The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-12-09
SENATORS CAUCUS
Those on the Republican Side
Partially Agree on q
Programme.
Will Push the immigration
Bill and International
BimetalliSm.
Invitations Extended to the
BOlting Republican Senator's
Not Accepted.

WASHINGTON, Dec 9-Thp most
noticeable feature of the, Republican
senate caucus. as seen from
the outside, was the absence of
the men who had botcd the nomina-
ton of Mckinley because of the gold
standard platform. Those who were
absent on this account were Senators
Dubois, Pe;tigrew, Mantle, Cannon,
Squire and Teller All of these except
Senator Teller were in the city and
could have attended if they had been
so disposed. Indeed SOME of them
were in their committee rooms in the
Capitol while the caucus was in prog
reSS.
That their absence was intentional
was clearly shown by the following let
ter, which Senator Dubois sent to the
caucus and which was read soon after
the meeting was called to order by Sen.
ator Sherman
Hon. John Sherman, Chairman
Caucus of Republican Senators, Wash
ington-Sir: hereby respectfully
resign my position as secretary
of the caucus of Republican sena-
tors. l also resign my position as
member and secretary of the Republi-
can advisory or steering committee of
the senate"
other Silver Men Were Prompt.
The boilers had all received invita-.
tions. which were sent them rs if they
had never left the party but they had
decided not to attend. They had found
i,,,ycScih1a fn 70 with
ator Teller, who has not yet reached
the city; but all expressed confidence
that if he had he would not have gone
into the conference. If the bolting sill
verites were conspicuous by their alb
sence, the silver men who had remained
within the party We're, as rule, excep-
tionally prompt i'll their attendance.
Senator Carter, who, while he refused
to accept the Dingley tariff bill and yet
refused to walk Out Of the St. Louis
convention, was the second man to en-
ter the caucus chamber, and he was
followed closely by Messrs. Wolcott,
Mitchell, Shoup, Hansbrough, Came
ron, Pritchard, Perkins and Clark, who
heretofore have always voted for silver
when the question was brought before
the house.
just Closed Up the Ranks.
There were no long speeches in the
caucus, and very few speeches of any
character Senator Dubois tender of
his resignation was received without IA
word O. comment
I'VE Just closed up the ranks and
marched on" said ,one of the partici-
pants in referring to the incident after
the closing of the meeting.
There was no formal motion to ac-
cept the resignation, but taking it's &C.
ceptance as matter of fact, Senator
Lodge moved the election of Senator
Wilson, i'll his stead, as secretary, while
Senator Shoup was placed on the steer
ing committee in the place vacated by
his colleague. This committee was also
enlarged by the addition of the name
of Senator Hansbrough of North Da-
kota.
The Dingley tariff bill was referred
to the steering committee, with in.
structions to investigate as to the likeli-
hood of getting the bill through, and to
devise means to amend if possible. 1t
was the prevailing opinion that the
best policy demanded the passage of
the bill if possible to encompass it, but
the opinion seemed quite general that
this result was not within the range of
possibilities. The entire question was
referred to the committee with verv
liberal powers.
Want an International Agreement.
Senator Gear brought up the Pacific
railroad question, as did Senator Lodge
the immigration bill. The Pacific rail.
road bill was referred TO the steering
committee, but after Mr.. Lodge had ex-
planned the status of the immigration
bill the caucus decided to stand by that
as party measure and to press for its
early consideration. The caucus also
decided for an international agreement
on silver by agreeing to the following
resolution, introduced by Senator VOL
colt:
Resolved, That special committee
Of five members of this caucus be ap-
pointed to recommend some plan where.
10y legislation may be had at this ses.
sion of congress looking to an interna.
tional conference with leading com.
merclal nations on the subject of bi.
metallism."