The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-01
TARTARY ISN'T In 1T
The Silver King of the West Is a
Despot Of the First Water.
HIS SUBMISSIVE SUBJECTS
Woe Ee to Him Who Flaunts His
independence in These Rocky
Mountains-Senat Vi
las Says So.

Washington, Jan. 31.-When the sem
ate convened to-day the silver bond
bill had immediate right-of-way. Sem
ator Allen of Nebraska called attention
ITO the absence of a quorum. This nec-
essitated a roll call. which brought the
! senators from the committee and cloak
rooms and disclosed 46 senators pres
ent. one more than a quorum. Villas
then addressed the senate in opposi-
tion to the bill which. he said. deserv-
ed its fate, strangled by silver. and in
denunciation of the mine owners of the
Rockies who, he declared. were re-
sponsible for the agitation in favor of
free coinage.
1T WILL" said Villas, doubtless new
er be necessary to discuss this bill as
II came from the house. But ii may be
said that II deserves it's fate, strangled
by silver. 1t was but the fraudulent
pretext of a response TO the exigency
IL professed to meet, and to the rea-
sonable suggestions of the president,
which ii denies. while II avowed their
| wisdom. With the exception of the
provision for emergency certificates
which ought to stand in the perma-
nent statutes-the house bill contained
nothing commendable. everything
else was but a mockery of the legisla-
tion demanded by our fiscal conditions.
And so again, as a year ago. partisan
ship or imbecility, or both, has stricken
congress with paralysis, and the res
| cue of prosperity from its recurring
| peril has been thrown upon the execu-
! tive. 1t is almost as fortunate as for
| tuitous that an old statute has remain
ed untouched during our financial
| madness, which can again serve the
turn, and although in a clumsy way
when considered with reference to the
| existing conditions and suitable meas
ures of relief. yet it shows that Gods
| pity and mercy are not wholly with
! drawn from us.
"If," he continued, "any trusted
| agent in private affairs should so deny
| duty and abuse trust as congress did
a year ago. and now repeats. no judg-
| ment in their condemnation would be
| too severe. More than s16,000,000 in
the public debt were then thrown away
| in the reckless rage of partisanship.
and the injury that must now be sus-
tained by the people for the same sea-
son is probably no less. although the
| exact measure of II is not quite so
clear. Then republican management
was able to show the pretense that,
| except for the populists and free sill
verites, there might have been relief.
| 1t was true, then, that this bill has
now unmasked the fact, by denying
under republican dictation the only
remedy available for the increased mis-
chief" He said he had hitherto con-
cluded that it was the wisest policy to
sit and allow the silver advocates to
do the talking. as they were in the
habit of doing, at the ratio of about
16 to 1. but he had heard 1t asked why
the opponents of free coinage did not
| justify their faith in debate. He thea
proceeded to discuss the free coinage
| provision of the pending bill; declar-
ing that the distress and public misery
| for the past three years were the d.
rect products of the efforts to force
silver upon the country.
| The speaker divided the silver ad-
| vocates into three classes. First, those
| who were interested in silver mining:
second, heavy debtors; and third,
those who believed in the principle of
bimetallism. OF the first class, he
said that they were few in number,
but wonderfully potential; of the sec
ond. that they might deserve sympa-
thy If they did not shock it," the third
class he described as honestly mistak-
en-, and to them he addressed his argu-
ment. He contended that the silver
mine owners were largely responsible
for the agitation for free coinage, and
| after asserting that silver mining was
confined TO the Western states, he stat
ed that the mines were owned by COM
paratively few people and largely by
corporations, who, by the employment
of labor, often make large profits on a
comparatively small outlay The keen
est and best trained intellects, he said.
were enlisted by this solid interest,
which was possessed of great
strength of numbers and riches, power
full in intelligence. learning and skill.
| the only perceptive of it's special in
terest, hardy and resolute to seek It,
That interest was in to win. secure the
best price for silver"
He declared the people of the Rocky
mountains to be subservient TO the
mine-holders. The verieSt despot OF
history, the grand kahn of Tartary
the great mogul never had more sub
| massive subjects than the silver king OF
the Rockies; nor was ever tyrant more
| pitilessly exacting. No independence
Of thought or speech is tolerated there
| No party. no creed. no business car
thrive which dares 10 doubt IN tbs
| realms of that monarch the law OF
| finance as Il is in silver. The business
men find II prudent to say nothing. and
as for the politician who dares TO fiaun,
| his independence. woe be TO him
| Villas traced the past legislation IL
the interest 81 silver 10 the theory oi
| protect Son. which he characterized as
| vicious and wicked. TIE senator ther
| proceeded 70 a review of silver in gen