Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-05
WESTERN SILVER MEN
Propose to Return the Favor q Last Fall with
Tariff Bill.

amend the bill In that particular, being
aided in this by the Californians. In this
effort they will have the cooperation OF the
silver Republicans. So will the Alabama
senators when they seek to change the iron
ore schedules, in which the people OF their
state are so much interested.
e The two Alabama senator's were among
the stanchest friends of silver last fall,
and this is to be their reward. 1t is not
likely the silver Republicans will help the
West Virginia senators to restore the duty
on coal. Both of the West Virginia sena'
tors voted last fall to repeal the purchase
clause of the Sherman law. and the silver
men are said to be glad of "a chance to show
that they remember their enemies as well
as their friends
A Good Political Measure.
Today it is the determination of the silver
Republicans, or at least some of them, to
do everything they can to make their pow
er felt on the tariff. They are able to dc
this without deserving the Republican par
ty, for that party in the senate has no def
mite policy unless it be the negative one OF
simple opposition to the Democratic tariff
bin. II the silver Republicans part com
pany at all with their party friends, it will
be only as to the wisdom of helping the
Democrats amend their own bill. The be
lief of the Republican leaders is that as
pSljtical measure the pending bill is as bad
assit can be-to w.t. as good for them-and
they do not propose to be OF assistance III
making it better. Undoubtedly the silver
men know what they are about. Theii
best play is not only to remember the
friends who stood by them in their hour O,
need last year. but to lay up q store OF cap
ital which will help them in the future. Il
any one imagines the last great battle OIL
the silver question has been fought in this
country, he will probably live to discover
his mistake.
Ready to Combine.
This attitude of the silver men is aboul
the most interesting thing in the situation
BY setting themselves up as II little party
of their own, as wing that stands for
single interest, they become very nearly
masters Of the situation. The Democratic
majority in the senate is so slender that the
silver men are able at times to hold the
balance of power, and though it is not theli
plan to cut loose entirely from the Repub
lican fold they are inclined just enough to
ward independence to make their position
ominous and powerful. They are sure te
have q great deal to say about the new tar
III law. BY standing out in the open be
tween the two parties they will be able t,
turn the tide Of battle first one way anC
then another Wherever a combination
can be formed that promises strength te
silver in the future it is pretty safe to say
that they will be found ready to combine.
By the same token that they will helI
Florida and California on fruits they viii
decline to help Louisiana on sugar. Fin
actment of the tariff law as it now stands
without either tariff or bounty on sugar
will be q very hard blow at the sugar
planters of Louisiana. 1t will be the first
time in about half a century that their in
terest has not had the advantage of one OF
the other form Of protection. Opinions
differ as to whether the sugar interest OF
Louisiana will be wiped out by the effects
of the new law, but there can be no doubt
that one result will be to undermine the
popularity and perhaps bring Oh the poit
ical ruin of the senators from that state
This will be more strikingly the case il il
appears, as it probably will appear, tina,
but for their opposition to silver last fall
the Louisiana senators might have had the
cooperation of the silver men in their eff
fort to restore either the bounty or the tax
A Disturbing Element.
BY throwing their favors to sections o,
the country which stand with them and
casting stones at the other fellows the sill
yer men expect to set a lot of bread to float
ing on the political waters, to return after
many days They hope to build up a silver
party by means of giving power to the arms
of their friends and striking at their enc
mics that some day will give them n sigma!
gvictory over the cohorts OF the gold stand
ard.
The silver men are human enough to take
a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction out
of the fact that repeal of the purchase clause
of the Sherman law did not bring on the
general and immediate prosperity which
was promised by some Of the more sanguine
advocates of that repeal. While it is doubt
less true that the country has gradually re-
covered its wonted equanimity and conf
tience has gradually returned in business
circles, the silver men contend that would
have happened quite as fast. if not faster,
with the silver purchases continued as they
were before. The silver men Also point to
the sad condition of the treasury as evil
dence that the repeal of the Sherman law
did not bring the relief to that much har-
,ried institution that was held forth in the
promises of President Cleveland and his
supporters.
It is not denied among the Democratic
leaders of the senate that there is great
deal of anxiety as to the position assumed
by the silver Republicans. Those Demo
Gratis who want the Wilson bill put through
with bHt few amendments are fearful that
combinations will be formed to give the
bill a thorough ovcrhauling. They fear that
by the time local interests and state selfish
ness have finished with the measure its ia
Tiers will not be able to recognize it. They
have not forgotten that it was a tacit I'M
,,lerstanding between the silver Republic
nns and the southern Democrats that de-
ieated the force bill during the term of
President Harrison. 1t becomes palmer and
palmer as the days go by that the silver
party in the senate. small as it is, promises
10 be u disturbing clement for years to come
and to be u potent factor in the upsetting
Of many legislative and political calcula-
ytions.
Crushing Out Fad.
New York, Feb. 4-The Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has
taken vigorous steps to stop the wearing
of chametsons Saturday morning Officer
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