The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-08-14

hour before 10 o'clock. the time sot for
the caucus, members began TO arrive at
the capitol and hasty consultations
were held on tho course 10 be pursued.
Speaker Crisp was joined in his private
Office by Chairman Wilson and Repro
senta.ives Turner, McNIilIip aud Mont
pomory, making tho full membership
OF tho house Democratic conference
committee. Representative Breckin-
ridge, Of Arkansas, an advisory member
Of the conference. was also present. II
wis final consultation on the line Of
notion to be presented by tho house
leaders to the caucus. Tho mooting
lasted until II was time for tho caucus
10 convene.
In tho meantime there was a sccno Of
animation OH the floor OF tho house.
Representatives Tracey, Stratus, Warner
and others passed. among thor assoc:
ciatos and stilfCned up tho sentiment OF
loyalty TO tho conterees. 1t was appar-
ont uphill work. however, as tho cur
res. Of feeling among tho rank and file
Of members seemed to be sotting strong.
IL In favor OF accepting tho senate bill
without further delay. :.
At 10 o'clock Speaker Crisp and all
the conforecs filed out OF tho speaker
office and took seats In body in tho
forward part OF the democratic side.
AN OMNIBUS SILENCE.
There was an ominous silonce as thoy
came in. At that time l53 Democratic
members woro on the floor. As Mr..
Wilson pissed through tho corridor 10
tho house ho was asked as to the relult
OF tho conference in the speakers room,
but answered, ~ cannot make 1t known
yot"
Chairman Holman called tho caucus
TO order promptly aud tho call ior tho
meeting was read. Tho roll call which
followed took somo timc and members
shifted unoasIly for tho decisive action
ahead.
Chairman Wilson took tho floor i'm
medin,elv aftor tho roll call mud began
n statement of tho situation. lin spoke
calmly and dispassionatcly and received
fhr clorest attention. Mombers left
their seats and crowded eagerly about
him listening intensely to every word.
Ills seldom that such eager interest has
boon shown at caucus. MIR. wilson
bopan with a recital OF tho difficulties
that have boon encountered. He won't
over each stage OF tho situation with
much detail. He said that each step
had boon pursued with an ardent desire
IN support with honor the desires OF tho
house and to resist what was regarded
ns the unreasonable demands OF tho
senate.
TIE DIFFERENCES REVIEWED.
Mr.. Wilson did not conlnc himself to
generalization. Ho took up tho con-
tested schedules, particularly sugar.
conl and iron orc, and reviewed tho
dIlerences in conference on these main
items. He took up each proposition on
suror and spoke OF tho vast profits TO
Tho supar trust which would result from
many OF the propositions. He did not
INDULGE In tho sharp criticisms that was
expected on tho motives OF tho senate
Conierees.
While Mr.. Wilson was speaking the
word was passed around that the con-
iorence In tho speakers room had re-
suited In decisive action and tnat
Speaker Crisp hiiusolf would move that
the house would recede aud accept the
senate bill. At first the information
was so startling that it was doubted
but ma member after member heard 1t
and made inquiry, tho opinion became
General among the best informed men
in tho house that the report was cor
rect. although it could not DO positively
verified from Mr.. Crisp or tho con-
terees.
TIE SUGAR TRUSTS PROFITS.
Mr.. Wilson spoke Of the fight made
by the house conierees for q specific
duty on sugar on the ground that under
m ad yalorem system 1t would be I'M
possiblo 10 tell, on account Of the in
voice methods, tho exact advantage
which yonld accrue 10 tho sugar trust.
lilo made the remarkable statement
TINT no had been credibly informed and
believed that the sugar trust had, antlc-
mating tho enactment OF tho senate
sugar schodu!c, purchased Sll2,OOO,OoU
worth OF raw sugar. IL THIS was true,
no said tho profits accru!nE to tho trust
from this Investment in advance oil inc
enactment OF tho senate schedule woula
DO ut least s40,000,000. MIR. wilson also
pointed out at length the embnrrass'
mont attending tho efforts to adjust the
coal and iron achedules. ,
"The great battle" said Mr.. Wilson,
warming M to his subject, "is between
tho American Spcoplc and tho sugar
trust, Ii ia baltic in which tho trnst
has taken tho people by tho throat, and
il will never end until wo throw oil tho
grip" =.
There was enthusiastic applause at
This. Ito proceeded TO state that tho
house conferccs had boon willing to con-
cede almost everything except those
vital items OF sugar, iron and coal thaI
tho senate confGrecs had also seemed
willing to conccde much and hold mncli
tho same views, but wcro apparently
dominated BY the knowledge that II
thew conceded what thoy themselves
wero willing 10 conccdo, the bill could
not pass and tho agreement would DO
pscle,S. Mr.. Wilson concluded by say
inn Tint no had now bocomo satisfied 1t
was eithur tho senate bill or no loEiaIa'
Mr.. Wilson closed at 1905 o'clock,
having talked Just M bour. 1t was uu-
Iorstood. howovor, that Mr.. Wilson
Ind not violdod tho floor permanently,
but would resume later after his confer
ence associates, MessTs. Montgomery.
McMillin and Turner had corroborntcd
bis statements rs to dates. a.,