The news & observer., 1897-02-10
Republicans Now Trying to Re-
pudiate Their Platform.
CHANDLER RESOLUTION
MR.. HILL DON'T WANT INTERNA-
TTONAL CONFERENCE.
ADMITS PARTYs INsINcERITY
Thinks Stilted Phrases of Platform
Dictated by Half Mature Thought
in June Should Now be Read
in Another Light.

Washington, Feb. 9.-The interest in
Congress in an international monetary
conference was shown to-day by the pres
ence in the House Committee on Coinage
of many members to listen to the discus-
sion of the resolutions before the commit
tee. Several members Of the committee
ON Banking and Currency took part in
the debate. The first speaker was Rep
resentatiye Hill, Connecticut Repub-
lican, who spoke from a political stand
point, bitterly denouncing the Senate for
attempting to lay IA trap to ensnare the
Republican party. 1t was an attempt.
he said, to bring about the things which
the Republican party voted down at the
last election, the free coinage of silver
and double standard of value. Refer
ring to Senator Chandler, he said the
proposition was thrust upon the incoming
President by a Senator who had bitterly
and yirulently opposed his nomination.
and that that Senator had been sustain.
ed and seconded by the chairman of the
National Democratic committee. ."The
proposition is born of a mother who loves
1t not, he said More than one-half it's
opponents in the Senate. he added had
been Republicans with free silver men
who would work to bring it TO naugbt
and voted for it. He continued: mTba
suited phrases of a platform dictated
by half mature thought in June. should
be read IN the blazing light of the No
yenlber election. No responsibility rest-
ed on this Congress in this matter nor
should a Democratic President be called
upon to sign the resolution. The wishes
OF gold Democrats, who had been the
allies Of the Republicans, and who had
declared for the single gold standard
Mr.. Hill said, should be consulted. Other
planks of the st. Louis platform. those
relating to Cuba, to immigration and
others, had been disregaFded. and why.
ne asked, should Congress wish to fulfU
tnls single plank. This was not the time.
these not the men, and this not tha
proposition which the St Louis platform
had contemplated. The utterances of
that platform on the money question had
been modified by the subsequent Chicago
platform and alliance Of Republicans
and gold Democrats.
Representatives Hartman. of NTontano
and Iowne, of Minnesota. two boltnrs
from the st. Louis convention. asked Mr.
Hill several questions.
Mr.. Hill said this government sbo,I5
not subject itself again to the charrin
by calling another conference which for.
eign delegates would attend ms q matter
of courtesy. Any accomplishment must
be by diplomatic negotiations with Great
Britain.
My understanding of the ST Louis
platform" he continued, "is that II
pledged the party first to the maintenance
of the gold standard, and that all other
pledges are subsidiary" This was in an
swer to a question of Mr.. Hartman as to
whether the platform had not meant the
gold standard while endeavoring to de-
ceiye voters into the understanding that
it meant bi-metallsm.
Representative Brewster Rep., n. W
remarked that the bill was a trap by the
enemy to put the next President in hole.
Representative Fairchild (Rep.. n. W
said that he understood the Senate bill
had been drafted by Senator Wolcott.
after conference with Mr.. Mckinley.
Let Mr.. Mckinley give his opinion il,
his inaugural address," said Mr.. Brew
ster.
The committee adjourned until Mon
day