Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-07
A General Battle Expected in the
House Caucus.
MORE PASSIONATE FEELING SHOWN
Cowardice and Treachey Of Sup
posed Tariff Refomers Charged.
WHAT CAUCUS sIGNERs SAY


today. All their growing and pickering and
clawing over the tariff threatens to culmin-
ate I'm a general battle. which is expected TO
start with the caucus OF the House today
and last until one side or the other is whip-
ped out or the party sent TO smash. There
is more passionate feeling shown today than
has heretofore appeared in any of their con-
troversies. Treachery. self-interest and
cowardice are charged. and It is expected
that in the caucus this afternoon there viii
be an extremely hot time
No Promise for Liquidation.
There Is nothing in 1t all that promises
well for legislation. Ths action of Messrs
Springer and Bynum in working up a eau
Gus for the purpose OF overriding the House
conferees is resented as an unwarranted
Interference designed to place the House at
a disadvantage in the contest, and 10 en-
courage the Senate not TO Yield IL is
claimed that the chief obstacle to an agree
raent In the conference upon terms accept.
able to the House has been cowardice and
treachery on the part Of supposed tari'f re-
formers. Mr.. Springer and Mr.. Bynum first
got up their caLcus proposition at a time
when the Senate conferees were in a most
conciliatory mood, and when there Was
most promise OF an agreement. They were
compelled to abandon IL then, because IL
vas too generally asserted that there was
no warrant for IL in the existing situation.
stories of a break I'm the Confer renee,
II is claimed that there was nothing I'm
the situation in conference yesterday 10
make IL look less hopeful than II had been
during the past several days. and that they
were getting along nicely. As a preliminary
10 the calling of the caucus today, however
stories were started TO the effect that there
had been an absolute break i'm the confer
ence and that the Senate conferees had
served notice upon the House conferees that
II they did not accept the Senate bill very
soon the Senate would lay the whole matter
on the table, and that there would be no
tariff legislation. This story was very dili-
gently circulated through the House with
the effect of frightening some Of the mem
bers who fear that they cannot be reelected
II they do not pass some sort Of a bill. IL is
believed that the story was inspired by the
fear that the Senate conferees were weak
tning. and might yield something 10 the
House
A bitter Resentment Felt.
This belief is so sincere and the feeling so
strong that the conference has been back
capped all the while by cowardly and
treacherous conduct within the party that
very bitter resentment is felt which is
expected TO find fun expression in the cau-
Gus. The situation Is not APT TO be i'm
proved by the caucus. II is believed that
the any sort OF bill' democrats will be de-
feated IN the caucus, but the feeling has
got so bitter that there is danger of it's
resulting in smashing the whole business.
With the disposition on the part of many
OF the House democrats to yield manifested.
II is entirely probable that the Senate Will
become firmer than ever, and Il IL asserted.
with much positfveness in several quarters
that II the Senate bill should be accented
as II is Cleveland will veto IL.
TheNoorhees interview is received with ex-
pressions Of great satisfaction by the tariff
reformers generally
Caucus and Antf-Caucus Feeling
Those who projected the caucus are A.
serting that IT is not intended to discreait
the conferos. The anti-caucus men de-
nounce the move. however, as a nank move
n.ent toward surrender to the senate.
From the general tendency of the caucus.
as well as the anti-caucus men. Il seems
evident that there will be no resolution in
structing ;he House conferees 10 recede or
otherwise discrediting their course. on the
contrary, the caucus men appear TO be ON
The defensive, and are asserting th, good
faith of their motives. On the other hand
Speaker Crisp, the committee on rules tbe
conferees and all the influential factors OF
We house are on the offensive. and have
Ettle coubt of caucus action. showing COM
piete loyalty TO Chairman Wilson and his
associate conferees.
representative Pntterson's Statement
Representative Patterson of Tennessee.
one OF the leading sgners of the caucus pe-
ution, denied with emphasis that there was
ferees or the PresideI T. II was. he said. a
move TO have democrats meet and make
the most OF bad situation. The main
thing was TO get q tariff bill. and get IL
quickly. He thought, however. that such
men as Senators Harris. Bate. Vest and
others were quite much entitled TO credit
as House democrats IL should be learned
from those Senators, who were earnest tar
in reformers, what was the best that could
be secured. and this should be immedistely
accepted. MIR. Patterson did not think Sem
ator Voorhees, statement changed the situ-
alton.
Mr.. Maddox's Views.
Representative Maddox OF Georgia. one
Of the signers for the caucus. said he and
others who signed the petition had not
wished In any way TO discredit the House
conferees. The idea OF passing a resolu-
ton adverse 10 our conferees Was never
suggested" said he. ION the contrary, 1
have the greatest confidence in the Jude-
Turner of my state, who are familiar with
the conference work. But the idea was
that the conferees had been out for so
many days We did not know what they
were doing. BY having them come here
and tell us their successes and reverses
there was every probability We could give
them our help, and. If need be. strengthen
them by expressing our confidence In their
course The caucus is for information, not
criticism.
VIII typhoid the House.
Representative Tarsney OF the ways and
means committee-"The Voorhees, statement
shows that the spirit OF compromise is
abroad. II should pave tho way to a speedy
settlement. The caucus today can have
but one result-the apbolding of the IIouee
conferees The only ones TO be 0iscredi.ed
will be those who have urged the caucus"
Representative Kilgo-e Of Texas. an anti
caucus man, said all efforts to discredit the
House conferees would fail particularly at
a time when Senator Voorhees, leld out
strong encouragement TO the House. The
caucus managers. he said, would FIND very
few behind them IL they tested the strength
Of a surrender to the Senate.
Representative weadock OF Michi san-'T
believe In standing by our conferecs.
whether II takes one week or ten. j don't
believe in turning tail and starting a fire
in the rear"
Representative Caminetti Of California
Every one will indorse the views OF Sen
ator Voorhees, The caucus IL likely 20 90
the way of all caucuses-result In nothing"
What Mr.. Cooper VIII Try 90 Do.
Representative Cooper OF Indiana says he
will make the point Of no quorum at the
caucus If IL is possible. He will also en-
deayor TO secure a speedy adjournment be-