Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-14


Democratic Congressmen Discuss the Sit
uation.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 1.-THE first
caucus was held by the democratic
members OF the house this morning,
there being about ITO members pres.
ent. McCrsry Of Kentucky presided.
and Cox of New York desiring to TAX e
party discussion. Wilson of West Vir-
ginia acted as secretary. Springer
said the main object of the caucus
was to permit the democrats to take
action looking to the admission of ter
ritories. Cox favored the admission
Of all territories except Utah aud New
Mexico. If the caucus over.ruled him
he would yield gracefully. He gave n
history of the admission Of the terri
tories in the past and said the demo-
cratic party might as well gain the
good will of the territories as the i'll
will. The people Of Dakota preferred
division Of the seventh standard par
allel almost unanimously and he was
Of the opinion their desires should be
listened to. Washington, Montana
and Idaho, should be given enabling
acts at once. The great territory Of
Dakota should be divided and the
democrats should secure prestige
which would come to them from fa-
vorable action OF their caucus, The
democrats had everything to gain and
nothing to lose. They lost Minnesota
at the last election because they failed
to admit Dakota which was on the
same isothermal line. Mcdonald
offered the following resolution:
Resolved. That II is the sense Of this
caucus that the territory Of Dakota be
divided into two territories and states
ultimately. Cox offered the following:
Resolved, 1t is the sense of this eau
Gus that day be fixed for some time
after the holidays for the consideration
OF the territorial question in so far as
to effect the admission of states and
that on any bill already reported o to
be reported from the committee on
territories there shall be no limitation
on amendments which are germain
and that ia order Of proceeding the
first vote shall be on any bills affect
ing the territory Of Dakota OF its di-
vision or any amendment thereto and
that this caucus does not seek to bind
any member on votes taken on any
proposition. Cox read dispatch re-
ceived by him from citizens of Huron,
Oak, saying they would like no adj
verse action taken on division and ad-
mission of Dakota till some leading
democrats of south Dakota could be
heard. Oates, of Alabama, dissented
from the views advanced by Cox. He
regarded the question Of admission of
territories as largely political and be.
lieved the interests Of the democratic
party should be considered. For him.
self he would not vote for individual
bills. He wac sure the republican
senate would admit these territories
which were republican and reject
those which were democratic. He did
not see the force Of argument that in
admitting territories at present would
make them democratic. That was a
kind OF threat and he did not in.
intend TO be influenced by Ii. II the
people of the territories had so little
idea of democracy they should he left
out till they learned better principles
of the democratic party. He ridiculed
the idea that the republican congress,
with majority of one TO three in the
house, would be allowed 10 have lts
own way in rcgasi to the admission Of
territories. Let cougrcss 90 slowly,
Colorado had been admitted by a
democratic congress sud be saT noths
ing democratic about IT,
Monsur Of Missouri favored a propo
sition 10 allow Dako,a 10 vote ON the
question of division.
Biggs Of Colorado favored the diyid-
ing of Dakota and the admission Of
Dakota. "To sheol," he said, with
the policy of preventing a territory be-
ing admitted In difference TO the die
tstes of the political party"
Chapman of Michigan wanted all
American citizens % have rights.
II Dakota wanted to enter the Union
let her come.
Holman Of Indiana supported the
omnibus bill and offered a resolution
TO that effect.
Spinola of New York said the ques-
ton was purely political. He would
oppose the admission Of the territories
In every way he could and In 1892,
with siaunch, sterling democrats at