Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1892 — BLAND’S BILL IS DEAD. [ARTICLE]

BLAND’S BILL IS DEAD.

THE MEASURE WAS KILLED BY ADJOURNMENT. Speaker Crisp an<l Western Democrats Gave the Measure a Life, but a Vote Was Not Reached, and Sliver Men Concede Its Final Defeat. Blocked the BUI. According to a Washington dispatch the free silver bill is defeated, the House having adjourned without a vote on the bill. This ended the legislative day for which the special order was made, and the Bland bill now has no more rights in the House than any other measure. In all probability it will not be taken up again in this session of Congress. Mr. Bland hopes to get another special order from the Committee on Bule3, but the chances are decidedly against him. Gen. Warner, the chief lobbyist for the bill, admitted that the bill was defeated. This is without much question the end of the great campaign of the siiverites in this Congress. The closing of the contest was matked by great excitement and bitterness. Frequently the House was in such confusion as to require the assistance of sergeants-at-arms to clear the floor, and the great mace, which is used only on rare occasions, was paraded up and down the aisles as a warning to turbulent members. On the morning of the last day of the discussion the anti-silver forces were willing to concede their defeat. At midnight they were confident of ultimate victory. Three times during the night they routed the enemy, but each time the free silver forces rallied and left the final result in doubt. Speaker Crisp was once compelled to vote in order to save the bill from defeat, an effort which availed nothing in the face of the determined opposition of the Northern and Northwestern Democrats. The silver battle in the House began in earnest at 5 o’clock in the evening. All afternoon the orators had been making speeches. This was simply the cannonading, but from 5 o’clock on the opposing forces met in a bitter hand-to-hand conflict. No such fierce and bitter struggle has been seen in the House for many a year. On one side was Bland, calm and confident, anticipating an easy victory. On the floor was General Warner, the chief of the silver lobbyists, radiantly looking forward to a triumph over the hated gold-bugs. Behind the silver leaders was a strong and determined force of Democrats, chiefly from the South and West, but with a scattering of votes in Ohio, Indiana, Southern Illinois, Michigan, and lowa. They were joined •by a handful of Republicans from the far West. In all they were about one hundred and fiity strong. Arrayed against them were eighty Deraootats from New England and the Northern and Northwestern States and seventy Republicans. These anti-silver forces were led by Tracy and Cochran of New York, Harter and Outhwaite of Ohio, for the Democrats, and Tom Reed, Burrows, and Abner Taylor for the Republicans. At different times during the night’s battle 300 members voted. Of these 80 wore Republicans, 212 Democrats, and 8 Farmers’ Alliance. Of the 80 Republicans all but seven voted to lay the Bland bill on the table. The seven pro-silver Republicans wire Bowers of California, Clark of Wyoming, Vincent Taylor of Ohio, Lalley of South Dakota, Pickier of North Dakota, Townsend of Colorado, and Bartine of Nevada.

Of the 212 Democrats, seventy-eight voted against Bland. All the Democrats from New England, all those from New York, excepting Rockwell, who voted on the advice of Senator Hill; all those from New Jersey, excepting Fowler; all from Pennsylvania, excepting Reilly, were against the bill. Maryland was solid against Bland, with the exception of Mr. Comp'.on, who voted on one roll-call and then disappeared. Mr. Wilson, of West Virginia, was the only member from that State to vote against Bland. Ohio Democrats gave 9 votes for Bland and 3 aga’nst, with Donovan dodging and Tom Johnson voting both ways. The three anti-silver men were Outhwaite, Harter and Pattison. All the Democrats from Indiana voted with Bland, two or three of them reluctantly. Of the Michigan Democrats, Chipman, Stout and Wheeler voted against Bland. Mr. Babbitt was the only man in the Wisconsin deiegatlon to vote with the Blnndites. The Illinois Democrats voted as follows: With Bland —Williams, Wike, Steward, Fithian and Lane. Against Bland—Newberry, McGann and Cable. Busey voted twice with Bland, and then arranged a pair with Mr. Springer. On the first roll-call Snow and Scott voted with Bland, but afterward paired, Mr. Snow desiring to change his vote. Mr. Durborow was paired, but reached the hall just before midnight, with his gripsack in his hand, eager for an opportunity to go on record against free silver. All the Illinois Republicans voted against 'Bland, including General Post, who is a free coinage man. The lowa Democrats divided, Hayes, Seerley, and Bowman voting against Bland. Kansas and Nebraska were solidly for the bill, Mr. Funston’s vote being a surprise. Tom Reed attempted to whip the Kansan into line, but was unable to do so. Only one Missourian, Mr. Cobb, voted against Bland. Only two Democrats from the extreme Southern States, Brawley, of South Carolina, and Meyer, of Louisiana, voted against Bland. All the Farmers’ Alliance members voted for free silver. The New York Democrats are very indignant at Tim Campbell and Stahinecker, both of whom were absent and not paired. Had they been in their places the bill could have been beatqn. Campbell arrived at midnight, too late to be of any service.