied him. he said. that a sill
Yer veto meant political disaster.
Representatives Tucker and Wise, OF
Virginia. were there with the Virginia
se1ator, Mr.. Hunton, on the same mis-
Representatives Patterson, of Ten
nessee. Wheeler, of Alabama, CarrIth,
of Kentucky. Black. of Illinois, and Sib-
ley. of Pennsylvania, added 10 the
gathering.
Were Az Ardent silver Men.
Everyone of the callers was an ar
dent silver man, except possibly. Mir.
Black and he, too, WIS there TO urge
that the people of Illinois wanted the
bill signed. The president had a cor
dial greeting for the various congress
men. and showed much interest in the
various plans presented. 1t was evil
dent. however. that he was much wor-
iied and that the strain was telling up
on him. one congressman after an
other was heard. They spoke with
great eaInesmess. No effort was made
to conceal the feeling that he sSist-
ence Of the present majority in Won
Eress depended on the signing Of the
bill.
Representative .A1cA1lHn said no
Democrat could be elected in his state
who would endorse silver veto. He
= was just back from Mississippi, where
he said the most intense feeling exist
ed in opposition to a veto
Representative Bryan, of Nebraska
took Tor his text the significant fact
that the center Of population in the
United States was Sja miles west o1
New York. lie said the northwestern
people. whether right or wrong, feared
the president 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 best desire to act for the welfare
of the whole people, east and west
alike.
Representatives Mcdonald and
Brookshire voiced the views of Illinois
and Indiana.
Then Occurred Striking scene.
Then occurred a striking scene which
viii be long remembered by those pres.
9nt.
Mr. AIrCulloch, son Of the ex-secre.
tary, and now an Indiana banker, had
urged that the western bankers were
not afraid OF an oversupply of silver
He instanced his own bank. in which
he said there WAS constant call fol
silver. The metal was never on HAND
in quantities greater than the de-
4 mand.
! At this point President Cleveland
framed the reply to the many pleas
lie stood by the side of his large desk
one hand resting on il, and spoke Il
the fifteen or twenty earnest men be
fore him.
He spoke of his anxiety to help the
congressman and their people, by sucf
action as would be best for the whole
country. II was not a question abou
inaiorities IN Congress, or Of any Other
told them that they had his sympathy
and he earnestly wished he was a lib
erJy to look at the matter and ac
solely from their point OF view. II
fact. nothing would please him more
than 10 leave the matter to be settled
by Congress. Bus Congress had turn
cd il ever 20 aim, and upon him resteC
the responsibility which he could no
and would NOT eKade. The Performance.
Of his fun duty obliged him to consid
er. not the interests OF this OF tina
section. but the welfare Of the Who'll,
people, and that duty ne should en-
deavor 10 discharge To the best OF hi!
ability. To that end he had sought in
an interests He intended TO take al
Of the facts into consideration and {.
base his decision upon the conviction
mat he should reach as &c the inter
of the whole people.
Feels thc Responsibility.
He spoke feelingly of the gravity o
the responsibility thus imposed upol
him by the differences in various local.
ties. He pointed out some of the fes
lures urged against the bill. He diC
not say they were fatal defects, We
the tendency Of his statements was t
show he could not yet reconcile him
self TO The views the silver men ha,
expressed. Air. CleN Gland spoke 70
fully fifteen minutes.
When the main body OF congressmel
had retired, others arrived and then
stream of silver pleas continues
throughout the public hours of tn
president To one of the congressmel
Mr.. Cleveland pointed out that his mali
Y fear was against the section of the bill