The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-09
OBDURATE WESTERN SENATOR'S
DECLINE TO ATTEND THE
PARTY CAUCUS.
THE DlNGLEY BILL Is DROPPED
SERIOUS OPPOSITION TO 1T DE-
VELOPED AMONG THE REPUB-
LICAN LEADERS.
BLUFF MADE AT BIMETALLrsm.
Special Committee to Consider u
Plan for an International None
tary Conference.

w <AA111A4SS Lee. O--lHe most no.
ticeable feature of the republican sem
ate caucus which assembled today, as
seen from the outside. was the absence
of the meE Who had bolted the nomfna-
ton Of Mckinley because of the gold
standard platform. Those who were
absent on this account were Senators
Dubois, Pettigrew, 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, seme of them were
in their committee rooms in the capt.
tol while the caucus was in progress.
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
Senator Sherman
United States Senate, Washington, d. c.,
December 8. To Hon. John Sherman, chair
man caucus of republican senator's Washing
ton. Sir: / hereby respectfully resign my
position as secretary Of the caucus of re-
as member and secretary of the republican
advisory or Steering committee of the SEN
FIRED T. DUBOIS"
tions which were sent them as If they
had never left the party but they had
decided not to attend. They had found
1t impossible to Communicate with Sen
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 boiling sill
yerites were conspicuous by their abb
sence, the silver men who had re-
manned within the party were as rule
exceptionally prompt in their attend
ance. Senator Carter who, while he
refused to accept the Dingley tariff bill,
yet refused to walk out of the ST.
Louis convention, was the second man
to enter the caucus chamber and he
was followed closely by Messrs. VOL
cott, Mitchell, Shoup, Hansbrougn.
Cameron, Pritchard, Perkins and
voted for silver when the question was
brought before the senate
There was no long speeches in the
. caucus, and very few speeches of any
character. Senator Dubois. tender of
his resignation was received without a
word of comment.
we 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 ac-
Lodge moved the election of Senator
Wilson in 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
Dakota.
The Dingley tariff bill was referred
to the steering committee, with instruc-
tions to investigate as to the likell-
hood of getting the bill through, and 10
devise means to amend IL possible 1t
was the prevailing opinion that the
best policy demanded the passage of
the bill if possible to encompass 1t, but
the opinion seemed quite general that
this result was not within the range OF
possibilities. The entire question was
referred to tie committee with very
liberal powers.
Seator 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 desired to stand by
that as a party measure, and to press
for it's early consideration. The eau
Gus also decided for an International
agreement on silver, by agreeing to
the following resolution introduced by
Senator Wolcott:
H6SOlN6u lHdl a special cOmnl1JCe0 OF nV9
members of this caucus be appointed to recon-
mend some plan whereby legislation may be
had at this session of congress looking to an
international conference with leading COM
mercial nations on the subject of bimetaI-
lism.
The action Of the silver Republican
senators in refraining from attendance
upon the Republican caucus today has
led to discussion as to whether the
course pursued today is a forerunner
of the future, or whether they will
not in time return to the party. Some
Republicans think it possible that the
recalcitrant senator's regard the days
meeting as merely preliminary and will
come back into the fold after a time
The supposition is apparently without
foundation or justification.
The silver senators are very chary
about discussing their motives or In
tentions for the future. 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 without exception, however.
that In taking the position they have
they do not mean to place themselves
in the attitude of opponents of pro-
tective tariff policy, but rather that
they desire to be In an independent posi-
ton where they can accept or reject
any tariff proposition presented by
their former party associates.