The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-13
SPLIT in
THE PARTY.
Democrats Will Not Follow Bailey's
leadership.
HIS POLICY DOES NOT SUIT ALL
HOT DEBATE IN THE CAUCUS,
CONCERNING WHICH ALL SIDES
ARE EXTREMELY RETCENT-THE
MINoRITY's CHOSEN LEADER
CLEARLY OUTLINES HIS Posi-
rroN-To AVOID BAD REpuBLr-
CAN LEGISLATION.
CAN LEGISLATION.

Washington. April 12.-There is a de-
cided split in the ranks of the Democratic
minority regarding the policy to be pur.
sued in dealing with the Republican plan
OF no legislation in the House except the
tariff bill and the four appropriation bills
The fact was reported yesterday, after the
Democratic caucus OF Saturday. which
lasted nearly five hours, all occupied in
the hottest debate which has been heard
in II party caucus ut the capital for some
time.
First reports of that cuacus convened
but little idea of the depth of feeling en-
gendered there and the antagonism dis.
played by some of the older members and
many of the younger members in the mi
nority ranks against the policy outlined
by their leader. Mr.. Bailey has no lack
of supporters, but that element of his
party which opposes his leadership in
favor of Mr.. McAfillin, of Tennessee, is
still trying to cast tiscredit upon his
opinions and showing no inclination to
follow him. Representatives Norton. of
Ohio, and Handy, of Delaware, were the
most outspoken in the caucus in this re.
gard, while Mr.. NIcMillin himself made
strong speech against the "do-nothing"
policy. as he characterized it.
While the Democrats talked with the
utmost freedom in the privacy of their
caucus, they are extremely reticent about
repeating any of it in public, ana the two
rival leaders, Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. McNIil.
lin, declined last evening to make state.
ment regarding whaL each deemed best
for his party to do under the circum-
stances now confronting the Democrats
in the House. Mr.. Bailey, however,
pointed out that he had made plain
statement of his position 'on the floor of
the House Saturday. This, The said, he
had repeated in the caucus. and had
urged that it was the natural, logical po-
sition for the party to take. Mr.. Bailey's
policy, us expressed in his own words, is
this:
IF the Republicans are ready to say to
the country that the only measure of relief
which they have to propose is measure
to raise the taxes, then am ready to see
the House adjourn, and am ready to 20
to the country on the proposition that
you cannot make the people prosper by in
creasing their taxes. L am free to say to
the Republicans that if your revision of
the tariff and your increase of taxation
can bring prosperity to the country, then
you are wise and patriotic-having done
that-to do no more, because if that is
all which is necessary, IL is all which
ought to be done. But on orr part, we
are confident that you cannot remedy
hard times by increasing the taxes and
believing as we do, that the country is
better off when the Republican party is
not making laws, we invite YOU to ad-
lourn us often and as long as yon please.
We are here ready to proceed if you choose
to go on. We are ready to discuss what
ever measure you propose; we are ready
to vote for the good ones and vote against
ra Iun l.
OF every ten measures yon propose will be
measures which cannot command our
support, we think we serve the country
best by helping you to do nothing
Mr. Bailey said further that he had
never seen u lime when he wanted the
Republican party to legislate. or when he
thought the country was RS we'll off with
Republican Congress in session as when
it had adjourned.
1--WE would have very much less to
complain of" he continued, ''if the Re.
publican party had simply passed the ap.
preparation bills and gone home. know
that you do not intend to pass any new
laws which are good or to repeal any old
laws that are bad. What, then, is my
duty? 5 To urge you to 20 on when you
know that you are going to do wrong, If
we urge you to make bad laws we are
fools; and if we pretend that we want
you to legislate when we do not, we are
hypocrites. :. There might be some parti.
san satisfaction in criticising you from
day to day, but in the end such pettifog..
ging politics rebound neither to the adj
vantage of individuals or rarity The
country is tired OF cheap politics. The
people want to know what party can leg.
islate 90 their best advantage, and, find
ing that, they are ready to reward that
party with their confidence
Republican promises of prosperity.
Mr. Bailey said, had placed them in
power at the last election, and the party
was now attempting to restore prosperity
by increasing taxes. ''If you succeed, -
he went on, "the Democratic party might
as we'll not make Il nomination at next
Presidential election. If you fail you
might as we'll not make IL domination ut
the next Presidential election. Now, let
us give the country chance to decide
who is right .and who is wrong You
have applied your remedy l am conf
dent it will fail. am so confident of it's
failure that | want to raise no other is
sue. | want the country to decide between
your wisdom and ours upon the measures
which you have alrea ly proposed Let
the country see whether it is tart # revision
or financial reform which shall work out
its redemption.
The vigorous applause which greeted
these statements was convincing proof
that the young leader has no inconsidera-
BILE following, despite the speeches which
were made in opposition to his views