The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-12
LOLT IS PERMANENT
SILVER SENATOR'S HAVE BROKEN
WITH GOLD REPUBLICANS.
Their Refusal to Attend the Caucus
Taken as Evidence That They
Are I'm Earnest.

Washington, Dec. S.-The silver repub-
lican senators retrained from attendance
upon the republican caucus today and
their action has led to no little speculation
as to whether the course pursued today is
a forerunner of the future or whether
they will not at some time return to the
party.
The silver senators are very chary about
discussing their motives or intentions
They decline to talk on the subject for
publication but from remarks dropped
there can be no doubt they consider that
they have attended their last republican
caucus. They say however, without eX-
ceptiOn, that in taking the position :hey
have, they do not mean to place them
selves in the attitude of opponents of
protective tariff policy, but rather that
they can accept or reject any tariff prop
osition presented by their former ASSOC
ciates.
Caucus Proceedings.
The most noticeable feature of the re-
publican senate caucus, as seen from the
outside, was the absence of men who
bolted the nomination of Mckinley be
cause of the gold standard platform.
Those absent on this account were Sena-
tors Dubois Pettigrew Mantle, Cannon,
Squire and Teller All except Senator
Teller were in the city and were invited
to attend the caucus. That their absence
was intentional was clearly shown by the
following letter read soon afterthe caucus
was called to order, by Senator Sherman:
Washington, Dec. S.-To Hon. John Sher-
man, Chairman-Sir: / hereby respectful
~ present my resignation as secretary Of
the caucus of republican senators. l also
resign my position a member and sec
rotary of the republican advisory or
steering committee of the senate. Very
truly yours, FRED Il. DUBOIS.
Senator Dubois resignation was received
1fDa Nm aaff ~ N,.r
Lodge, Senator Wilson of Washington was
chosen secretary. Senator Shoup was
placed on the steering committee in the
place vacated by his colleague. This COM
mittee was also enlarged by the addition
of Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota.
The Dingley tariff bill was referred to
the steering committee, with Instructions
to investigate the likelihood of getting The
bill through and to devise means to that
end if possible. 1t was the prevailing
opinion that the best policy demanded the
passage of the bill. but the opinion seem
ed to be quite general that TINS is not with
In the possibilities
Legislation Proposed.
Senator Gear brought up the Pacific !
railroad bill. 1t was referred to the steer |
ing committee. After Senator Lodge OK
planned the status of the immigration bill !
the caucus desired to stand by that party |
measure and press its early consideration. !
The caucus also decided for an internal
tional agreement on silver by agreeing to |
the following resolution, introduced by
Senator Wolcott:
Resolved, That a special committee CT
five members of this caucus be appointed |
to recommend some plan whereby legls- |
lation may be had in this session of con- |
gress looking to an International confre- |
ence with leading commercial nations of |
the world on the promotion of bimetal- |
lism."
End of the DingIey Bill.
The action of the republican senatorial |
caucus in referring the Dingley tariff bill |
to its steering committee and the circum- |
stances under which this action was taken |
are accepted in the senate as practically |
the end of the agitation in the interests
of the measure.
The debate in the caucus developed that |
there was wide differences as to the advis- |
ability OF attempting to pass the bill even |
among the republicans, and the opinion |
was expressed by some who We're on the |
inside that fully one-third of the repub- !
lican senators not including the boiling |
senators, were antagOnistic to the bill