Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-12
A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The Matter of Admission of Terri
tories Thoroughly Discussed.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE first caucus Of
the session was held by the democratic Nom.
bers of the house this evening Mr.. Springer
stated that the main object OF the caucus was
to permit the democrats to take some action
looking to the admission of territories Mr.
Cox favored the admission OF all territories
except Utah aud New Mexico. He said that
the democratic party might as well gain the
good will Of the territories rs their i'll will.
The people of Dakota preferred division on
the forty-seventh parallel almost unani-
mously, and he was of the opinion that their
desires should be listened to. Washington,
Montana and Idaho should be given en-
abling acts at once. The great territory
of Dakota should be divided, and
the democrats should secure the pres
tige which would certainly come to them
from the favorable action of their caucus.
They had lost Minnesota at the last election
because they had failed to admit Dakota.
which was on the same isothcrmal line. Mr..
Macdonald offered the following resolution.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
caucus that the territory of Dakota be di-
vded into two territories and admitted as
states ultimately.
Mr.. Cox offered the following:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this eau
Gus that the day be fixed for some time after
the holidays for a consideration OF the terri
toral questions, insofar as they affect the ad-
mission of states, and that on any bill already
reported or to be reported from the commit
tee on territories there shall be no limita-
tion on amendments which are gcrmainc,
and that in the order of proceeding the first
vote shall be on any bills affecting Dakota
or its division or any amendment thereto.
Mr.. Oates of Alabama dcsscntcd from
the view advanced by Mr.. Cox. He re
garded the question of the admission of the
territories as largely political, and believed
that the interests of the democratic party
should he considered. He did not see the
force of the argument that admitting the
territories at present would make them
democratic. If the people of the territories
had had so little idea of democracy they
should be left out until they learned the
principles of the democratic party. He ridl-
culcd the idea that republican con-
gress with majority of from one
to three in the house would be allowed
to have its own way in regard
TO the admission of territories. Let congress
go slowly. Colorado has been admitted by
democratic congress, and he saw nothing
difficult about il.
MIR Bggs of California favored the ad-
mission of Dakota. TO sheol with the policy
of preventing a territory from being admitted
in Difference to the dictates of political
party, he said.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana supported the ON
nlbus bill, and offered resolution to that
effect.
MIR. Spinola of New York said he would
oppose the admission of the territories in
every way ne could, ana IN lS'S,
with staunch, sterling democrat
at the head of the democratic ticket, that
party would march on to victory. He did
not believe in sentimental measures.
Mr.. McAdoo, of New Jersey. deprecated
any concessions to the republican party.
DNIr. Macdonald predicted that if the demo-
Gratis did not admit Dakota it would be re-
publican for years. Let the democrats be
wise. The tariff had not beaten the demo
Gratis in the northwest, but political mis-
takes, such as refusal to admit Dakota,
had been responsible for the result.
Mr.. Weaver of Iowa favored the omnibus
bill and the admission OF all territories eX-
cept Utah.
Mr.. Toole of Montana spoke in favor of
that territorg, predicting that if
that were done she would send two demo
Gratis To the senate; othtrw;se she would be
republican for decades.
Mr.. Bland of Missouri said that in 1892 the
seat of war would not be in New York. New
Jersey and Connecticut, but III the west.
Let the democratic party follow Horace
Greeley's advice and go west and grow up
with the country.
Mr. Voorhees, Of Washington Territory at
tributed the republican majority in that ter
ritory TO the failure of the democrats to pass
an enabling act for its admission.
Without taking any action the caucus ad-
iourned until Thursday evening.