The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-02-13
A SOUND MONEY CONVERT.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL OF MIS-
souri, ANNOUNCES HIS
CONVERSION.
THE CONARD|CE OF OUR STATESMEN
HE SAYS, IS THE GREAT CURSE
THAT BESETS THE COUNTRY.
THEY TRY 70 Feather THEIR NESTS
BY Advocating Popular Delusions-C
Headed, Thoughtful Men Who Seek
the Truth are Ever Liable to
Change of Opinion-Debate
on the Silver Bill.

Washington, Feb. S.-The debate ON
the free coinage substitute for the house
bond bill was very spirited today. There
were several strong speeches and one, at
least, of a somewhat sensational char
acter
Mr.. Towne, Minnesota Republican,
claimed the attention of the house and
galleries for over an hour with an elo-
quent speech on behalf of the free coin
age bill, which won for him 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.. Hall, Democrat from Missouri,
on the other hand, announced his CONVEX
sion to ''sound money" in a sensational
speech, in which he charged that eight
senators who voted for free coinage, ac-
cording to ''creditable 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 de-
clared that the greatest sin of the pres
ent age was the cowardice of statesmen.
He also declared that q high officer of
the administration had said that the sill
yer agitation had already cost the gov
eminent $262, 10000 in bond issues, and
in the course of the next II months the
bond issues would increase to 81 100000
600.
Mr.. Hall voted for free coinage in the
last congress.
The other speakers were Corliss (Rep.)
of Michigan, Boatner Oem) of Louis
lana, GrosvenOr (Rep.) of Ohio, Evans
(Rep.) of Kentucky, and McCreary
Dem.) of Kentucky against concurrence
in the free coinage substitute, and Mr..
Bartlett Dem) of Georgia in favor of
concurrence.
The general debate will close Monday
and the vote will be taken on Tuesday.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Feb. S.-There were ex-
actly 16 members on the floor and 10
spectators in the galleries when the
house reconvened at 1890 this morning.
The legislative day of yesterday still con-
tinued as the house had been in recess
over night.
Mr.. Corliss Rep) of Michigan and Mr..
Boatner Dem.) of Louisiana spoke in
favor of Inconvenience and Mr.. Mines
(Rep.) of Michigan and Mr.. Bartlett
Dem.) of Georgia in favor of concur
renee.
While Mr.. Bartlett was speaking, Mr..
Boatner, by reference to the defeat of
'Silver Dollar" Bland, General Hatch
and other silverites drew from him a
protest against the treacherous manner
in which gold Democrats had stabbed in
the back Democratic candidates who diff
fered with them.
Witness" said he, contemptuously,
the Democratic scenes daily being
enacted in Kentucky. When did it be-
come Democratic doctrine to defeat
Democratic candidates."
The situation in Kentucky replied
Mr.. Boatner, "Only illustrates the de-
stroying effect of Democrats refusing to
stand by their party platform. If the
silver Democrats would abide by the
declaration of the party made in conyen-
ton we would not today be threatened
with the loss of senator from that
State"
eve are threatened with the loss of
senator in Kentucky" retorted Mr..
Bartlett, because Democratic majority
L
whether the majority or minority,
wherever the Democratic flag floats, there
will be my standard"
"If the Democratic National conven-
ton adopts a gold platform and nomi-
mates gold candidate" interposed Mr..
Skinner (Rep) of North Carolina ''will
you support the ticket?'
81 will vote for any man." replied Mr..
Bartlett, "whom the majority of the
Democrats nominate in convention"
"Then you are willing to sacrifice the
interests of the people on the altar of
party?"
81 am willing to forego temporarily
the consummation which must eventually
come and can only come through the
Democratic party"
formality of adjourning and reconven-
ing and debate on the bond bill then pro-
ceeded.
Mr.. Grosvenor Rep.) of Ohio said that
the Republican party, in response to the
cry of free silver Republicans, proposed
'to do something for silver" proposed
to do something for the American people
by righting the wrong done them by
Democratic tariff legislation in the last
congress. The party would do something
for million wool growers instead of
hundred mine owners.
Mr.. Grosvenor called attention to cir
culal to Eastern manufacturers signed
by 16 free silver Republicans containing
a covert threat against the protective
system if they did not favor free silver.
Mr.. Grosvenor ridiculed the threats of
the silver senator's and adduced some
figures to show that they were powerless
to execute their threats. These senator's
represented but 16 votes in the electoral
college out of 444. He predicted 266 Re-
publican 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 flu
sion would be futile and unavailing. He