The morning times., 1897-01-27
SILVER AGAIN TO THE FRONT
An Interesting Senate Debate on
the Monetary Conference.
THE CAUCUS RESOLUTION
Senator White Caused Smile by
Quoting From Senator Chandler's
Newspaper OF Senator Sherman's
Statement in 1876 Deprecating the
Decrease IF the supply of Silver.

The proceedings Of the Senate yesterday
afternoon were eniivened hy an interesting
debate on the Republican proposition for
an International monetary conference. The
discussion was OF interest for several
reasons. 1t was the first formal presenta-
ton of the silver question in the Senate
since the last arbitrament at the polls
There was an Interesting attendance dur
ing the exhunlation of the silver issue. on
the floor were senator, past and future
Secretary, John Sherman; Chairman James
X. Jones, of the Democratic national COM
mittee, and Gen. John NJ Palmer, Gold
Democratic candidate for President of the
United States. In the gallery there was a
conspicuous look-on in the person of Gen.
Simon Boliyer Buckner, late Gold Demo
cratic candidate for Vice President
The Republican caucus resolution, look
ing 10 an International monetary confer
ence, was called up 10y senator Chandler,
of New Hampshire whom the absence of
Wolcott in EurOpe-is in charge of the pro-
Jected resolution.
Senator Stephen NJ White, of California.
late chairman OF the Democratic national
convention, sent TO the Secrctary's desk and
had read an editorial from Senator Chand-
Ier's New Hampshire newspaper, giving
what Mr. Sherman said about demonetiZa-
tion OF silver.
The statement OF Mr. Sherman, made in
1876, was that there was not enough
gold for currency purposes and that the
lessening Of the supply of silver was an
outra Eeous hardship on poor people.
Senator Sherman refusedtoSInile through
the reading, although Chandler, Allison,
German, Gray, and other smiled freely.
Senator White inquired if Senator Sherman
had been correctly quoted 10y his colleague.
Senator Sherman didnotauswer. He busted
himselfreadinga letter, but evidently heard
all that Mr.. White said
Senator White recounted the language of
the st. Louis platform in favor Of an inter
national agreement, and charged that the
Republicans did not mean what they said
in st. Louis He referred TO Wolcott
1.-THE envoy antecedent to Europe" lie
asserted that there would be no effort at
a conference; that it would not be called,
and, if called, would not be attended by
representatives of foreign nations. The
American commissioners, if named, would
be chiefly remarkable for their lonesome
ness They would have nowhere to go and
no one to care for them in their peregr:na-
tions about welcomeless world. He con-
cluded with the assertion that McKinicy's
commissioners would probably never be
appointed; certainly they would never go
abroad. They Taight do sufficient work
in this country to give basis to a claim Tor
their salaries; and Immediately after their
failure became known the Republican Con
gress could proceed about its labor OF re-
storing prosperity to the people by pili1g
up more taxes.
Senator Frank J Cannon, of Utah, who
read the silver Republicans declaration
OF independence at st. Louis last summer,
followed Mr. White. He offered an
amendment TO the Chandler resolution
II provided for earlier action and limited
the ratios TO be discussed by the confer
ence to those OF 16 and . to 1. Camon's
speech was a clear-cut and forcibie pres
entatiOn Of the silver side of the question.
and one abounding in clever reflections
on the missions of the Junior Senator
from Colorado to Europe. He called
Wolcott a "premonitory monetary con-
feree'
In reviewing the result OF the last
election Mr.. Cannon quoted the number
OF votes ''cast" for Bryan and the num-
Der counted" for Mckinley, emphasizing
the latter word. Democratic and silver
Senators smiled, and several Republicans,
including Hale and Burrows, looked rather
angrily at the breezy young Utah bolter
When he dwelt later, on the paucity Of
the vote cast for the gold Democratic
party-"the only one whose platform openly
declared for the gold standard''-Palmer
on the floor and Buckner in the gallery
both showed keen interest Gen. Buckner
defective hearing
Senator Cannon closed his speech by
saying that as no further injury could be
Zone silver BY The conference-which was
confession of its need he would vote for
the monetary commission bill. believing it
would result in neither harm nor progress.
Senator Stewart offered an amendment
providing that if the conference fails this
country shall (within one month"; begin to
coin all American gold and silver free at
its mints.
Senator Chandler gave notice OF his pur-
pose TO press the matter to a vote tomor-
row. if possible. The resolution then went
over.