The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-10
TEXANS FIGHT o. AEELER
IS Attractlng = = : 'pread Atten-
ton Throvl SIT the Country
ALBANIAN WILL KEEP HIS SEAT
viii Resign Commission in Army if II
Becomes Necessary.
DEMOCRACY IS NOT COMMITTED
Against Policy of Increasing Standing
Army Wheeler Says He Has AL
ways Favored It. and Now
More Than Ever.
IS NOT COMMITTED


Washington, December 9,-(Special) )-The
caucus to be held tomorrow night by thu
democrats is to settle the question raised
by Bailey at the last session as to the au-
thority of a caucus to bind members to
caucus action.
Mr.. Bailey offered a resolution making
caucus action binding, and amendments
were offered by Representative Richardson
to make the action binding only on men,
bers who go into the caucus and vote 1t
was in this shape that the resolution was
left last summer and it now comes up at
the adjourned meeting tomorrow night for
settlement. Bailey has swung his leaders,
whip and commanded all the democrats to
attend, and there has been numerous con-
ferences among the democrats as to what
they will do.
The trouble is that there can be no dis
cussion was ordered and so only a vote
can be taken. The democrats are there-
fore, threatening to remain away SO there
will be quorum. The opponents of
Bailey also claim that the adoption of tho
resolutions means an Endorsement of
Bailey, and that the party does not wish to
give that now.
The Alabama Delegation
The members of the Alabama delegation
on the whole are opposed to adopting the
resolution, but will not go so far as to re-
fuse to attend the caucus.
The case of General Wheeler is attracting
between him and Bailey are likely to as
sumo national prominence in the house.
Great surprise was expressed this morn
s,,er
from General Wheeler in which he was
mrde to say that he would resign his seat
and remain in the army.
General Wheeler told me that he had not
made such q statement. but that 1t was
founded on a remark that he had not de-
cided what to do.
To me he said that for the present he
would retain his commission and also re-
main in the house.
He assured me most positively that he
would not resign his seat; that If he felt it
his duty to retire from either the house or
the army he would reinquish his commits
sion In the latter. ~ will act as l think
best for my constituents and what will be
commended as proper conduct by my
friends"
Democracy Not Committed
81 deny that the democratic party is COM
mitted against the policy of increasing the
army l have always favored increasing
the army in proportion to the growth of the
country, and this step is made more urgent
now by the acquisition of more territory
General Wheeler says that he will remain
here and look after the interests Of his dis
trict and beyond this to take no active
a., 4. x..f1I
appear before any committee, he says,
and gladly give his experience and express
his opinion on matters of current legisla-
ton. This much a private citizen would
be allowed to do and he does not suppose
Mr.. Bailey will call this into question. He
does not give up his right to speak or vote
and may do both If he thinks any occasion
requires 1t.
Mr.. Bailey remains obdurate and says
that he will not allow any participation by
General Wheeler In congressional matters
to go unquestioned.
Much Feeling Aroused
There is much feeling stirred up over this
matter and the question will not be party
one If Mr.. Bailey forces it upon the at
tention of the house.
The president has decided to go into Ala
bama and now that the legislature has
settled the matter of his invitation will
go to Montgomery. The Alaba. ia delega-
tion expressed the hope that the people
of the state will give him a rousing re-
ception.
General Wheeler was at the white house
today and says that the president bears
not the slightest III will to any one for the
halting manner of the invitation He will
not only visit Tuskegee and Montgomery,
but will try to arrange to have the train
make some stops through the state SO as
to enable him to make a few short adj
dresses at the smaller towns along the
road.