Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-08
THE DEMOCRATS IN CAUCUS
Decide to Support the Carlisle Cur
rency Bill.
THE FINAL VOTE STOOD 81 TO 50.
No One is Bound By the Action Of the
Meeting.
he FINAL VOTE STOOD 81 TO 50.
So There Are Grave Tenrs That the
biii WIN he Defeated-crisp Led
the Party for the Measure aad
Made vigorous Speech.

Washington. Jan. 7,-By a vote Of
81 TO 90 the Democratic house caucus
voted today to indorse the Carlisle sub
stitute currency bill now before the
house Speaker Crisp took the lead in
presenting the resolution and In vigor-
ously urging the necessity OF it's adop-
ton. The committee ON rules was in-
structed TO bring In rule to close the
debate. .sIRMzI
efforts to amend Mr.. Crisp's resolu-
ton were voted down, one OF the ad-
verse votes showing only thirteen
members Of the caucus favorable to au
Issue OF bonds TO retire the greenbacks.
The result OF the caucus is accepted
with considerable apprehension by
friends Of the bill. Notwithstanding the
passage or the resolution OF indorse-
ment. The eighty-one votes which the
measure commanded in caucus is far
snort OF the number necessary to pass
1t In the house II Is believed, however,
that many of the flfty-nlne votes
against the measure will be changed.
But there were several prominent lead
ers who asserted at the close OF the
caucus that the vote showed conclu-
slyly that the bill could not pass
me caucus was called together at
: O'Clock with Mr., Holman IN the chnlr
AL the party leaders OF the house, IN
Guiding Messrs. Crisp. Outhwalte.
Catchings, Wilson. Tracey and Bland,
We're on hand. There were l52 mem
bers present.
Mr.. Cochran Of New York stated
early In the day that II the caucus was
10 be binding he would not enter il,
ana II was understood that others
would pursue the same COURSE Assur-
ances were given that the caucus would
be advisory rather than binding.
The following resolution was pre-
pared by Nh. Springer and introduced
by Speaker Crisp:
Resolved, that II Is the sense OF this
caucus that the Carlisle currency bill
should be passed by the house OF rep
resentatives substantially AS presented
IN the substitute which has been printed
IN the record and which Will be offered
at the proper time by the chairman Of
the committee on banks and currency
and that the committee on rules he re-
quested to report an order tomorrow
Immediately after the reading OF the
Journal which shall provide for It's cont
slderatlon for one more day FOR general
debate, ana thereafter under the fve
minute rule, and a final vote thereon
Mt the earliest time possible during the
week.
Representative Livingston. of Georgia
started the caucus at a lively rate by
moving that all who were IN attendance
should be bound by the action OF the
caucus. From various parts OF the hall
came cries of Point OF order" For a
time there was considerable confusion.
Chairman Holman finally sustained the
point of order.
For thirty years" said Mr. Holman,
ut has been the unbroken rule OF the
house Of representatives to consider the
caucus action as advisory and not as
binding. 1t leaves members entirely
free to act according to their own judg-
ment."
1t was agreed that all speeches should
be limited to five minutes.
Speaker Crisp then arose In support OF
the resolution he had offered. He spoke
of the profound Importance OF the stu
alton In which the majority Of the house
found itself II called for conservative
and careful consideration and united
party. The resolution was designed 20
test the sentiment OF the caucus and
the vital point Involved, whether the
currency bill now before the house
should pass.
Mr.. Bland of Missouri followed in
opposition to the resolution. I'VE have
now he said, for the first time in
history, reached the point where the
Democratic party IL becoming the adj
vocate of national banking"
Mr.. Springer next took the floor in
support of the resolution. He spoke
mainly Of the importance of caucus
in securing the adhesion of the mem
bers. While the caucus action was
~ hfnntnU II ngNqrflplRuQ
glrded as very persuasive on the tudg-
ment of members when party action
was involved. The present emergency
must be met by the Democratic party
as a whole. The responsibility Is on
the party, said he, and the people Will
hold the party accountable for its ac-
ton, In such an emergency caucus
action should be very effective in bring
Ing members of the party together and
overcoming other minor objections.
Mr. Springer's time was extended to
ten minutes. In view OF his being in
charge OF the bill. There was a lively
interchange OF questions and answers
between Mr.. Cochran OF New York
and Nis. Springer before the latter
closed.
Mr.. Cochran asked II Mr.. Springer
had not regarded the currency question
as an econumic rather than raIty
question, question which never should
be submitted to party caucus action.
Mr.. Springer replied that the lnes-
ton was both a party and an economic
one, but IN the present case the patty
would be held responsible for the exc
oution OF economic principles.
There was much confusion as the
c-oss-fire between Messrs Springer and
ccckran proceeded, and Chairman Hol-
man tried valnly TO presarve order and
quiet.
Brief speeches We're MADE by Repre-
sc1iatves Cox. COMBS ~ New York,
Bailey OF Texas, Swanson of Virginia,
cofin OF wyoming. McRae OF Arllan-
sas, washington OF Tennessee Bryan OF
Nebraska. and Sperry OF Connecticut.
They showed n very vile divergence
OF individual opinion.
Nir. Sperry closed by Offering an
amendment TO the resolution by which
the sperry bill for an issue Of bonds
to refund the greenhacls was to be
substituted as tho one on which the
caucus was to express Its approval.
NJ johnson OF Ohio a member OF
to- banking and currency committee,
4 followed In opposition to tho resolution
End TO the Carlisle bill.
ar. Terry of Arkansas also submit