The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-04-18
5DARO,S ENECUTIN Il HELD QtlET
POLITICAL. CONFERENCE.
He Relieves the Five Senator'S Who
voted Against the Revenue
Bill Made Mistake.

Governor Mcconnell of Idaho is in the
city accompanied by his wife and
daughters Ollie and Carrie. He will re-
main until Thursday, and it is prob
able that while here he will hold con-
ference with number of prominent re-
publicans from the northern part Oh
his state. He was reticent regarding
his political movements, but was will
ing to discuss the issues Of the day.
Being interviewed by Spokesman
Review reporter concerning the present
political and business outlook Of the
country, especially as regards the eff
forts being made to secure an Increased
use of silver he said:
II have been accustomed in business
to take account Of stock at certain in
tervals, so as to determine whether sue
cess or failure has followed my efforts.
If the latter, I endeavOr to SO change
the management as to avoid former
errors Following the same course, L
have been taking a retrospective view
of the efforts of myself, together with
other advocates of free coinage during
the past four or five years, and l must
admit that while much earnest labor
has been expended, results are not as
Gathering as we would like to have
them. In my judgment, our energies
have been unwisely directed.
THE FIVE SENATORS.
81 believe the five senators who re-
Gently voted against the consideration
of H. II. 2749, known as the revenue
bill, made a mistake. 1t matters not
what action is taken on the silver ques-
ton, this government must have sutfi-
cient revenue to pay it's running ex-
to the sale of bonds. Free and unlimit
ed coinage would not furnish this rev.
enue because the silver so coined would
not belong to the general government,
but to the individuals who took the
bullion to the minis.
''As 1 conceive it. the first duty Of
every citizen, whether in congress or
out of it,, is to contribute his part to the
maintenance of this nation. The ma
jOrity of the people may be wrong
sometimes they undoubtedly are--but
that does not Justify the minority in
Willfully doing that which will dam
age the whole. Outside of the absolute
need of the revenue which the bill was
intended to provide, the protection il
contained was very important to some
of our western Enthusiastically the
wool industry as well as the lead in
dustry. 1t is useless to claim that the
protection the measure carried was not
enough. This may be true, but pro
lection of &C cents per pound on wool
would materially aid our wool growers
at the present time.
THE Congressional Record discloses
that during the last four years great
deal of time has been occupied in both
houses of congress in the discussion Oh
free coinage Those who opposed us
on that proposition have patiently lis
tened to our views, and we in turr
should at least give them an opportun
ty to be heard on any measure which
may have it's origin in either body. A.
one bill had but recently passed through
the senate providing for the free coin
age of silver, 1t seems to me to hay,
been unwise to impede the progress o
tariff legislation. The bill was doubt
less inadequate TO our needs, but op
portunity should have been given for tt
discussion and amendment, if desired
I think the truth is that the SENATOR
who opposed the measure allowed thei
anger to get the better of their judg
ment, for they doubtless have had
great deal to aggravate them in tn
manner in which silver has been treat
ed by the present administration.
1.-The vote taken on silver during thi
session Of the house shows that larg
majority is against free coinage
would suggest that, before any fur
Their attempt is made to secure the pas
sage of a free coinage act, we ascertai
by resolution or otherwise whether con
gress is in favor of this government
being run by departments according t
L 10,