The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-03-24

against country liz the matter OF the seign-
forage bill The opposition to the measure
is not confined TO the east. From every
place of considerable size in the Mississippi
valley the president is receiving earnest
protests against the coinage of the seign-
forage, SO called. The commercial organi-
cations and business interests seem to be
aroused very much as they were last sum
mef when the repeal of the silver pur-
chasing clause was pending Running
through the letters and kilograms is the
expression of fear that the increase OF
silver. though only about $4,000, 900. will
cause an outflow of gold, discrimination
between the different kinds OF money
and disturbing premium against
silver. Il seems from the tone
of these communications to the
president that only this provocation is
needed to put every handler of money at
work boarding the gold and bank notes
and discarGing the silver notes.
The manifestation of alarm, whether
justified or not. is very strong IL is
notices BILE that thus far nearly all OF the
encouragement the president has received
to sign the bill has been in the form of
personal visits from western and
southern congressman who represent
agricultural districts. Very few petit
tions for signing have come from the
people, and with the single exception of
Patterson, of Memphis, there is hardly a
congressman from city district vino has
called TO ask the approval CT the bill
Patterson was for the repeal of the silver
purchasing clause. He was scored by his
free silver colleagues from Tennessee for
that. He now seems to be evening up his
record by urging the president to sign the
bill.
Congressman Bland said today he had
no definite Information as to the intention
of the president, but he was beginning to
fear a veto.
It was cabinet day and therefore diff
cult to get the ear of the presi-
dent. There were few congressman at
the White House today. But they have
in no degree been relieved of anxiety as 20
the fate of the seigniorage bill and doubt
less will make up in numbers tomorrow
the omissions of today. The situation at
the White House presents one strong
feature, novelty. in the fact that it ap-
pears to be a scene of a bloodless battle
just now between the congressman on the
one hand. the majority of whom are
urging the president TO sign the bill, and
the great commercial interests of the
country on the other, for two out of every
three of the communications are prayers
for the veto of the bill. The congressman
have the advantage of personal presence on
the field. but the other side is in evidence
in great force in the large number OF
letters received in the presidents mails,
and kilograms that come in numbers
sufficient TO keep the White
capacity. The communications by mail
wire are from all parts of the country.
For instance, today there were appeals for
a veto from Cincinnati, st. Louis. San
Francisco. and Virginia has also falien
into line as was made evident 10y protests
against the bill from the factories at Nor
folk, and the transportation Interests
there. A very thoughtful presentation of
objections to the bill coming from Rich
mond, without doubt has made an impress
sion upon the president.
OF course it is impossible for the presi-
dent to read, himself, all of these commu-
nicationS. but they are carefully examined
by Private Secretary Thurber. aud any
new point or suggestion on either side of
the case is brought to the attention of tue
president.
There are all sorts of stories afloat as to
the Presidents disposition towards the
bill, and some have gone to the length
of stating that he has already prepared a
veto message. If this be true be has
not taken the members OF the cabinet into
his confidence
a week TO make Cup his lmind what to do
with the BILL aud there are indications
that be proposes TO use most of this time
IN thoughtful consideration of the matter.
1t is certain he has committed himself to
no one as respects his action on the bill.
When n congressman calls to see the pres
ident aud urge the signature of the bill, he
Is likely to have put TO him q question
that dscourages him, but he soon learns
that his colleague, who prays for a veto,
has had precisely similar experiences,
and both are left in more doubt as to the
outcome. It is noticeable that
some communications are received
urging a veto, but concede that owing to
the slow formation of popular opinion the
result may be a temporary party loss at
the polls, but they insist that in the end
they will surely be rewarded by popular
support. This view is strongly expressed
in the communications from the south
which urge the president to follow the
line OF conduct pursued by him in making
the tariff the issue
Few appeals for the signature Of the bill
as rule are based on the plea that it will
cause no BARN and is absolutely necessary
to insure party unity and the control OF
the next house of representatives.
A rumor is made public 10 the effect that
the president is about TO go on a fishing
trip for few days.