The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-04
x'kINLEY,s REooRD ON SILVER.
A wabbins Courss snd vsryinE Votes
81 want the Double Standard"

Ing to silver since his first entrance into Con-
gross. In the House OF Representatives In 1890
there was a considerable sentiment on the Re-
publican side In favor Of free coinage, and II
was n matter Of some consequence that a candi-
date for Speaker should not bo too much Mt odds
with this sentiment. When Mr.. McKlnley's
record was brought to him he looked over the
list of his votes and remarked with satisfaction
My silver record seems to be all right"
Mr.. Mckinley did not receive the Republican
nomination. lie was badly beaten In caucus by
Mr.. Reed. But his record still remains. and In
order that an opinion may be formed OF what
Mr.. Mckinley thinks 1t means to be all right"
on silver the record is here produced:
Mr.. Mckinley first entered the House OF Rep
rcsentatives at the beginning of the Forty fifth
Congress. Thomas Il. Reed was also a new
member Of the House in that Congress. Mr..
Garfield OF Ohio was tho Republican leader on
the floor. Mr.. Hayes Of Ohio was in the White
House. and Mr.. Sherman Of Ohio was Secretary
of the Treasury. 4. special session OF Congress
was called to meet on Oct. Is. 1877. The SEES.
sion was not three weeks old before a bill was
passed by the House of Representatives provid-
ing for the free and unlimited coinage Of silver.
On Nov. 5 Mr.. Bland OF Missouri moved TO sus-
pend the rules 80 as to enable him to introduce
and the House TO pass a bill to authorize the
free coinage of the standard silver dollar and
to restore it's legal tender character" The rules
were suspended and the bill was passed. without
consideration by a and without de-
bate, by a vote Of 1919 to "a. MIR. Mckinley Of
Ohio was recorded in favor Of the bill, Mr.,
Garfield of Ohio was recorded with the little
band in opposition; so was Mr.. Reed. ICON
0resstonal Record, first session, Forty-ffth Con-
gress. y. PAIL
This bill was the basis OF what afterward be-
came the Bland-Allison act OF 1873. 1t was
amended in the Senate so as to provide for the
purchase and coinage OF So, 600, 900 every
month. When 1t returned to the House Abram
S. Hewitt Of New York moved TO lay the bill.
with Senate amendments, on the table. This
motion. which would have put an end TO all sill
yer legislation in that Congress, was defeated by
a vote of, yeas II, nays EOS. Mr.. Mckinley OF
Ohio voted against laying the bill on the table.
On this roll call. as on the other, Mr.. Garfield of
Ohio and Mr.. Reed are recorded against the sill
yer bill. Congressional Record, second session.
Forty-ffth Congress. D. 1,2S3.l
Mr.. Hayes, acting in accordance with the ad-
vice Of Mr.. Sherman. returned the bill to the
House. with a veto message, Feb. 20, 1873. The
bill was passed over the veto by a vote OF 1913
yeas and 10 nays. Mr.. Mckinley voted to over
ride the veto: Mr.. Garfield Of Ohio and Mr..
Reed voted to sustain it.
In the Forty-sixth Congress Mr.. McKinley's
views seem to have undergone some change.
4 II IL " stooioh " ma NoIslcoS VII w al hCT
of Ohio introduced q bill III. r. 564) to amend
certain sections OF the Revised Statutes OF the
United States relating to coinage and coin and
bullion certificates, and for other purposes
This bill, as Mr.. Warner explained, had for
its object the replacing of silver by the side OF
gold and on the same basis in all coinage laws
of the United States. 1t was passed May "a.
1879, by a vote OF ia to OF; Mr.. Mckinley is
recorded in the negative with the rest OF his
party. Congressional Record, first session.
FOrty-sixth Congress. y. 1891.
In the second session of the Forty-sixth Con-
Rress a bill III. r. 2,7l5) was introduced by Mr..
Price of Iowa, a free silver man. requiring the
reserve OF national banks to DO kept in gold
and silver. The bill. although reported favor
ably by the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency. was rejected by the House, Jan. 90. 1880,
by a vote Of 80 to l5S; Mr.. Mckinley was re-
corded in the negative. Congressional Record,
second session. Forty-sixth Congress. p. All.
In the Forty seventh and Forty-eighth Con-
crosses there was no ate mpt at any sort of
silver legislation.
In the first session of the Forty-ninth Con-
gress Mr.. Bland of Missouri introduced a free
silver bill. which vas reported ad versely by the
on Coinage, Weights, and Measures,
and which was rejected by the House by a vote
of l26 yeas to 1913 nays. Mr.. Mckinley voted
against the bill, but he also voted on the same
day against an amendment offered by Mr.. Dbl
BILE of South Carolina, the passage of which
would have suspended the operations Of the
Blaud-Allison act In the event of an interna-
tional agreement with regard to silver. This
amendment read rs follows:
THAT unless meantime through concurrent action of
the nations OF Europe with the United States silver
be remonetized prior to July /, 1883. that then and
thereafter SO much OF the act OF Feb. rs, 1875. en-.
titled an act to authorize the coinage OF the standard
silver dollar, and to restore its legal tender character
as authorizes and directs the Secretary OF the Treasury
to purchase silver bullion. and cause the same to be
coined, shall be suspended"
This amendment was defeated. yeas "a. nays
200. 1t was supported by the votes of Repre-
sentativesf from New England. New York, New
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but Mr.. Mckinley was
recorded in opposition. Congressional Record.
first session, Forty-ninth Congress. y. 330O.l
Up to the Fifty-flrst Congress, therefore, 1t APP
pears that Mr.. Mckinley was recorded seven
times on the silver question. Once he voted for
an out-and-out free coinage bill. Three times
he is recorded in favor of the purchase and coin
age OF silver in the manner provided for in the
Bland act of 1878, Once he voted against a free
silver bill. Once he voted in opposition to a
measure which placed silver on an equality with
gold in all coinage laws: and once against n bill
requiring the reserve Of national banks to be
kept in gold and silver.
During these twelve years of service he does
not appear to have spoken a word about silver
in debate.
In the Flfty-first Congress, as Chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee and titular
leader Of the House. Mr.. Mckinley had more or
less to do with silver legislation. So far as the
official records show, he was in harmony with
the Republican majority. and, in accordance
with the decision of the Republican caucus.
supported Speaker Reed consistently on the
floor. He voted for the Congcr silver bill with
other Republican members, and when that bill
came back from the Senate, with n free coinage
amendment, he sustained Speaker Reed in the
memorable rulings through which the Speaker
prevented immediate concurrence In the free
coinage amendment by the House. lie also
voted for the bill as reported from the confer
ence committee, which is now known as the
Sherman act.
In the speeches which Mr.. Mckinley made
during this controversy he shows II very de-
cided leaning toward silver. II is evident
that II there were any fault in the proposed