The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-23
NOW IT'S DENIED
That Silver Men and Manufac-
turers Are Allied.
Account of the Conference With
PhiladelphianS.
TELLER VERY ANGRY.
You'll Get No Tariff Bill Then,"
He Shouts,
. h L N
TELLER VERY ANGRY,
When the Manufacturers Re-
fuse Free Silver"

WASHINGTON, March 23.-No alliance
between protection and free coinage
was formed on Thursday it is now said.
The report of the conference was fur
nlshed by Senator Teller's band of Re-
publican boilers. It was misleading it
is now reported. The Philadelphia man :
ufacturers who came down 10 the con-
ference now furnish their version. 1t is
altogether different from that given by
the five Republican senators who were
present. Alexander Crow, Jr, one of
the biggest carpet manufacturers of
Philadelphia gives this account OF the
conference:
"We knew that the men who had ask
ed US to come to the conference had the
power to put stop to tariff legislation
at this session of congress, and we hoped
that by the presenting of our views as
manufacturers we might be able to in
duce them to yield a little. When the
time for the conference came senators
Teller, Cannon, Jones, Carter, Dnbois
and Mantle were present. They sailed
right in, without loss of time, to tell US
that we need expect no tariff legislation
from this congress unless silver legisla-
tion accompanied it. The gist of their
talk was that we, as the largest manu-
facturers in the country, owed it to our
selves to use our influence toward secur-
ing support for silver coinage measure,
thereby gaining their help in putting
through a tariff bill. There were thir-
teen in the Philadelphia delegation who
spoke at the conference. Four
favored the idea advanced by
the silver senators, and the re-
naming nine sat down upon it. How
land Croft was one who did uot mince
Il vi u
associates that their silver ideas deserved
and should have no consideration, and
characterized the proposition made to US
as nonsense He continued his talk by
turning to Senator Teller and remarking
with added emphasis, i say to you, sir,
that you will get nothing
"The remainder of us, while just as
emphatic, were perhaps not so vigorous
in our language. l aroused Senator Tel
l said, and the words of the others were
sufficiently plain to leave no doubt in the
minds of the western statesmen that we
were unalterably opposed to their views.
Those who did not speak felt the same as
those who did, and SO expressed them
selves after the conference was over
Senator Teller and his associates told
US ono after another that they knew our
business was prostrated, that they knew
wewere losing money, but that they also
knew they had US where they had been
trying to get us for years, and that they
intended to keep US there until the legis-
lation they wanted for their constituents
was accorded them. Their language
was just as plain as ours was, and no
room was left for misunderstanding on
either side"
The conference is said to have been
exciting at times. While Alexander
Crow was speaking he was Interrupted
by Seuator Teller. who shouted: Then
you'll get no tariff bill through; you'll
get no Tariff bill through"
"Yes, we WILL" retorted Mr.. Crow;
"we will, sir, for without protection our
Industries must die"
The senator became angry before the
conference concluded, and said to the
men they had invited to Washington to
talk with them that they controlled the
United States senate now and would for
the next eight years. and that the manu-
facturers of the country need not hope
for any tariff Legislation in all that time
unless a silver measure which met thei
appreciation went through congress,
They followed it up by asserting that
sixteen western senators had signed a
written agreement to that effect