The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-01-14
SENATE COMMITTEE RRORGAN.
IZATION.

the Action Of the Populists in that Mat
ter-The Refusal of the Democratic
Silver Senators to Join the Populist
Senators in Reorganization on a Silvel
Basis Was a Cowardly Surrender of the
Organization to the Republicans"-The
Charge Went Home to the Democratic
Minority and Stirs up Senator Harris
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
January 6, 1896.
The surrender of the Democratic
minority defeated the reorganization
of the Senate by the silver men and
gave the committee control of the
body by the Republicans. 1t was a
piece of glaring Democratic ~incousis-
tency and i~ndefensible c~owardice. 1t
vas efectually exposed by Senator
Butler in the following remarks in the
Congressional Record" December 80
Mr.. Butler said:
"Mr. President, I regret that I am
compelled, so soon after entering this
body, to take issue with those who
have served here 50 long and so prom
inently. But some things have been
said re h9cting on the Peoples Party
which I, representing that party in
part a. I do, a not allow to go I'm
challenged. For instance, such a
statement as that made by the Senator
from Tennessee [Mr. Harris1, who
seemed to take peculiar pleasure in
trying to brand or stigmatiz9 the PEG
pies Party as an annex to some other
party. 1t is due the Peoples Party,
and it is due the Senate, that the facts
shall be known as they are. I.propose
20 state the facts.
'"Toe Peoples Party Senators had
not decided what position they would
take with reference to the organiza
ton when we came here from our
homes. We knew that we held the
balance of power. We had a consulta
ton to decide what was best. After
consulting, viewing the situation fully,
we decided that it was our duty to
take advantage of the situation and to
use the power which we had, this bal
ance of power, to try to effect some
reforms that we believe are necessary
to relieve the oppression of the people
and restore prosperity to the country.
1t was, of course, understood that we
should make no bargains or trades with
either party for patronage or spoiIs,
but we decided unanimously that we
would cooperate with such Senators in
both of the old parties who would stand
together with US against the monopo
lists and the gold combine and make a
square fight to give the people of this
country such remedial legislation as is
necessary to give new life to agricul
ture, manufacturing, and to every hon
est industry.
eve decided further that we not only
would express u willingness to do
this, but that we would invite such
Senators to cooperate with US on this
line. W. knew that a number of such
Senators agreed with us as to the re
suits chat should be secured, yet dis
agreed with us as to ONE of the meth
DDS of getting this relief. But there is
one remedy Zone plank OF the Peoples
Party platform) on which a majority
of the Senators in this body are IN
-derstood to agree, and that is the free
ard unlimited coinage Of silver On
equal terms with gold. So we decided
to ask those who were elected as free
coinage men to co operate with us.
The first step toward legislation was
60 organize the Senate. We sent a
written invitation to fifty two silver
Senators.
"I should like to ask the Senator
from Tennessee Mr.. Harrisl if he did
not receive an invitation as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
November 80, 1895.
Zion. I. G. Harris,
DEAR SIR:-There will be a meeting
of Senators friendly to silver in the
Marble Room OF the Capitol on Mon
day, December 2, at IL a. M to con
suit with a view of organizing the
Senate on silver lines. You are respect
fully invited to attend.
signed Dy w. N. stewart, w. V.
Allen, w. A. PETER, and myself. Sen
ators Kyle and Jones, of Nevada. were
not present; they came in that night
aad endorsed it. Did not She Senator
from Tennessee get such an invita-
tion7
"Mr. Harris: Does the Senator de-
sire an answerR
"Mr. Butler: l do.
'Mr. Harris: 1 give it with pleas
ure. 1 did receive, I imagine, a copy