The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-18
sILvERIsM AT THE CAPITAL.

One of the most experienced and In
telligent correspondents. a man who has
spent years about Washington, after
calling attention to the proclamation OF
sixteen silver State Republican Senators
which Mr.. Wharton Barker, of Philadel-
phia, has sent forth as a threat to every
manufacturer in the East, remarks that
this matter is not so serious as 1t ap-
pears on its face; that 1t is not a threat.
as Mr.. Barker has made IL, is shown by
the fact that twelve of the sixteen SEN
ators named either voted to lake up the
House tariff bill a few days ago or were
paired in its favor. This correspondent
says the sounj-money Senators are not
alarmed. because they recognize that the
terms Of several Of the silver State SEN
ators expire in March, 1897, and that
their successors must be elected by
Legislatures chosen next November.
Two of these Senators who have en-
phasized their devotion to silver-Teller
of Colorado. and Dubois of Idaho-are
anxious to be reelected. They repre-
sent silver constituencies and are simply
making themselves solid for a re-elec-
ton.
The further examination of the basis
Of the free silver contention by this
correspondent leads him to say that
every newspaper man who daily comes
in contact with Senators could confirm
the assertion of Representative Hall in
the House that there are several men,
bcrs Of the upper branch who do not be-
lieve in free silver while steadily voting
for and loudly talking for it. In GER
tain States in which there are silver
mines, and in others which are neigh
bors. or in which the friends of SOUND
money have lacked the courage of their
convictions. free coinage has been found
particularly true of Southern Senator's,
who have permitted financial heresies to
take root while they have been keeping
the South solid for the Democracy by
appealing to sectional ~prejudices. Doubt
less 1T is true, as Representative Hall
has said, and as the correspondent af-
firms. hat several Senators who are
giving the silver idea noisy support will
take good care that a free coinage bill
does not come 10 enactment.
These views confirm the suspicious of
a large number Of intelligent observers
who have been watching the movements
Of certain men who are making their
support Of the free coinage of silver con-
spicuous in the Senate. After they Sc
cure a reelection they will be less fran
tic in their demands for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver. They will not
hold up tariff bills or vote against them
unless they are Democrats.
But, while there is overwhelming hos
tility In the House to the free coinage of
silver by the United States alone, it
appears by the full report of the closing
hours OF the debate on the silver-bond
bill in that body that the interest in
favor of real bimetallism is very gen.
eral.. The intimation of Mr.. Dingley
that a proposition would be presented
by the Republican leaders in the House
which would provide for an interna-
tional monetary conference was received
with very general applause. Speaking
of this subject later, in reply to ques-
tons, Mr.. Dingley said that If we go
into a conference we must not under
take to enforce a ratio of coinage of our
own, but must accept that which will
bring the world under a universal BIZ
metallism-a ratio somewhere between
16 to 1 and hat now represented by the
commercial value Of silver and gold.
That would be bimetallism. Free coin
age by the United States alone, on the
basis of a ratio of 16 to 1, would be silver
recommendation.