The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-10
ALL TO BE WIPED OUT
Democrats Will Repeal Every Sec
ton of the Election Laws.
Caucus Last Night, at Which the Fitch
Substitute Was Discussed
and Rejected.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal

Special TO the Indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, Oct. e.-The House Dem
ocratic caucus on the federal election repeal
bill tonight, after a session of two hours.
unanimously adopted the following resolu-
ton:
Resolved That it is the sense Of this eau
Gus that the pending bill blouse bill 23SI)
should be passed by the House of Repre-
sentatives on tomorrow, and that the DEM
ocrats should present an unbroken column
In it's support.
The caucus was called originally for the
purpose of deciding whether the Tucker
bill or the Fitch substitute therefor, which
is much less comprehensive in its scope
than the Tucker bill, should be accepted as
the party measure expressing the sense Of
the party upon the declaration in the plat
form respecting the repeal of the federal
election laws. 1t was also the intention to do
termine what. If any, amendments should be
added to the bill If it was passed. The eau
Gus was unusually well attended. between
14O and 15O members being present. Repre-
sentative Holman, chairman Of the eau
Gus, presided, and Representative Alder
son, Of West Virginia, was secretary. The
discussion was at times quite animated,
but it is said to have been entirely free
from any radical differences OF opinion.
Messrs Fitch and Tucker, at some length,
analyzed their bills and defended them.
Mr. Fitch pointed out that the sections
of the law omitted from his measure were
simply declaratory in their nature and
contained nothing in themselves by which
the processes complained of by. the Dem
ocratic party could be enforced. The dis
cussion was further participated in by
Messrs Patterson of Tennessee, Springer
of Illinois, Bourke Cochran of New York,
Talbert of South Carolina, Oates OF Ala
bama and others.
1t was pointed out in the course Of rhe
evening, by Mr.. Fitch and Mr.. Oates es-
pecially that the Tucker bill, through an
oversight, did not include Section 552S Of the
Revised Statutes. The terms Of this sec
ton are such that it was felt, not only Ky
these gentlemen, but by others, that 1t was
essential to have II repealed in order that
the intention to prevent the use OF troops
at the polls should be wholly carried out.
There were a number OF suggestions that
the Tucker bill be amended by inserting this
section in it's provisions, the overwhelming
sentiment OF the caucus being in favor OF
the Tucker bill. But Speaker Crisp, IN a
statement of some length, describing the par
liamentary situation, showed that the bill
could not be thus amended at this stage.
The order of consideration provided for
the taking of the vote at o'clock to-rnor-
row upon the bill and pending amendments,
list OF amendments that had been intro
duced UP to the hour OF adjournment this
afternoon. Thereupon Mr.. Fitch moved
the resolution which the caucus adopted as
already stated He explained that the Sec
ton referred to could be inserted In con-
ference after the measure had passed the
Senate in case any amendment were made
peal could be accomplished by an addi-
tiOnal bill.