Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-09
HALL CHANGES HIS OPINION
Former Free Coinage Advocate Makes a
Speech for Sound Money.
SILVER AGITATION HAS BEEN COSTLY
Senator's Accused of voting Against
Their Conviction to Catch the
Political Breczc-Towne At
tracts Applause.

| tracts Applause.
| WASHINGTON, Feb s.-The debate or
the free coinage substitute for the house
bond bill was very spirited today There
were several strong speeches and one al
least, of a somewhat sensational character
! Mr.. Towne of Minnesota republican
| claimed the attention Of the house and gal
leres for over an hour with an eloquent
effort on behalf Of free coinage, which won
for him a personal ovation such as has not
been accorded any member since the session
began. His speech was illustrated with
charts and aroused unbounded enthusiasm
among the silver forces. Mr.. Hail. on the
other hand, announced his conversion to
Sound money" in rather sensational speech
| In which he charged that eight senators who
voted for free coinage, according to credible
information" had privately said that they
believed free coinage would bring upon this
| country national and individual bankruptcy
and ruin. He charged them with trying TO
| feather their nests at home" and declared
that the greatest sin of the present age was
| the cowardce OF statesmen. He also de-
| clared that high officer Of the administra-
| tion had said that the silver agitation had
| already cost the government 1892 900 900 in
| bond issues and in the course of the next
twelve months the bond issue would increase
| to $1,000, 100000. Mr.. Hall voted for free
| coinage in the last congress. The other
| speakers today were: Corliss, Doaner, Gros-
venor Evans and McCreary against con-
| currence in the free coinage substitute and
| Mr.. Bartlett in favor of concurrence. The
| general debate will close Monday and the
| vote will be taken on Tuesday.
While Mr.. Bartlett was speaking Mr..
Boatner by a reference to the defeat of
"Silyer Dollar" Bland, General Hatch and
other silver leaders, drew forth an in
| manner in which gold democrats had
stabbed in the back democratic candidates
who differed with them. Witness" said
| he contemptuously. "the democratic scene
daily being enacted in Kentucky. When
did it become democratic doctrine to de-
feat democratic candidates."
1.-THE situation in Kentucky" replied Mr..
| Boatner, "only illustrates the destroying
effect of democrats refusing to stand by
the party platform. II the silver democrats
would abide by the declaration of the party
made in convention we would not today be
threatened with the loss of a senator from
| that state"
1--WE are threatened with the loss of a
senator" said Mr.. Bartlett, because men
who are not in the majority seek to control.
I want to say that whether in the majority
or minority wherever the democratic flag
floats there will be my stand"
"If the democratic national convention
adopts gold platform and nominates a gold
candidate interposed Mr.. Skinner, republi-
can of North Carolina. will you support
the ticket?"
'I will vote for any man." replied Mr.
Bartlett, "whom the majority of the demo-
Gratis nominate in convention"
"Then you are willing to sacrifice the
interests Of the people on the altar Of
party?"
II am willing to forego temporarily the
consummation which must eventually come
and can only core through the democratic
party" ,.-, y..
At noon the house went through the for
mality of adjourning and reconvenlng and
the debate on the bond bill then proceeded.
Mr.. Grosvenor said that the republican
republicans proposed to "do something for
silver" proposed to do something for the
American people by righting the wrong
done them by a democratic tariff in the
last congress. The party would do some
thing for million wool growers, instead of
a hundred mine owners.
1--WE have not silver mine in California"
interposed Mr.. Johnson.
you're right" retorted Mr.. Grosvenor,
"and you might add that California is the
most proscriptive gold state in the union"
THAT shows we are willing to do some
thing for the rest of the country" said Mr..
Johnson.
''At our expense" shouted Mr.. Walker.
cular to eastern manufacturers, signed by
sixteen free silver republicans, containing
covert threat against the protective system,
II they did not favor free silver. Mr.. Gros-
venor rdicued the threats of the silver SEN
ators and adduced some figures to show that
they were powerless to execute their threats.
Those senators represented but sixteen votes
in the entire electoral college out Of 444. He
predicted 266 republican electoral votes for
sound finance and protection If the election
should be thrown into the house, he said,
the victory Of the sound money republican
candidate was certain. Threats of splits
and fusion would be futile and unavailing.
He was concluding an eloquent passage
about loyalty to the grand old republican
party when Mr.. Owens asked II he was
speaking of the same republican party that
had few days ago auctioned off the ma
tional convention.
Great Cod" replied Mr.. Grosvenor. look
ing about the house, 'let us hear something
about honest elections"
SIS 1t the party" asked Mr.. Miles, (which
has Just made a deal with the popusts in
the senate to secure control OF the machine
over there?"
at was compelled to take possession OF
the machine your party was smashing" re-
rlied Mr.. Crosvenor.
as II the same party" asked Mr.. Owens,
returning to the assault. (which signalzed
IT'S return to power in the senate by send
ing us the free coinage bill we are now
considering?" Qaughter).
81 have Just been paying my respects to
some of the republican senator's" replied
Mr.. Grosvenor. IF there is anything In
the situation there which can furnish COM
fort to the sound money democrats. you are
welcome TO it," Republ.can applause).
Mr.. Evans, Mr., McCreary and Mr.. Hepburn
followed in favor OF non-concurrence. The
latter said the republican party was the only
party that by its deeds had shown its friend
ship for the people.
"Are you willing to restore free coinage
of silver?" asked Mr.. Livingston.
YES" replied Mr.. Hepburn, when you re-
store the conditions that existed in the days
Of the dollars of our daddies Then silver
was worth $1.29 an ounce" In concluding,
he rldiculed these "bewildered democrats
who denounce the attitude of Mr.. Cleveland"
mo democrat" said he. "has been more
consistent, more closely adhesive to his
announcement than he. In 1885, before his
first election, he declared against the silver
heresy. In all his utterances since he has
adhered to that principle. In May, 1899. he
reiterated his position for the fifth time
you know" said he, addressing the demo-
cratic side. that he could not carry out
your platform except at the price of per-
jury and personal dshonor; yet you now
pretend that you were deceived" Q.aughter)
Mr.. Towne illustrated his remarks with
charts Twice the house gave him an eX-