St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-20
HOW TO SECURE A QUORUM
DEMOCRATIC SILVER CAUCUS DIS
GUSTED WITH KicXERS.
COINAGE WHIP rs CRACKED.
The Solid New York Democratic
Delegation and Other Anti
Silverites Fail to Attend the
Gatherings Call Issued o
All Democratic Members De-
handing That They Vote.

All Democratic Members De-
handing That They Vote.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-The success
of the filibuster against the Bland sill
yer seigniorage bill, which has blocked
proceedings in the house for five days,
today forced the Democratic advocates
of the measure to invoke the decree of a
caucus, and Immediately after the ad-
journment a Democratic caucus was
held in the hall of the house to consider
the situation. There were present $50
Democrats, but not a Democratic MEM
Der of the New York delegation, all of
whom have Joined in the obstructive
movement, was present. nor in fact,
any Of the others who joined hands
with them. The presence, however, of
MIR. Pence, the Colorado Populist. was
significant. The sentiment in the
caucus, therefore. was all favorable to
the bill. and two resolutions were
adopted, n to keep the seigniorage
bill before the house. TO the exclusion
of everything, until disposed of, and
the other the expressing as the sense of
the caucus that it was the duty of every
Democratic member to be present and
vote either for or against the bill. The
only difference of opinion existing was
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of going even
further THAI this, and compelling mem
berS to vote or be counted if they re-
fused to do so.
MIR. BOATNER PRESIDED
n advocated a resolution to instruct
the committee on rules to bring a rule
TO compel members to vote or to be
fined, and Mr.. Patterson a resolution
instructing the speaker to count a
quorum. Mr.. Patterson declared that
he believed, after vie wing the spectacle
Of the last few days, that Mr.. Reeo was
right, and that n%on-voting members
should be counted to make a quorum.
The Patterson resolution was voted
down by about twenty majority, the
speaker voting against the proposition
The caucus adjourned pending a vote
OF the Boatner resolution.
Messrs. Bryan. Bland, Bynum,
Springer. Williams (Miss,) and Hatch
advocated the passage of the two reSo-
buttons, (both offered by Mr.. Bland) and
in the course OF the speeches some very
caustlc reflections upon the action of
the Eastern flibustering Democrats
were INDUCED in.
The resolutions, which were as fol-
lows. were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the sense of this
caucus is that the pending bill (the
SeignlOrage silver bilD shall be the
SPECIAL BUSINESS
of the house to the exclusion of all
other business until disposed Of"
The second resolution Was as fol-
lows:
Whereas. Thirty-two Democratic
members are now absent from the city ;
and
Whereas, Twenty-eight Democratic
members of the house were present and
Intentionally failed to vote on the pend
ing silver bill, thus breaking a Quorum;
Resolved, FIRST, That il is the duty of
every Democratic member of the house
who is 10Y absent, unless his absences
be for sickness of himself or family, to
Immediately return to the discharge of
the duties of his office.
Resolved, second, That it is the duty
OF every Democratic member of the
house to record his vote for or against
the pending silver bill to the end that a
quorum be obtained, in order that said
bill may be speedily disposed of and the
house may proceed with the considera-
ton OF other pressing business"
The Democrats who were in the city,
but refused to attend the caucus, will.
if the declaration of Mr.. Tracey is ill
indication, refuse to be bound by its
action. Mr.. Tracey, however, asserts
now that even if the bill is brought to a
vote it will be beaten. His opinion is
not shared by the Democratic house
leaders. who still positively affirm that
the passage of the bill is only a question
Of time. They expect % Republican
votes, 9 Populist votes, and. with a full
Democratic attendance, 160 Democrats,
which would leave them a margin of
twelve over a quorum.