The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-17
IT is WHOLLY FAL Sc
That is What Pettigrew Said to
Chandler.
IT WAS a WARM TIME
CHANDLER SPOKE IN FAVOR
OF BI-METALLISM.
SENATOR PALMER CRITICISED
The President Desires a Permanent
Peace Between the Two Great
English Speaking People.

~'S"SH SpGdNlf4S TSoplGs
Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Chand
ler's speech in the Senate to-day in advo-
cacy of bi-metallism, was one Of the
notable efforts Of the present session,
not only for the scholarly care with which
the Senator presented the question from
his standpoint, but for the bitter sarcasm
addressed to Senator Palmer and the In
dianapolis convention, the arragument
of silver Republicans who bolted the St.
Louis convention, and for the dramatic
personal exchange between Mr.. Chandler
and Mr.. Pettigrew, the latter being one
of the boilers from the st. Louis conyen-
tion. Mr. Chambers speech lasted three
hours, and was replete with incident.
1t was an argument against the single
standard of either metal, gold or silver,
and a warning against the policy of mo-
n0-netallism.
Then the Senator turned to tae political
phases Of the question, speaking in turn
of Bryan, of Palmer and Of Mckinley.
Mr. Palmer sat across the aisle and was
frequently addressed by the speaker as
one who had contributed to the election
of Mckinley. The controversy between
Mr.. Chandler and Mr.. Pettigrew was
one of the hottest personal episodes the
Senate has had in some time, the South
Dakota Senator declaring that Mr..
Chandlers statements relative to the
violation of pledges at St Louis were
wholly and absolutely false. Mr.. Chand-
Ter did not modify his statements, but
mutual explanations restored cordial re-
lations. Rev. w J. b. Brown, D. D.,
Of Wesley Chapel, London, offered the
opening prayer.
1t was an impressive invocation. Ref
eTence was made to the President and to
the President-elect, and it was asked that
those who desired a permanent peace be-
tween the two great English speaking
nations might have their desires accom-
pilshed.
When several Senators sought to give
notice Of advancing various measures to-
morrow, Mr.. Sherman came forward
with the statement that ne would ask
the Senate to go ito executive session
tomorrow on the AnglO-American treaty
Of arbitration, when he hoped to secure
final action. These notices, therefore,
must be with the understanding Of his
purpose tomorrow
Mr. Chandler was then recognized. He
traced the gradual decentralization Of sill
yer, the closing of our mints against the
silver dollar IN 1873, the efforts to restore
silver, the serious blow struck by Eng
land against silver in closing the Indian
mints. But it remained for Secretary
Carlisle, the Senator declared. to strike
the most fatal blow al silver, in issuing
his order that the government would re-
deem its paper Obligations in gold only.
Mr.. Chandler took up the fall of prices
particularly in farm products, resulting
from silver demonetization The Sena-
tor declared that whiting the last twenty
years there had been a steady fall of
prices in all classes of property. His
own convictions that silver demonetiza-
tion was at the bottom of this downward
movement in prices, caused him to seri-
ously doubt whether the era of restored
prosperity was near at hand He was led
to the conclusion, he said, that prices had
not yet touched bottom"
If it had not been for the fortunate bal
ance Of trade in our favor during the past
years, he said, there would have been a
business cataclysm in this country which
would have Frustrated all interests and
produced infinite misery in our business
and domestic affairs. 1t was because
gaunt famine stalked through India that
trade was favorable to us, for this horror
of the Orient had proved a benefit to us.
For these reasons, Mr. Chandler said,
turning toward Mr.. Palmer Dem, I'D,
who sat near, he was opposed to such |
declarations for a permanent gold stand |
ard as that enunciated by the Indianap- |
oils convention.
At one point Mr.. Chandler caused |
much amusement by addressing himself |
to Mr. Palmer, who sat across the aisle. /
The New Hampshire Senator had read |
a list of standard authorities on bimetal- |
ism, and then turning to Mr.. Palmer he /
presented the Illinois Senator copy Of
rhe list, saying he felt it would he help
full TO the candidate of the Indianapolis
Mr.. Palmer remained in his seat across
.he AISLE smiling occasionally at Mr..
Chandlers sarcastic illusions to him.
rhis, however, was bit the prelude to a
sensational episode between Mr.. Chand-
er and Mr.. Pettigrew.
The New Hampshire Senator said Mr..
etttgTeW hdu peen sent 10 the oL. Louis
on a pledge that he would
support Mckinley and "sound money"
md vet, within two weeks that Senator
lad replbdiated his pledge, had bolted Nc
Ninley and sound money platform, and
Ioon thereafter had come out as a sup,
'orter of Bryan.
Mr. Pettigrew had entered the chamber
IS this statement was made He adj
aneed to his seat and interrupted "Do
'ou make the statement on your own
uthority, or as a quotation?" he asked
i make the statement" said Mr..
Shandler, taking it from the newspaper
eports which are understood to have