People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1895-05-03

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it. Mr.. Crisp's past experience quail
fies him for this work, and it is i'm
portant that on this issue which is to
overshadow all the others, he is en-
tirely on the side of the people.-At-
lQnt0 Constitution.
Mr.. Crisp's silver record cannot be
measured by his vote, and the Con-
sr1rUTIoN does not strengthen its he
roic fight for silver by insisting that
Mr.. Crisp's friendship for silver is to
be ascertained by his 0oteS in Con-
gress. That rule would apply to a
member of Congress occupying a
place on the floor. His strength in
affecting legislation is exhausted
when he casts his vote for or against
the pending measure. His speeches
and committee work are, by the pub
lie, consi Tered as corelatlve matter.
But the rule will not apply to the
Speaker of the House. His vote is
the weakest manifestation of his con-
victions on any question. 1t may
express his individual opinion, or it
may express the policy avowed by
his political party. 1t is merely an
incident and is more frequently used
to deceive than to affirm. We must
look to the Speakers appointment of
committees, his rulings and his con-
duct in the chair, for a measure by
which to judge of his fealty to
policy or principle.
The "great mass of the common
people who," according to Speaker
Fleming, form the backbone of the
nations strength" are in the fight
which the CONSTITUTION is waging
against gold recommendation. They
have grown distrustful of the Demo
cratic and Republican parties and
their leaders because of ''ingenious"
"straddles" and "aptly turned phrases
to beguile them into fancied secu-
rity.'' They need and demand hon
est, straightforward methods, and
honest, straightforward men to enact
those methods into laws.
However much we may admire
Mr.. Crisp as man, and desire his
labor and influence in rescuing the
country from the hands of wreckers,
we cannot afford to purchase it at the
expense of facts and truthful state
anents. The people are tired unto
Heath of the "ingenious politicians"
hey know the facts, and the GIN
knity of politicians" to cloak them
mot avail.
believe that the cause of re-
cannot be advanced by condon-
wrong in man or party. Speaker
5flsp's record upon the silver ques-
ton was the opposite of Congressman
Crisp's votes and public utterances.
AS Speaker of the House it was in
his power in 1892, to have forced the
silver question to a conclusive vote.
He declined to do so, after having
promised the friends of free coinage
of silver that he would.
The Bland silver bill was discussed
for three days. The opponents of
the white metal kept up fillibuster-
ing tactics till II o'clock on the last
day for the consideration of the bill.
The friends Of the bill were deter
mined to continue in session so as to
prevent a lapse of the legislature
day. Mr.. Bland says:
"Mr. Pierce, myself and other
members of the House asked Speaker
Crisp for advice in the matter. He
assured us that he thought fillibuster-
ing had gone on long enough and
that the committee on rules would
report rule to bring the bill to a
vote. ! moved that the House adjourn
at the instance of the Speaker and
with his emphatic statement that he
would report a rule cuttirg off fill
clustering motions and bring the bill
to vote. The next day l went into
the Speakers room, and he advised
the introduction of rule to be voted
on today (Monday) preventing all
fillibustering motions and compelling
vote on the bill. He sat down and
wrote out the rule himself. intro
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