The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-27
FOR FREE COINAGE.
An Effort to Control the Ma
tional Democratic Party.
BLAND AND BRYAN At WORK.
III Majority OF the Democrats In Con-
Sress Can BE Obtained for silver .
Manifesto WIN BE Issued.

Washington City. Feb. S.-Ronssne mat
ters on the fscor Of the house were over
snas.ss we'd in interest today by the initia-
ton OF BRISK movement TO secure q
majority OF the Democrats members in
fasor OF a financial policy having free
SILVER for its keynote. For Some tina
there has been a discussion carried ON nv
the free silver leaders OF the marty OYER
ms rracstcahiiisy OF a plan 10 unite .hes-
forces and crystalline their ideas snso
some SORT Of platform or declaration. The
nef result has been the draft OF a declara-
ton addressed s.fo the Democrats OF sne
United states. and outlining financial
poiiey Tor the Democratic party. This
PAPER has been circulated on the Demo-
craac side Of the house. and is being vIg
orvusly discussed, with the object OF oh
tanning the consensus OF opinion Of silver
Democrats upon its expressions. Tna
chief instigators or the movement are
biand, Bryan. Sibley and cofYeen, of
wyoming. Their paper is at present but
tentative expression. they say, AMI not
IN form for publication. since none Of IT'S
details have been definitely agreed unon
IN substance. it states the financial rol-
ICY or the party to be for the free coinage
or silver and gold on terms of equality at
the ratio Of is 10 Il: for the issue of ALI
paper money by the government without
the Intervention of banks, and opnositIan
to any issue OF interest bearing bonds
without authority of special oct OF con-
gress. Attention is called TO a movement
said to be under way through the efforts
OF the opponents OF free silver in the
party to secure the election OF gold men
as Delegates TO party conventions. and
particularly 10 the next national conven-
ton. for the nomination of a single gold
standard man for the presidency. Demo-
Gratis are charged to oppose the move
ment and TO see TO IL that none hat free
silver men are elacted to positions of in
fiuence In the party and to represent them
in all conventions.
IL the support OF majority OF the party.
in congress can be pledged to financial
platform. II Is intended to issue the mani
festo TO the Democrats of the United
States within a few days. At present the
declaration is In but q formative stage.
Mr.. Bryan says. and II Is intended TO Sc
cure the views of members and make such
changes In il as the majority Of them
they may not be able to agree upon any
form OF address because diversity OF opin-
ion has developed today on the details of
the statement.
But few Eastern members have been
approached and the Populists are entirely
ignored, with the expectation that they
will come into the Democratic party Ii it
declares for free silver. How far this
canvass has been inspired by the meet
ing of the executive committee of the BIZ
metallic league It Is impossible to say.
for, while the prime movers say they are
entirely independent OF the league, 1t IS
noticed that they are men who have been
admitted to the councils OF that body
during this session.
Representative Davis, of Kansas. who
Is a prominent Populist. says that the
more conservative third party men could
adopt a platform for national currency
OF gold, silver and greenbacks with the
single additional plank of government
control of public works.
Most of the Democratic members who
have been presented with the first draft
of the manifesto are more or less reluc-
tanf to discuss the movement, because
secrecy has been entoined upon them I'M
Ill a definite agreement shall have been
cemented.
Mr. Bryan also made an incomplete can
vass of the silver Democrats In the SEN
ate He did not present any prepared
declaration. such as he thought IL would
be wise TO make, but merely submitted
TO them the question OF the ACCESSIBILITY
of such movement and suggested among
other things that a joint meeting Of the
silver Democrats be held before adjourn
ment for consideration of the matter.
1t Is understood that while many OF the
Democratic senators expressed interest
in the question and stated that II struck
them favorably upon first thought, they
should prefer to have time TO think II
over in all It's bearings before finally
committing themselves 10 the project.