Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-02-25
MIR. BRYAN ON THE SILVER
QUESTION,

The address issued by the silver re-
pnblicans in Congress, setting forth the
position they expect to occupy during
the next four years, continues to excite
much comment in republican circles
Speaking of the address Mr.. William
Jennings Bryan said yesterday
81 believe that they are right in con
tinuing separate organization as silver
republicans. They were among the
most effective supporters of bimetallism
during the campaign and since the cleo
ton they have stood mistaken and I'M
dismayed. They do not consider them.
selves democrats or populists, and since
they cannot affiliate with the republi.
can party while it stands for gold stand
ard, they have wisely decided to COM
plete an organization and hold their
forces together.
''In accepting the nomination OF the
national silver party stated that we
did not insist upon the silver republi-
cans becoming democrats, but that we
accepted their support with the under
standing that the same patriotism
which directed them in 1896 would be
present to direct them in 1900. The
democratic party deserved their conf
depce in 1896 and l hope that it will
deserve their support in the next cam
paign. Future events must determine
what is wise in 1900"
The silver men control the finance
committee, and it is their intention at
the present time to retain that control.
The plan which it is understood has
been agreed upon is to report the
House tariff bill to the Senate without
amendment, and then if the regular
republicans want to change it they
must make the effort in the open ses.
sion Of the Senate. One of the silver
republican Senators said yesterday af-
ternoon:
"There has been altogether too much
tariff tinkering in the past behind the
closed doors of committee room, and
we propose if this bill is to be torn to
pieces and remodeled it shall be done
in the Senate and in view of the entire
country"
In hoping to carry out this pro-
gramme the silver republicans count,
and probably correctly, upon the as
sistance of the democrats and the p0pu-
lists. They believe all Senators who
favored free coinage in the last can
paign will unite with them, and that
they can easily control the Senate in
opposition to reorganization of the
important committees in the interest of
the regular republicans. 1t is believed
by the silver men that this plan of ope-
ration will be more distasteful to the
other republicans than would persist
ent opposition to the enactment of
tariff legislation.
While the silver republicans have no
intention of voting for the passage of
the tariff bill, it is definitely under
stood that they believe its passage will
do the regular republicans more harm
than good, and are therefore secretly
hopeful that it will become law. This
is precisely the view of the silver dem
ocrats of the Senate. One of them said
yesterday to reporter:
tariff, but it will be good politics for
us to permit the republicans to pass
bill if they can, as we believe it will re-
dound to their injury. But, as indi-
Gated in the dispatches last night
the question is, How can the republi-
cans pass tariff measure if the COM
bined opposition votes against it? Per-
haps some of them intend to refrain
from voting"