Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-01
PARTY LINES STRENGTHENED
Eject 4 tAs Vote in the House
Yesterday.
Great Credit Given the Repnblicsn
the silver Question.

The vote in the House yesterday on the
Teller resolution has done more than any,
thing else since the silver fight began to
straighten out party lines. 1t was be-
lieved by many silver men that the repub-
lican party could not stand the strain Of
such a vote and that It would result in
the breaking away Of those republicans
whose constituents are supposed to favor
silver. The strain was great, but only one
republican voted against his party. The
rest. being confronted with the necessity
of making choice between a declaration in
favor of free silver or standing on the
party platform for the preservation of the
present gold standard, stood by the plat
form. This has cleared up the situation
wonderfully. and great credit Is being
given Speaker Reed, Mr.. Dingiey and other
Of the leaders for forcing the issue and
settling once for all that membership in
sound money"
Quite a number of men IN the House.
as in the Senate. have been trying to make
| 1t appear that they could be silver men
and gold standard men at the same time
and have wanted the administration and
the party In Congress to occupy 4 strad-
ole attitude In order to make 1t easy for
them to stand on two platforms at the
same time. The men who believe that the
safety and honor of this country depends
uboh tue maintenance OF tn0 ROtd stand
ard OF value and the payment Of the gov
eminent obligations In gold have revolted
at the idea Of 1t being represented that
there Is anything equivocal In the attitude
Of OF the republican party on this subject
stronger and the cause safer IL the lines
were drawn sharply. all republicans stand
Ing together, without reservation, for the
ard. The general drift of events has been
toward the consolidation Of the party on
these lines. but there has been an insist
ance on the part of some that they were
also Tor silver, and that the party sane
toned such position. By forcing the
vote on the Teller resolution as 1t was in
the House yesterday, the issue was made
clear. and each member was given his
choice OF position. vote against the reso-
luton meant q plain declaration in favor
of maintaining the gold standard
I'm the other hand, there were some demo-
Gratis who. declaring themselves to be op-
to show that there was nothing fncon-
sistant In their adhering to the party which
nominated Mr.. Bryan and adopted the Chi
cago platform. These men were forced to
presented for their votes. All but the two
who voted against the resolution now find
themselves committed to silver.
The Issue Definitely Made.
The solidity of the republican vote against
the resolution and the solidity Of the demo-
cratic vote for the resolution is regarded
as demonstration that neither party will
depart from the position now assumed
with respect to the money question, either
at the congressional elections next fall OF
at the next presidential election. 1t is re-
garded as sufficient evidence that there will
be no compromise in either party and that
to act with either party it will be necessary
that the financial principles of that party
shall be accepted.
1t dispels all Idea of coming together
OF the gold democrats and the silver demo-
Gratis on a modified platform. It also set
tied it that the republican party Is not
going to adept the do something for
silver" policy in order to help statesmen
who want to stand well with the silver
people and with the republicans at the
same time.
Another important thing shown Is that,
so far as the popular branch Of Congress
can be accepted as expressing the sentiment
of the republicans throughout the country,
the republicans. VIXEN confronted with q
necessity to make choice between sacri-
ficing their party loyalty or their friendly
disposition for silver, will stand by the
party, going the whole length.