The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-16
POLICY OF
THE DEMOCRATS
Outlined in a Caucus of Members
of the House.
A SPECIFIC DECLARATION MADE.
RESOLUTIONS OPPOSING RE-
TIREMENT OF GREENBACKs, FA-
voRlNG THE RECOGNITION OF
CUBA AS BELLIGERENT AND THE
BANKRUPTCY LAW.

Washington, Dec. 10 From now until
| the close of the present session of Con
gress the Republican majority in the
House of Representatives will be forced
to act Oh the defensive in nearly all the
important legislative measures to come
before the body. Such action was taken
at the Democratic caucus, held last night.
as will force such result, distasteful as
j may be to Speaker Reed and the men
he governs with n rod of iron.
The caucus was held for the purpcse of
ascerta'ning the iIlc!nations of the mi
nority, as To the policy it should pursue,
anu as unit the members declared them
selves In favor of taking direct issue with
the policy of the administrations, as out
lined In the message or the President
This determinations was embodied in a
set of resolutions, as follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense 'of the
caucus that the Democratic members of
the House of Representatives ought to
resist all efforts, direct OF indirect, to re-
tire the greenbacks.
Resolved, That we are opposed to and
will resist all attempts to extend the
privileges of national banks or to reduce
the taxes which they now pay
Resolved, That we favor the early
consideration and passage of the Senate
rial resolution that cond .tion of war
exists in the Island of Cuba between the
government of Spain and the people of
Cuba.
Resolved. THAT we favor the early
enactment of ii Just and wise bankruptcy
law
1t is readily seen how the attitude thus
assumed by the Democrats will embar-
rass the Republican side of the House. In
regard to the desire Of the Republican
leaders to give the national banks greater
privileges and reduced taxation they
know that there are many of their party
who do not favor the scheme personally,
and who dare not favor it politically be-
cause it is obnoxious TO many of their
constituents This same condition applies
to the proposition to retire the green
backs, rs recomme nded by Tie President
1t is believed by close observers, and it
has been asserted. that no bill containing
these Two features can possibly pass the
House if the Democrats, as body. OBJ
pose it, because there are believed to be
enough Republican members who do not
favor financial legs Station of this charac-
ter who will refuse to vote for either prop
ositon.
AS to the Cuban resolution, Democrats
may fail o.pass Senator Morgan's joint
resolution, according belligerent rights
to Cuba. and indeed they have but little
hope i'll that direction, but in failing they
will place themselves on record rs favor
ing an act that the country at large de-
mands. and the Republicans will go on
record as denying the country what it
insists OH having. With such q record
rs this, the Democratic members believe
that at the general election to be held
next fall the people will indorse the po-
sition they are taking and return u House
of Representatives, largely Democratic.
Should the Democrats be able to secure
the passage of the joint resolution it is
believed that President Mckinley, in view
OF his recent message to Congress, will
veto it. aud should this happen the I'M
popularity of the Mckinley Hanna ad-
ninistraton will undoubtedly be iuten-
Siiied, and the odium be so great that q
Democratic victory will be assured at the
general election. 1t has been n long time
since the people of this country have
been so overwhelmingly in favor Of any
pubic policy within the province If Con-
gress. Conventions have inserted planks
in their platforms favoring The acknowl-
edgment of Cuba as belligerent:
State legislatures nave adopted resolu-
tions to that effect; ministers from the
pulpit and judges from the bench have
cried out for it, and the pee Pile at large
have said amen to each of these declara-
tons.
AHc lem Dcrdtlc congressman know
this, and they know also that many of
them. rs well as many Of the Republ:-
cans, were elected with the express or i'm
piled promise being given that they wonld
do all in their power to alleviate the
suffering of little Cuba, and they have
shown by their actions heretofore, and
last night. that they regard the senti-
ments OF their constituents aDd the ex.
press or implied promises they made
them. They feel that, by pursuing the
course determined on last night, they will
meet with the Endorsement of a whole
nation. and that when the people again
go to thu polls they will SO express them
selves.
There was but little debate last night
after Chairman Richai dsun called the
caucus to order. The propositions were
clear cut, and those present thoroughly
understood them. The anti -civil service
reform movement was left to the wrang-
ling Republicans to wrestle with. the
caucus wisely deciding that no good could
at present come to them by aiding Re-
publicans to tt IN Democrats out of Office
The Hawaiian question was left alone
also. Thers are many Democratic mem
bers who favor annexation. and there are
others who do not, and to prevent the
slightest element of dscord entering the
solid phnlanY of The minority AS now con-
stituted, it was decided not to make an
neXation n caucus matter.
Before adjourning the caucus adopted
resolution as follows:
"Resolved, That committee of one
member from each State, Territory and