The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-08
Who Proceed to Defend the Action of
Dirty Democratic Linen.
PALMER ARRAIGNS M'KINLEY
AND DESCRIBES HIS ATTITUDE ON
FINANCE AS Janus FACED"
He Also Refers to the Indianapolis
Fflibusters All Day I'm the House.

vote of 81 to the Senate to-day inaugurated
an investigation, TO be conducted by the Sem
ate committee on finance, into the facts and
circumstances connected with the sale OF
United States bonds by the Secretary of the
Treasury during the last three years. The
six adverse votes were cast by Senators CAT
fiery Of Louisiana, Faulkner OF West Vir-
ginia, Gray of Della ware Hill OF New York.
Mitchell OF Wisconsin and Palmer OF ILL.,
nois, all Democrats. The resolution direct
ing the investigation is very explicit, as fol-
logs:
Resolved. That the committee on finance
''First-To investigate and report generally
all the material facts and circumstances con-
nected with the sale Of United States bonds
by the Secretary OF the Treasury in the
years 1894. 1895 and 1896.
'Second-ro investigate and report spe-
cially what amount OF available funds. classi-
fed, was in the United States treasury and
on deposit in other places. subject TO the
order Of the Secretary of the Treasury, at
the time the bonds were sold or offered for
sale: whether there was was not money
on hand 10 meet all obligations of the gov
eminent at said time the bonds were sold or
were offered to be sold; what obligations
were due at that time and the amount of
each stated separately; what was the reason
for any unusual withdra wal of coin from the
treasury shortly before the bonds were sold
or offered for sale, II such unusual with
drawals were in fact made, and by what per-
sons or classes of persons and for what pur-
pose or on what account such Withdrawals
were made; who purchased the bonds, in
what amounts and where. whether in the
United States or in foreign countries, and in
what proportions and from what persons or
classes OF persons the gold was procured
with which TO pay for the bonds; what the
bonds sold for and what was the market
price of our government bonds at the time
and what effect the bond sales had on the
United States.
the manner of disposing of said bonds, by
what authority and What contracts, adver-
tisements or proposals were made by the
Secretary Of the Treasury in relation thereto:
what agreements and contracts. and whether
oral or in writing, and whether publicly or
privately, were entered into by the Secretary
or persons With respect to the sale and pur-
chase OF the bonds and the profits made or
10 be made. by such syndicate or any person
or persons connected with such syndicate d.
rectly or indirectly; whether such contract
or agreement had any, and what effect on
the prices offered for the bonds: what the
effect was, and WHO. if any person, profited
by 1t. and to what extent"
The bond resolution came up Immediately
after the morning business and Mr.. Palmer
took the floor. II oppose this resolution"
said he, because regard it as an illegiti-
mate means of procuring material to af-
feet and infiame the public mind" The Sem
ator went on to say that he did not SUD-
pose any Senator, except possibly the Sem
ator from South Dakota (Pettigrew), aues-
toned the integrity of the Secretary of the
Treasury. The Secretary's judgment, per-
haps, might be disputed the correctness of
his acts might be questioned, but there was
no question Of integrity involved Mr.. Palm
er reviewed the platform utterances of the
parties. Citing the old adase, "the world
do move" Mr.. Palmer said the country had
moved since the platform declaration of
1892, and 1t was evident that the financial
planks made at Minneapolis and Chicago
would not satisfy the people in the coming
elections. In mentioning Mr.. Cleveland's re-
turn to the White House in 1893 Mr.. Palmer
said the President had called to his aid that
able statesman. that pure and honest man,
j. G. Carlisle"
PALMER ARRAIGNS CANDIDATES.
Mr.. Palmer referred to the cowardice of
candidates for the Presidency and for Con-
gress in not being specific in their financial
views. and in this connectien the Senator had
an article read from the desk arraigning
Major Mckinley for his "janus-faced atti-
tude on finance" And yet" added Mr.
Palmer, "all indications point to the fact
that the subject OF that criticism will be the
Republican candidate for the presidency"
Mr.. Palmer the substance of the bulletins
from the Indianapolis convention, whereupon
Mr.. Palmer added, I'm fact 1 understand
that the opposition to him has broken down.
MI Palmer was speedily drawn into hot
colioquy with the two Missouri Senators.
wanted to know what Mr.. Palmer meant by
reference to snap" conventions in favor
Il mean" replied Mr. Palmer, "the con-
Vent1OnS held last year in Missouri and I'LL
nois.''
What was the snap feature of the ILL.,
AN unnecessary convention is snap
convention" declared Mr.. Palmer. These
conventions were called to commit the De-
mocracy in advance to the free silver dog
ma"
Mr.. CockreI answered sharply that the
Missouri convention was one OF the most
representative gatherings ever held. Ii was
called because the Democracy was being
misrepresented and an attempt made to COM
NIT IL TO gold.
Mr.. Vest declared that the Missouri con-
vention was response 10 the people. The
people led and, added Mr.. Vest, 1.-The people
assemble conventions and any man who
tries TO stop them will be crushed. Manhood
and decency Will no longer permit us to
stand here and be accused of advocating
'unsound money and of assembling snap
conventions"
AT this point Mr.. Vest branched of into
a sensational recital OF personal history
He spoke OF the order just made public
service reform. 1t was one OF the tenets of
this school that the patronage Of the gov
eminent shall not be used to influence poll
tics. MIR. Vest went on to tell of the Presi-
dents removal of Unked States District
Attorney Benton. of Missouri. When Mr..
Vest first read this announcement. he inn
mediate,y started for Washington and asked
his Exceilency' what had led TO the per-
petration of this outrage-the removal Of a
man of un.mpeachable character and ability.
The president; brought out a newspaper
paragraph charging Colonel Benton with
pernicous activity. Mr.. Vest had shown the
charges 10 be unfounded and the President
was just enough TO revoke the order after
giving TO the pubic a letter openly occurring
Colonel Benton against any participation in
politics while serving the government.
Mr.. Cockrell interrupted at this point to
ask as 10 the recent Michigan Democratic
convention at Detroit. declaring that federal
officials had gone there as delegates in
structed for silver and had voted against
silver.
Mr.. Vest. proceeding. said he referred 20
the Presidents letter TO Colonel Benton
warning hirn against 'dabbling in politics
because this administration had OF late
given its whole influence and power to In
huence the political sentiment OF the people;
m iu4uonco fho4o s0-cal.ed snan canvenffove