The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-02-29
A Washington Letter.
Special correspondence.

bill is creating great commotion in tn,
east. The course they are following il
this matter has been decided upon de
liberately, with q fun understanding o
the situation and comprehension o
the consequence to themselves. The,
are actuated by determination to lool
out for the interests of their own see
tons and their own people and the,
will be neither cajoled nor terrorizet
by their eastern associates, who, in tn,
name Of party, are trying to serve bu
one section of the country at the ex
pense of the other.
The purpose of this tariff bill, which
the eastern republicans are trying t,
make into a law in the name of protec
ton, is to give abundant protection tl
the eastern manufacturers, while wool
lead and silver, are sacrificed. There i:
very general belief in the existence Of
an understanding, more or less definite
between the administration aud tn,
promoters of this scheme that if the
measure were permitted to go to the
White House it would become law
Ii the bill should become law the
eastern manufacturers would be indie
pendent of the republicans from the
silver states. They would have all the
legislation they want; their interests
would be fully protected, and they could
snap their fingers in the face of the
west The west alone would still be in
need of further tariff legislation and to
the silver senators their eastern breth-
ren would say: IF you want protection,
you must drop silver"
The west would be out in the cold.
Teller, Dubois, Carter and Mantle
fully understand this, and they propose
to deal with the question from the other
end. They do not propose to surrender
at the discretion of the gold men and
manufacturers. They propose to join
the silver and the tariff together at this
time, before the east has got all it wants,
rather than later.
Their irmness and courage have made
them the mark for attack. HE Oaners
of the east are assail.ng them on all
sides, and tkeere is concerted purpose
!Ghong the dominent element, the anti
silver element, of the party 70 crush
them. They could be Toasted aud
battered and on all sides remain in
high favor and attain higher favor, if
they would only sacrifice the Interests
Of their people. they are fully aware
OF all this and they also realize the per.
sonal sacrifice they make in taking the
position they do. Mantle is new mar
but he sacrifices all hope of future pre-
ferment in the senate, rather than
purchase career by surrendering the
interests of his state. Teller and Du-
bois both have the highest possible
standing in the senate. Teller occupies
a position of power on the appropria-
tons committee, and can command
anything he wants, leaving silver out OF
the question. Dubois is chairman of
IN important committee and has long
enjoyed the friendship of his colleagues
to such degree that they will do for
him what they will for few others. At
the last session of the last congress the
senate attached the Boise public build
ing bill to an appropriation bill for him
and the house accepted it, a thing never
before done. In this congress they
have honored him most hatterinply
Carter is the chairman of the repu blican
national committee and could easily re-
tain high place i'll the council of his
party and be the easy recipient Of fayors.
All this favor, all the ease and comfort
Of being courted as leaders and having
their personal political interests looked
after for the m, they s?c,ifice in taking
the stand they have taken and intend
to maintain. Instead, they are now the
subject OF attack on all sides, and every
imaginable pressure is brought to bear
on them, by both threats and cajole. to
make them yield. The gold money ee-
ment III the senate can tolerate having
the silver republicans make speeches in
favor of free coinage, and vote for it
and do all sorts Of things, where there is
no chance of success; but when methods
are adopted by the silver men, that
mean business, they are far less amiable
and tolerant. The CONJUNCTION which
the action OF these four senators have
caused shows that they have struck
their adyersaries armor where it is weak
The blows Lave always bounded off.
but now the thrust gives pain and
excitPs anger. 1t is resolved now that
these four men are to be crushed. The
money power OF the east expects silver
men to come from the silver states: that
must be tolerated; but they do not
want men who will do anything. They
want you to revise your list and send
men whom they can manage
There is not tie least prospect of the
t1rlff bill passing the senate. The east
will have chance to do something for
other sections Of the country before
grabbing anything more. This bill is
in no sense a protective measure except
for the east
nan