The times., 1899-12-16
Mr.. Payne OF New York Heard.

Mr.. Payne OF New York Heard.
Mr.. Payne of New York, supporting the
bill, said he had not expected to take part
in this debate until within the past five
minutes. But when 1 heard the gentleman
from Texas. in despairing tones. admit that
1t was being discussed whether or not IN
der present conditions the Democratic party
/ should be disbauded and go out OF the
calamity business, I thought II nay duty
10 extend to him my coincidence and to as
sure him that the present disorgauized con-
dition of the Democracy on this floor is
perfectly satisfactory to those of US on this
side. IApplause.E
Mr.. Payne proceeded to illustrate the
necessity for the proposed legislation by
narrating the experience of 1895. when the
Government was compelled to pay $16,000,
600 more for S62 600 900 In coin bonds than
it would have paid for gold bonds. He was
/ one of those who felt impelled TO vote
/ gold into the bond then and he'd never
/ felt the necessity of apologizing for it. He
I was interrupted by Mr.. Richardson OF Ten
/ uessee who read Brem a speech by Mr..
Payne in August, 1898. In which he had eX-
/ pressed the opinion that there should be
/ TWO standards Of value.
The speaker admitted that amid Dem
ocratic applause and laughter, but claim
/ ed that he had said much more not fairly
/ represented by the extract read. He had
accepted the st. Louis platform in 1896,
but the illusion Of that year had passed
away. There was no longer, he said, any
probability of obtaining an international
agreement TO support bimetallism. And
: when he saw how the Democrats here had
ignored the shibboleth of 16 to /, in this
debate, acting as if they We're anxious to
drop it, he was satisfied that another illu-
sion was passing away.
The necessity Of the proposed lGgisla-
tion, said Mr. Dalzell OF Pennsylvania
arose from the feet that despite historical
preCedents and facts, the Democratic mem
! bership OF Congress insisted that the obll-
/ cations of the Government were payable
in coin 1t was thought desirable and wise
to write with the authority and majesty Of
law the fact that every dollar issued or
coined by the United States should be
measured by the gold standard. Another
reason was that il might be in the power or
Secretary Of the Treasury, in view Of the
differing contentious, to change the policy
of the Government in this regard. Not a
single reason had been advanced by the
minority in the course Of the debate why
the bill should not be passed. But the
substance OF all their talk had been eX-
pressed in a single sentence by that gentle
man who had so successfully made dema-
gOgy a profession. He had ceased his wan
derings in the wilds of Texas to declare
that the pending bill should not be passed
( because IL was not in the interests of
Democratic party. Mr.. Dalzell accepted an
amendment insisted upon by Mr.. Richard
son OF Tennessee that in the interview the
gentleman had said democracy" not
the Democratic party. But I insist that
when William J. Bryan said democracy
he meant the Democratic party. And
he was right. This bill is not in the inter-
ests of that party"
MIR. Morris Is Humorous.
The last speech Of the afternoon favoring
the bill next to the episode involving
Meszrs. Berry and Wheeler of Kentucky
afforded the most enjoyment Of the day. foI
both sides alike manifested their approval
OF Mr. Morris of Minnesota, who prefaced
an animated attack upon the Democratic
party by explaining that he had been asked
unexpectedly. to occupy a few minutes. He
had told the gentleman that he had nc
speech prepared, but that made no particu-
/ lar difference, for he had never seen tht
time when he could not give the Democratic
party the devil. [LaughterI
The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bailey
had asked the necessity for enacting this
bill into law, and moment later hat
gloried in the fact that the Democratic
party had survived all of its iniquites. anl
would live on. 1t is shouted Mr. Morris
and turning a neighbor out of his seal
with a demand for more room. because o.
the uudying qualities OF the Democratic
party that we seek to pass this bill We