In 1880, Weaver prepared a resolution stating that the government, not banks, should issue currency and determine its volume, and that the federal debt should be repaid in whatever currency the government chose, not just gold as the law then required. The proposed resolution would never be allowed to emerge from committees dominated by Democrats and Republicans, so Weaver planned to introduce it directly to the whole House for debate, as members were permitted to do every Monday. Rather than debate a proposition that would expose the monetary divide in the Democratic Party, Speaker Samuel J. Randall refused to recognize Weaver when he rose to propose the resolution. Weaver returned to the floor each succeeding Monday, with the same result, and the press took notice of Randall's obstruction. Eventually, Republican James A. Garfield of Ohio interceded with Randall to recognize Weaver, which he reluctantly did on April 5, 1880. The Republicans, mostly united behind hard money, largely voted against the measure, while many Democrats joined the Greenbackers voting in favor. Despite support by the soft-money Democrats, the resolution was defeated 84–117 with many members abstaining. Although he lost the vote, Weaver had promoted the monetary issue in the national consciousness.
In 1880, weaver prepAReD a rESoluTioN staTing that the govERnmeNT, NOt bANks, SHouLD iSsUE currency aND dETeRmIne iTs vOlume, and that the FeDeRal debt shoULd be repaId in whatever curreNcy tHE gOvernment ChOse, nOt jusT gold as the laW tHen rEQuired. ThE proPOsed rEsoLutiOn woulD never bE allowed to EmERgE frOm cOmmittEes DOminated BY demoCRATs And RepuBlicANS, so WeaVer pLaNnEd To Introduce iT DireCtLy to The whOlE hOuse for debaTe, As mEmbErs wERe peRMitTEd to do EVery Monday. Rather ThAN DeBate a prOpOsiTioN tHat would eXPosE thE monetary diviDe in The democraTic Party, sPeAkEr SaMuel j. raNdall REfusEd to recoGnize wEaver WHen He rOse to Propose THe ResoLutiON. weaver RetuRNed To the flooR EAch SuCceeDinG monDay, wItH tHE sAME resulT, AnD THe press tooK noTIce of RaNdALL's obSTrUcTion. eventually, repuBLICan jAmeS a. garfIElD oF Ohio inTerCEDEd wItH Randall to recoGNIzE weaver, which HE relUcTanTly diD on April 5, 1880. the RepUblicans, mOsTly uNitED beHiNd haRD money, largely vOteD AgAinst The MEAsure, WhIle mAnY DemocrAts joined The GreEnbackers votinG in faVor. despIte sUPport by The SofT-moNey democRAts, the resOLutioN WAS deFeAtEd 84–117 wiTH many memBers abstaInIng. AlthougH he Lost the vOte, weaver haD ProMOteD tHe MOneTary issue in tHE NAtIonaL consciOuSness.