Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-24

That interview. said Mr.. German, soft
e,,ed the hard places for those who were
irving TO harmonise differences. II did
much TO aid the Democrats OF the Sen.
ate IN getting together. He did not be-
iieye that the Democrats would ever
have gotten together had II not been for
that interview. The Secretary Of the
Treasury necessarily spoke IN great
measure for the President In matters
relating TO his department. On the morn
,rg following the publication of that In.
tryiew the papers announced that the
President was In entire accord with his
great Secretary Of the Treasury. IL that
WAS not true. then the forty-three Demo-
cratic senators on this side Of the cham
Der had been mislcd.
As compromise. Mr.. German asserted.
the bill. as completed. was satisfactory
"a not single solitary human being, In
all its details But as a whole. the
structure presented. as scanned by the
Secretary OF the Treasury and the Presi-
dent. as looked at BY us. was acceptable.
as the best bill that could be passed.
There was no suggestion anywhere,
either from the President or the Secretary
OF the Treasury. that the bill. as modified
was a violation of principle.
With dramatic emphasis Mr.. German
called upon Messrs. Vest, Jones. and
Voorhees, TO bear testimony as to whether
his statements had varied hairs breadth
from the truth. Let the people have the
truth" said he. as he paused.
MR.. VEST.
Mr.. Vest arose. He began b. saying
he had not himself seen the President
since the repeal of the Sherman law last
summer But with the Secretary OF the
Treasury he had had frequent consulta-
tions. Mr.. Carlisle had repeatedly and
distinctly stated to him that the greatest
possible calamity that could happen would
be the failure OF any bill. He had dis
tlnctiy stated to him that no difference
IN rates should be allowed to stand In
the way of the contamination of some
scheme Of tariff reform. His colleague.
Mr. Jones. had seen both Mr.. Carlisle
and Mr.. Cleveland, and they had both de-
clared that the bill was acceptable to
them. The bill did not suit him VesD.
He knew II must have the support OF the
administration to be passed, and he asked
Mr.. Jones IL the President would throw
the weight Of his influence in favor or II.
Mr. Jones reported that the President
had said TO him: II am willing TO DO
anything 10 pass the bill through Con-
gress."
"If we go into the fight the President
must be behind u.s." j said. Mr.. Jones
replied that he was. 'Thereupon," said
MIR. Vest. Il gave up my personal opin-
ions and resolved to support It, The Presl-
dents letter was the first intimation to me
that he was against us"
MR.. JONES.
When Mr. Vest sat down, Mr.. Jones.
of Arkansas, who was in charge of the
bill took the floor. He was as pale as
death. but showed no signs Of nervous
ness. He realized, he said, when the
bill came to the Senate that 1t could not
be passed in its then form. and he had
gone to work. with infinite labor and
pains, 10 interview every Democratic SEN
ator. He ascertained every objection
they held and carefully noted them. He
mad talked with Mr. Carlisle about his
plan. and the President endorsed it as
wise. Then he Gones) prepared the
amendments In consultation with Mr..
Carlisle The Secretary was thoroughly
informed as To the situation, and he
Uones) had said TO him: 81 will not go
one step further, If the administration is
not behind me-"
II requested him to explain everything
to the President" said Senator Jones.
II saw the President. He told me that
Mr.. Carlisle had explained ALL and he
cleveland thought we were doing wisely.
Among the amendments thus prepared
were those placing coal and iron on the
dutiabIe list Until / read Mr.. Cleveland s
letter TO Mr.. Wilson," said Mr. Jones.
emphatically, II believed he cordially APP
proved of our action. ] had expressed TO
him the opinion that IL must be either
this modified bill or none at all, and he
I'll .IN ss,,a Ia.
favored the modified measure"
As Senator Jones sat down Mr.. Cor
man rose to resume. but Mr.. Villas in
terposed with Il series of questions TO
Mr. Jones: "In your interviews with the
President" asked Mr.. Villas. were the
subjects Of coal and iron ever mentionedg'
Yes" replied Nv Jones. with eXplo-
slve vehemence. AT every conversation
between the President and myself coal
and iron were specifically mentioned"
There was burst of applause from
the gallery, which the presiding officer
checked.
"And," continued Mr.. Jones. with mea-
sured emphasis on each word. "the Presi-
dent never once uttered one solitary word
against going ahead with coal and iron
In the bill, as then In the Senate bill"
zone more question" asked Mr.. Villas.
at all times that iron and coal should be
on the free list?'
"At all times. yes: but II was the eX-
Tressicn of a hope, and the circumstanc =
would not permit its realization" said
Mr.. Jones.
Mr. German next summoned Senator
Harris as a witness. and he stated that
In conversation with Mr. Cleveland ht
Harris) had been led TO conclude that
the President favored the passage of the
compromise Senate bill. not because h
approved 1t, but because 1t was the bes
that could be secured.
GORMAN RESUMES.
Mr.. German here resumed with one Of
tie most sensational references f th'
day to President Cleveland. The Sena
tor spoke of the deep regret with which
he was compelled TO ask the public testi
n.ony of these senators. but the time hat
ccme to speak. The limit OF endurance
had been reached. The Senate had beei
traduced, and an attempt had been mad
to "try and gibbet 1t before the country
Tie charges had been ''foully made iron
sIch distinguished sources that the!
must be met and refuted. The charges
were echoed by men who "chirped whei
he talked" These senators who had psei
summoned had fought for tariff reform
when towards in high places would no
show their heads"
MIR German said ne could conceive N
reason for the remarkable action that ha'
been taken, unless perhaps the one re
sNonsible for IL was consumed by Vani
ty" In desiring to have the country re
gard him as the author of all that wa
right In tarif reform.
AS Mr. German made each reference I
the President there was a commouon II
the galleries, which compelled the pre-
siding officer TO interpose constant eau
tions against further demonstrations.
CRITICISM OF HILL.
Mr.. German next turned his attention
TO Senator Hill's speech of Friday, en-
dorsing President Cleveland's letter.
"That letter" "Asaid Mr.. German, wa
n God-send TO the Senator from New 1or
CMr. HID. 1t was the only comfort ne ma
had from this administration" daughter.
After the laughter had subsided MT Ill
arose. and with good-humored deliberate
ness, said: 'In the last proposition wa
say that the Senator from Maryland ]
entirely correct"
Mr.. German proceeded 10 criticlse Mi
Hins course, and asserted that the Ne'
York Senator had throughout attempte
10 thwart his party.
Never before since the Declaration OF III
dependence. Mr.. German went on, ma
a President of the United States bee
guilty of such a violation OF the spirit Q
the Constitution as had MIR. Cleveland !
writing this letter TO Chairman Wilson
Conference committees should be IRE
from outside influences. THE liberty Q
the Senate should not be invaded, u
said In thunderous tones. though "a tnou
sand hirelings write us down and traduc
us"