Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-26
Celebration Next Year of the Hum
drcdth Anniversary of the Death
of George Washington-EIabo
Progrsmme-Washi Personals


having taken any definite action upon the
proposition. There are just l21 Demo-
cratic members Of this House, of which
sixty-two, a bare majority, attended the
caucus. The discussion, which was
opened by Mr. Bailey, the author Of the
resolution, from all accounts, was spirit
ed, and developed strong opposition TO its
adoption. Speaking Of the matter, a lead
ing Democratic member said:
'All VINO participated in the discus
I sion conceded the desirability OF unity
and concert OF action upon party ques-
tons but "a number OF the older and
more experienced members, including
Messrs. McMiilin, McRae, Allen, and
| Cummings, earnestly maintained that the
rule which had obtained in Democratic
caucuses for a great many years should
/, not be changed az the flag end Of the ses-
! sion, and when 1t was generally conceded
| that no subject Tor caucus action could
arise during the remainder Of the Sc ssiOn.
II was pointed out that in nany OF the
! close Democratic districts the Populisrs
and Independents supported the Demo-
| Gratis solely on account Of their views
upon financial questions, who, II they be-
/ lieved those Democrats would subord-
]
] questions 10 caucus dictatiOn, would In
the future withhold their support.
SHERMAN ACT VOTE.
THE vote upon the resolution TO repeal
/ the purchasing clause Of the Sherman
act, concerning which there was wide dill
| ference Of opinion among Democratic rep
resentatives, was instanced 10 show that
| it would be unwise to attempt TO coerce
! Democrats by an iron-clad resolution to
vote as a majority, or any other pre-
| scribed number, Of their colleagues might
| determine that they should 1t was re-
! called that a majority Of the Democrats
| I'm the Fifty-third Congress in obedience
| TO the dictation of Mr. Cleveland, voted
! for the repeal Of the only provision OF
| law under which a dollar Of sill
yer currency was being coined,
and it was asserted that had
/ there been caucus action upon that mea-
! sure, those Democrats who refused to fol-
| low the leadership of Cleveland would
! have been read out of the party. 1t was
| also insisted that there was no analogy
| between the action of a party convention
! and that Of a House caucus. Democratic
! representatives, were responsible for their
action TO their constituents, an should
| carry out their views, and not vote as
| two-thiTds Of their colleages might pre-
| scribe, WueU the lLleltSLS luOSc COllcd6 uNo
represented were not in accord with, or
might even be antagonistic to, those of
the people whom they Immediately repre-
! scented. There was no more reason why
| two-thirds should control than why the
! number should be three-fourths Of the
membership. II the rule of the majority
was Democracy, and that rule was to be
applied TO a caucus which heretofore had
! been held for the purpose OF exchanging
zrfa- nd nnv,fa mi a a.
jority, and not two-thirds, should con-
troll. Democracy did not mean the rule
| Of two-thirds of n party. Besides, Ii was
| contended, many Of the Democratic mem
bers had already left the city, and the
caucus consisted Of a mere majority OF
the Democratic membership, and espe-
cially when the caucus was almost evenly
| divided upon the propriety of the proposed
action they should not undertake TO dis
pose Of this important question by the
| adoption of a rule which was intended 20
be binding upon the whole Democratic
| membership.
MUCH OPPOSITION.
80 much opposition has been developed
TO the proposition that there Is talk CT
calling off the caucus and postponing fur
Their action until the beginning Of the next
session. Indeed, so many Democrats are
going home to look after their fences,
that IL is not certain q majority Of them
Will be in the city by Monday evening.
Should this be the case, Of course, nothing
can be done, and I'm that event. it is
thought by many Of the Democratic rep
resentatives with whom L have talked
that IL will be unwise and impolitic to
press the matter further at this time.
Certainly, It would seem that to adopt
so stringent a rule as that proposed, IN
the face Of the opposition which has de-
veloped, would result injuriously 10 the
party"
MASONIC CELEBRATION.
The Freemasons Of the United States
will, under the auspices OF the Grand
Lodge Of Virginia, celebrate the l0Otf
anniversary of the death OF George Wash
ington, with fitting ceremonies, at Mount
Vernon, Alexandria, and Washington
| The anniversary will occur on the litl
Of December, 1892 and IL is estimated
that not less than ten thousand members
Of the fraternity will participate In the
celebration. Washington was made z
Mason in the old lodge at Fredericksburg
but he served as WOrshipful master OF
| AleXandria-W Washington Lodge, No. -, a.
Alexandria. The lady regents of Noun
Vernon have given their permission FOL
the exercises TO take place at Washing
toms tomb and have expressed theil
desire to cooperate with the Masons.
The committee appointed by the Crane
Lodge TO report a suitable programme Is
at work. \ meeting was held at the
Hotel Raleigh, in this city, last Thurs
day night at which were present Judge
r. T. W. Duke. Jr., Grand Master o.
Masons in Virginia; Mr. X. Kemper
chairman Of the committee; Captain
Micajah Wood, and Judge j. b. Sener
After a discussion of some of the genera
features Of the celebration, Mr.. kempel
and Judge Sener were appointed a sub
committee TO report programme in de
tail. This subcommittee has agreed upor
the following outline.
PROGRAMME.
Bishop Randolph OF the Southern
Diocese Of Virginia, who was made Z
Mason in the Fredericksburg lodge. vii
be invited to make the opening prayer
and the Grand Chaplain OF the Crane
Lodge. Rev. DIR. George II. Ray, vii
make the closing prayer. There VIII b.
no other religious service, ana no sermon
Two addresses will be delivered-one b.
the Grand Master and the other by Presi
dent Mckinley, If he will accept the IN
vitation. The President Is a Mason, ant
II Is taken for granted that he will no
decline.
ON the night of the 18th of December
n banquet will be given In this city, a
which there will be number OF appro
pirate toasts. At first, IL was i.lende'
10 have the banquet IN AeNahata' pu
Washington was selected for two rea
sons-frst, by having 1t here the scope o
the celebration would be widened. an
second. the facilities for providing al
entertainment on a large scale VIII b
greater in Washington than IN Ale&an
dria.
The committee will recommended I
..s.l .arNRNt