The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-12
And Shows the Proposed Change I'm
Banking Laws Would Not Result
in Dangerous Imitation.
SPEECH BY MR.. DoLLIvER
ALSO IN SUPPORT OF CURRENCY
AND BANKING REFORMS.
Bryan and His False Prophecies
Maddox, Mcclellan and De Ar
mond Speak for Democrats.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. u.-Representative
Overstreet had the center Of the stage in
the House to-day. To him was assigned
the opening OF the debate on the currency
bill, a measure he helped to frame. His
speech was a clear and comprehensive
analysis Of the measure. During its deliv-
cry he had the closest attention of the
members OF all parties. The most general
comment made on his effort was that the
successor to the lamented Dingiey. of
Maine, had been found. Mr.. Overstreet
bears a strong intellectual resemblance to
that clear headed statesman. He possesses
the same power of logical statement. OF
clear analysis, of cogent argument, OF
clear reasoning. Like Dingley, he disdains
the flowers of rhetoric, putting his de-
pendence on facts and deductions from
them. He talks like a man OF affairs OF
the higher order, not like a spellbinder or
the stump. He resembles Dingley in an
other very important way. He is glutton
for work No man now In the House sur
passes him for capacity for the hardest and
most wearing kind Of mental labor and the
ability to keep at 1t for long and weary
hours. Men of that stamp are always a
power in Congress. AS soon as the Repub-
Iican leaders found that Oevrstreet be-
longed TO this class they were glad TO
give him an opportunity TO indulge in his
bent. A man who in committee is willing
to perform all the drz1dgerys whether IL
brings him immediate notoriety or not. Is
always sure 10 go TO the front provided no
can do the work assigned him intelligently.
The proof OF Overstreet's capacity and
ability was seen when the currency bill
was put In his charge on the floor OF the
House 1t is a measure that will not be
exceeded in Importance by any other that
will come up at this session. MI. Over
streets championship Of monetary reform
and OF the gold standard. was such as
delighted all Indianians. and nothing but
words of praise were heard on the hoor
and in the galleries. When he concluded ne
was generally congratulated by his associ-
ates on his speech. From this day forward
Mr.. Overstreet, of Indiana, will be ac-
knowledged as the leader OF his party In
Congress and by that token In the country
at large.
Mr.. Dolliver, of Iowa, also spoke for
the financial bill to-day. His speech was
W GA ssfS W. ~~-~ -
for which the Iowan il noted. and held
the members without regard to party for
more than an hour. Mr.. Dolliver declared
that the last doubt in the Republican party
as to the wisdom Of enacting the gold
standard into law had been resolved by
the experience of the business world dur
ing the past three years. He scored Mr.
Bryan and generally ridiculed the alleged
false prophecies of the Democrats In 1885.
Mr.. De Armond, Of Missouri, was the
heavy gun on the Democratic side. He
warned the Republicans from the West
that they could not deceive their constitu-
ents in the coming congressional elections
by claiming that they had yielded to the
wisdom of their colleagues in caucus. Mr.
Maddox, of Georgia. replied to Mr.. Over
street. Mr.. Clellan, OF New York. was
the only other speaker to-day. He an
nounced his opposition to the bill on the
ground that IT would contract the cur
rency, extinguish the bank notes and en-
hance the value OF coin bonds. He ap-
pealed to those of his Democratic coll
leagues from New York who. IL Is reported
intend to vote for the bill, not to do so.