The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-22
BLAND WAS AN ELIJAH
A Man of Singleness of Purpose
and Intense Conviction.
WHO WILL SUCCEED HIM
Rice A. Piercs Will Be the Leader of the
Democratic Portion of the Com
mittee on Coinage, Weights
and Measures.
Washington Bureau of the Standard,
No. 1145 G. Street n W.

Washington, June 21-The Elijah of
the silver cause in the house of repre-
sentatives has passed on, and it re-
mains to be seen if there is an Elisha
capa Bile of taking up and carrying for
ward his work. For a quarter of a
century Richard Parks Bland was the
recognized leader in congress, and he
fought for his cause with ability, en-
ergy and rare fidelity. He was a rug
the restoration of silver would be fol-
lowed by the genuine and abundant
prosperity of the people. He was a
devoted democrat, and yet he was one
of the first to revolt from democratic
leadership when President Cleveland
sent to congress the message that was
followed by the repeal of the Sherman
law. Few who heard it will forget his
ringing declaration in the house that
no arm was strong enough to reach in
Hhere and throttle the expression of
the will of the representative of the
people" This was the first open demo-
cratic defiance of the democratic ma
thonal administration. That he accu-
rately judged the sentiments of the
democratic congressman was amply
demonstrated when the repeal bill came
to its passage. 1t received only a mi
nority of the democratic vtes, and the
administration was saved from defeat
by the preponderance - republican
votes cast for the measure. Bland was
not politician in the ordinary accept
Rnce of the term he cared nothing for
the Importance of postmastershps and
federal patronage as aides to Continu-
ance in congress: He fought the ad-
mniStration strictly on principle, af-
terward being the first signer to the
proclamation by democratic congress-
men announcing their conviction that
the party was for the free coinage of
silver, and their determination to see
that the party platform expressed the
will of the party majority. Bland lived
to see a democratic national conven-
ton by an overwhelming majority COM
init the party to the advocacy of this
principle, and to see the gold democ-
racy absolutely obliterated in congress.
To man of his singleness of purpose
and intensity of conviction, this was
very satisfactory victory.
The silver cause has lost much in
the death of this sturdy champion.
Democratic leaders are already looking
about, not without miSgiving. to see If
it is possible to find a successor who
will be even measurably successful in
his place. MIR. Bland was a member
of the house committee on coinage,
weights and measures during the en-
tire period of his congressional services,
He was it's chairman in the 44th, 45th,
46th, 4Sth, 49th 50th sd and SD con-
crosses and the ranking member of the
democratic minority in the 47th, 51st,
h4th and 55th congresses. During all
these years he was member of every
conference committee of the two
houses considering coinage subjects.
and the democratic house leader in all
of the discussions of the silver ques-
tion In the many phases it has present
ed in that long period of time.
The selection of the new democratic
leader of the committee on coinage,
weights and measures will be made by
the republican speaker of the house.
The ranking democratic member of
this committee named by the speaker
will be in charge of the democratic
time in debate and have the prepara-
ton of the minority reports from the
committee. There is no reason to be-
lieve that the speaker will depart from
precedent in naming the committees,
and therefore it is extremely probable
that the new ranking member of the
committee will be chosen from it's mi
1aority membership in the last congress.
If Charles S. Hartman of Montana had
remained in congress he would un-
doubtly have inherited the minority
leadership. He was next to Mr.. Bland
upon the committee, and during his
congressional service was very atten-
tive to his duties as a member of it.
The minority member of most ex-
perience is Rice A. Pierce of Tennes-
see, who first entered congress in 1883.
Since that time he has had a somewhat
intermittent experience. serving five
terms. He has been from the first one
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