Omaha daily bee., 1894-03-25
PLEADING WITH CLEVELAND
Friends and Enemies of the seigniorage Bill
Try to Convince Him,
HIS DECISION YET A MATTER OF DOUBT
Neither Side Knows Whether They Have
Been Successful or Not-Many De-
mands for "A Veto-The Situa-
ton Mt Present.

WASHINGTON, March 24.-President
Cleveland's private office at the executive
mansion was a center of unusual activity
today, as the leading silver men of congress
appeared before him to urge that he sign the
Bland silver seigniorage bill. At one time
there were fifteen of them ranged about the
president and earnestly pleading with him.
They had come singly and in state delega-
tions. Representatives Williams, Forman
and Macdonald of Illinois came with Repre-
sentatives Martin, Brookshire and McNagny
of Indiana. Accompanying the Indianians
was a son of ex-Secretary of the Treasury
McCulloch, who came as a western banker
to urge the signing of the bill. Representa-
tive Bryan of. Nebraska was there to urge
the desires of the far northwest that the bill
be signed. Representative Mcmillan of the
ways and means committee was just back
from a visit to his state, which satisfied him,
he said. that a silver veto meant political
disaster. Representatives Tucker and Wise
OF Virginia were there with the Junior Vir-
ginia senator, Mr.. Hunton, on the same mis-
sion. Representatives Patterson of Tonnes
see, Wheeler of Alabama, Caruth of Ken
lucky, Black of Illinois and Sibley of Pennsyl-
vania added to the formidable gathering of
congressional leaders. Every one of the
callers was an ardent silver man. except
possibly Mr.. Black. and he. too, was there
to urge that the people of Illinois wanted
the bill signed.
The president had a cordial greeting for
the anxious silver men and showed much in
terest in the various pleas presented. 1t
was evident, however, that he was much
worried, and that the strain was telling upon
him. One congressman after another was
heard. They spoke with great earnestness.
No effort was made to conceal the feeling
that the existence of the present majority
in congress depended on the signing of the
bill. Representative McMillin of Tennessee
said no democrat could be elected to congress
in his state who would endorse a silver
veto. He was Just back from Tennessee,
where, he said, the most intense feeling
existed in opposition to a veto.
Representative Bryan Of Nebraska took for
his text the significant fact that the center
Of population in the United States was 800
miles west of New York. He said the north
western people, whether right or wrong,
feared the president closed his eyes to them,
and thought only of the east.
CLEVELAND ASKS QUESTIONS.
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 Mcdonald
voiced the views Of the Indianians, respect
lively. Then occurred a striking scene, which
will be long remembered by the representa-
tives present. Mr.. McCulloch, son of the
eX-secretary, and now an Indiana banker,
had urged that the western banks were not
afraid of an oversupply of silver. He in
stanced his own bank, in which, he said,
there was a constant demand for silver. The
metal was never on hand in quantities
greater than the demand.
At this point President Cleveland framed
the reply to the many pleas which had been
pouring in upon him, and, up to this point,
he had not attempted to answer or parry,
pyppnt nv p1gIlal rproprkS He Gtnnd hnSilp
his large desk with one hand resting upon it
and spoke to the fifteen or twenty earnest
men before 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. 1t was a question above
majorities in congress, or of any other per-
sonal or Reconsideration. He told them
that they had his sympathy and he earnestly
wished he was at liberty to look at the mat
ter 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 it over to him, and
upon him rested the responsibility which he
could not and would not evade. The per-
formance Of his full duty obliged him to
consider, not the views of this or that sec
ton, but the welfare of the whole people,
and that duty he should endeavor to dis
charge to the best of his ability. To that
end lie sought Information from all sources
t'AA AS'h 49, ~ S'h ~ WIN 4 tdhC
all of the facts into consideration and to
base his decision upon the conviction that
he should reach as to the interests of the
whole. He spoke feelingly of the gravity of
the responsibility thus imposed upon him by
the differences in various localities. He
pointed out some of the features urged G ainst
the bill. He did not say that they were
fatal defects, yet the tendency of his state
ments was to show he could not yet reconcile
himself to the views the silver men had ex-
pressed. Mr.. Cleveland spoke for fully five
minutes.
When the main body or congressman had
retired others arrived, and then a stream
of silver pleas continued throughout the
public hours of the president. To one of
the congressman Mr.. Cleveland pointed out
that his main fear was against the second
section of the Bland bill, which may cause
a run on the treasury for the redemption of
the treasury notes in gold. Another i'm
portant criticism advanced by Mr.. Cleveland
was that the phraseology of the Bland bill
was defective. in the judgment of eminent
legal authorities, The president pointed out
that the wording of the section directing
the coinage of the seigniorage was such that
while it seemed to authorize $55, 900. 900, it
was omen to the construction that the amount
should be $40, 900, 900. While not stating the
defect was fatal, the president seemed to re-
gard it as a serious matter in such a
measure.
The south came strongly to the front
today in the letters and the kilograms piled
upon Mr.. Thurber's desk, nearly all praying
for a veto.