Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-17

His Administration.
Washington, D. c., February 16.-
Senator Chandler's speech in the Sen
ate to-day in advocacy of bimetallism
was one of the notable efforts of the
present session, not only for the schol-
arly care with which the Senator pre-
sented the question from his stand
point, but for the bitter sarcasm ad-
dressed to Senator Palmer and the In
dianapolis convention, the arraignment
of silver Senators who bOlted the St.
Louis convention and for the dramatic
personal exchange between Mr.. Chand-
Ter and Mr.. Pettigrew, the latter being
one of the boilers from the st. Louis
convention. Mr.. Chandler's speech
lasted three hours and was replete
with incident. 1t was an argument
against single standard OF either met
al. gold or silver and a warning against
a polocy Of mono-metallism. Then the
Senator turned to political phases Of
the question, speaking in turn of Bry-
an. 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 cleo
tion of Mckinley. The controversy
between Mr.. Chandler and Mr.. Petit
grew was one of the hottest personal
episodes the Senate has had in some
time. the South Dakota Senator de-
claring that Mr.. Chandler's statements
relative to the violation of pledges at
St. Louis were wholly and absolutely
false. Mr.. Chandler did not modify
his statement, but mutual explanations
restored cordial relations. The perora-
ton Of Mr.. Chandler was an appeal
to the incoming President and his ad-
visers to heed the need of the people,
particularly on the money question
and a warning of speedy political dis
aster certain to follow delay.
The early part of the speech was
presentation of the principles Of finance,
the Senator arguing against the single
standard of either metal, silver or gold.
He traced the gradual demonetila-
ton of silver the closing of our mints
against the silver dollar in '73, the ef-
forts to restore silver. and the serious
blow struck by England against silver
in closing the Indian mints. But 1t
remained for Secretary Carlisle, the
Senator declared, to trike the most
fatal blow at silver, in issuing his order
that the government would redeem its
paper obligation in gold only. BY that
act Secretary Carlisle struck out OF
use a vast amo1nt of silver and drew
Oh the worlds depleted supply of GOLD
and gave the final blow to silver. From
the effects of this low depth to whici
it has been reduced by the demoneti-
zation of silver. bimetallism must now
begin its toilsome struggle upward.
Ar Chandler took up the fan Of prices,
particularly i'm farm products. resulting
from silver demonetzation. The Senator
declared that within the last twenty years
thee had been "A steady fall OF prices in
an classes of property. His own convic-
tions. that silver decentralization was at the
bottom of this downward movement IN
prices. caused him TO seriously doubt
whether the era OF restored prosperity was
near at hand. lie was led to the concIu-
sion. he said. that prices had not yet
touched bottom
II It had not been for the fortunate bal
ance OF trade in our favor during the past
year he said. there would have been
business cataclysm I'm this country which
would have prostratcd all interests and
produced infinite misery in our business
and domestic affairs.
A. one point Mr.. Chandler caused much
amusement by addressing himself TO MI
Palmer. who sat across the aisle.
My. Palmer remained I'm his seat across
the aisle. smiling occasionally at Mn
Cbandler's sarcastic illusions to him.
This. however. was bur the prelude to "a
sensational episode between Mr.. Chandler
and Mr. Pe;tigrew.
The New Hampshire Senator said Mr.
Petrigrow had been sent 20 the ST. Louis
convention on a pledge that he would sup
port Mckinley and sound money. And
v,t within two weeks that Senator had re-
pudiated his pledge. had bolted Mckinley
and "a sound money platform and had come
out as supporter Of Bryan.
Mr.. Pettigrew had entered the chamber
a. this statement was made. He advanced
to his scat and interrupted.
DO you make that statement on your
own authority or as a quotation? Doe
asked.
II make the statement" answered Mr.
Chandler. taking it from the newspaper
reports which ana understood 10 have given
a correct statement of the case
Nj Pettigrew. with explosive emphasis
replied:
II brand that statement as wholly and
urquaHhedly false in every part. have
made that explicit denial before. and nave
placed it on record. so tnat the Senator
(Chandler) should know it is absolutely
false"
II understand the Senator Pettigrew)
declares the statement wholly false. Does
he mean TO say he was not I'm conven-
tic1 which named him as a Mckinley
delegate?"
Il say Interrupted Pettgrew vehe-
mently. that the purpose Of your state
ment is absolutely and wholly false.
"Ah, the purpose Of my statement Is