New-York tribune., 1899-06-16

element OF the Democracy He perfectly IA
miliar with "the crime OF 1873" and was the cham
pon of the white metal from the day he consid-
cred that It needed hacker. and began to acquire
his information the subject when he was prac-
tising law among the miners OF California and
Utah. His devotion to this cause won him the
various sobriquets OF "silver Dollar Bland" Silver
Dick and Silver Tip" He also sometimes
called the Cedar OF Lebanon"
In 1872 Mr.. Bland was nominated by the Demo-
Gratis of the Vth Missouri District. This dur
ing the Greeley-Grant campaign. and he was elect
ed to the XLIIId Congress. II during this
Congress the bill for the increase Of the
back circulation from $55 00oo to 500 10000 was
passed and vetoed by President Grant. Bland made
two speeches in advocacy Of this bill to increase
greenback circulation and in opposition 10 the
system Of National banks. He was reelected TO
the next Congress, and became chairman Of the
Committee on Mines and Mining. reporting from
that committee first bill for the free coinage OF
silver that had been reported since Its demoneza-
tIon. This bill was flibustered in the House for
about three months. and was not considered during
the first session. At the beginning of the second
session he again brought up the bill and 1t passed
the House but was never considered in the Senate.
mission was authorized and Mr. Bland. who was
a member Of the committee. made an exhaustive
nous silver Commission Report"
Mr.. Bland was reelected to the XLVth Congress,
and at session called by President Hayes he In
troduced a bill for the free and unlimited coinage
of silver. 1t was passed, ana went 10 the senate
and at the regular session beginning December,
1871 1t passed by that body, but with the
Allison amendment. which struck out the free
coinage features OF the bill and provided for the
purchase of not less than 100000 and not more
coined % into standard silver dollars. This bill was
vetoed by President Hayes, but was passed over
his veto and became a law. Before the repeal OF
this law by the Sherman act OF 1890. there had
been coined under the Bland act 3S)0oOOO standard
dollars ., 49,
crosses Mr.. Bland devoted his attention largely to
tariff legislation. favoring reduction and opposed
the recharterng Of National banks. In the
XLVIIIth and XLIXth Congresses he was chair,
Measures and In opposition to bill to repeal the
of silver. While he did not accomplish the passage
OF his bin he defeated the proposition to suspend
the BLAND law Of 1878 by more than a two-thirds
In the Lth Congress Mr.. Bland took an active
part In advocating the passage o. the MI NILS Tarin
Senate In the List Congress he opposed the Nc
Kinley bill. making more speeches on 1t than any
other member OF the House. lie onered Tree
man bill and did his utmost to have his pet meas
Mr. Bland shared in the general Democratic de-
feat In 1894 and not returned TO the LlNth
Congress But he resumed his seat In the last Con-
gress and was last fail reelected to the next
AT the Democratic National Convention or 1886
Senator Vest on the first ballot he received 2So
votes and 2el on the third ballot. He was also
placed in nomination for the Vice-Presidency, ana
on the second ballot received 2si votes But 70.
both OF these places younger men were preferred
by the convention. - -.
Mr.. Bland married. in 1873 Virginia Elizabeth1
Mitchell. daughter OF General r. Y Mitchell OF
Rolia. Mo She was Catholic. and though Mt
Bland was a Methodist. his two Oldest ch, ci
dren were brought up as Catholics. In 1896 ne hau
six children living.