The San Francisco call., 1898-02-05
DEFIES THE LEGISLATURE
 OF KENTUCKY Senator Lindsay Says That He Will Not
 Resign. Upholds HisCourse in Vot- ing Against Free
 Silver. Although He Did Not Favor Teller's Resolution, He Is
 Yet a Democrat. 
HIS VIEWS NOT CHANGED.
Stands Just Where He Did Four Years Ago Upon the Finan-
 cial Question.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office. Riggs House.


 Washington, Feb. 1.
 Speaking to a question of personal privilege in the Senate to-day Lind say (D0 of Kentucky commented sharply on the motives of the authors and promoters of the resolution recent ly passed by the Legislature demand ing his resignation as Senator. Lind say, after defining his position on the financial question, made it clear that he was the representative of the whole people of Kentucky, and not in any sense the agent of the Kentucky Legis- lature Above all he was. he said, a Senator for the whole American peo- pie. and as such would perform his du- ties and cast his vote in accordance with his convictions and with the die tates of his conscience.
 No business of importance was trans acted in the brief open session. After the executive session of three hours the Senate adjourned until Monday.
 A bill providing for the erection of a public building at Beaumont, Tex, at a cost not to exceed $I00 000 was passed.
 Platt or New York offered resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, directing the Secretary of War 10 return 10 the Seventh Regl- menl Arull6TN tIOrmeTlE the one Hun ored and Thirteenth New York Nolun- teer Infantry the flags of the regiment.
 Lindsay then took the floor to speak on the resolution of the Kentucky Leg1Sla- ture asking him to resign He had the resolution read at the clerks desk, and then said;
 resignation. 1t Is couched in language which disregards the ordinary ameni- ties of life, and is, in effect, a demand that l shall surrender my place in order to create a vacancy and thus make room here for some one holding political views in harmony with the author and pro- moters of the resolutions. 1 desire to pro- test against this uSurpaton of ungranted power, and propose to give It a place on the records of the Senate and to make such comments as deem necessary and proper under the circumstances:
 Tt is to be observed that in the ar raignment which precedeS the resolution there is no charge that l have ever dis obeyed the expressed will of the people Of Kentucky; no intimation that have ever given a vote which did not reflect the views of the majority of my constituents; that have at any time failed to look after their interests, have been wanting In any duty owing 10 them or to the country; that l am now opposing legiSla- ton which majority of the people of Kentucky regard as essential to the pub lie welfare, or that my personal conduct at any time or in any respect has been to the slightest degree incompatible with the high position of an American Senator.
 ''The substance of the complaint is that am opposed to the free and unlimited coinage Of silver at the ratio Of 16 to l, and that I opposed the election of the nominees Of the late Chicago convention, and by so doing betrayed the trust re- posed in me by my constituency. My con- stituency is made up of the people of Kentucky, and that people voted against those nominees, and twelve out of thir- teen of the electoral votes of Kentucky were registered against them.
 Senator silver in the extra session of 1893, which repealed the purchasing clause of the Sherman law, and continued:
 Tn the discussion of the bill declared that l would vote for no amendment which merely experimented with a change Of ratio. or that did not provide reason nance of the parity of gold and silver dollars. Those votes and that declara- tfon were known to all the intelligent people of the State Of Kentucky In the month following the adjournment of this extra session the General Assem- hly, charged with the duty Of selecting my successor, was chosen. It convened one presented to the Democratic caucus and when the election came to be held received the vote of every Democratic member present.
 ''1 stand to-day precisely where stood when l received the unanimous indorse- Inent of the Democrats in Kentucky. If those who were in accord with me four years GSO dIc not SO lO-Oay II IS because they have changed their opinions. while remained steadfast. I criticize no one for changing his opinions. but I protest against being denounced as a betrayer of my trust, because my views remain un- changed.
 T deny the right of self-seeking poIit ical changelings. who were with me in opposition to free silver when free coin age was unpopular, and are against me now when free coinage seems to meet Democratic approval in Kentucky, to sit in judgment on my Democracy, or to call in question my fealty to the constituency I represent l will remind those who voted for the resolution that I am moi the mere agent of the Kentucky Legis- lature. 1 do not exercise my Senatorial duties subject to legislation nor hold my place at the legislative will. I represent not merely party or a faction, but ali the people of Kentucky. My term of service is fixed " the constitution of the United States. It cannot be abridged by the action of the Kentucky Legisia- ture, and an attempt by certain mem bers of that body to abridge it is the as