Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-27
Mr.. BAllEYS LEADERSHIP
His Attempt to Bind His Party May
Seriously Threaten It


1t will not be surprising if the attempt of
Mr.. Bailey to hold caucus tonight in order
TO bind mis- party by caucus action proves
to be fizzle and decided move in the di-
rection of Mr.. Bailey's overthrow as the
leader of the democracy. Mr.. Bailey. it is
said, cannot understand why he should
not occupy the same position in the demo-
cratic party that Mr. Reed occupies among
the republicans of the House. and the more
generally it is believed that he desires TO
constitute himself car the more gen.
orally is the revolt against his rule spread
ing.
On the part of a very large number of
democrats there is warm feeling for Mr..
Bailey and the lack of inclination TO do
anything that will be direct snub to him
Many of these democrats, however, do not
propose to submit to his rule, and today
there was very general inclination among
them to prevent the presence of n quorum
ht the caucus, so that nothing could be
done TO bind the party, rather than to at
tend 1t. and to turn down Mr.. Bailey by
direct votes. Largely for this reason it is
doubtful whether there will be a quorum
at the caucus tonight. and if there should
be there will be a strenuous fight against
adopting Mr.. Baileys policy.
The Last Caucus.
At the last caucus of the democratic. par
~, held last Monday night, there were pres
SHt eighty at the beginning OF
thu meeting AS proceedings advanced the
humber dwindled until finally the caucus
adjourned because of the falling off in at
tendance. it appeared likely that were
the meeting prolonged the lack of q quo
rum would prevent the taking of any bind
ing action. Those who have been following
this question very closely state that since
Last Monday fifteen or twenty democrats
have left the city for one reason or another
Bo that II is extremely doubtful whether
there viii be the sixty-one democrats re-
luired TO make up quorum at the meeting
tonight.
Opposed to Being Bound by Caucus.
Many democrats who are revolving
against Mr.. Baileys rule are placing their
objections solely upon their opposition to
any caucus action which will bind them to
vote for anything they do not approve
Representative Charles +. Cochran of Mis-
souri,, one of the ablest members of the
House, in talking to a Star reporter today
stated that for himself he is opposed to
any caucus action in order to bind MEM
bers-
lie does not oppose advisory caucuses un-
der certain circumstances. but even if Mr.
BAILEY should succeed in corralling enough
democrats together tonight to make I'M
quorum and should have resolution
ADOPTED faVoring his policy of binding the
party by caucus action Mr. Cochran will
not submit TO such dictation and will do ali
in his power to see that his own course of
independence will be the course TO be adopt-
ed by other democrats who believe as he
does. "
Mr. Cochran made one of the ablest an
neXauon speeches in the House and for
years has firmly believed that the Ha-
&alian Islands should be a part of the
United States. As war measure he re-
CARDS such course as absolutely neces-
sary
MI Cochran. in talking of the matter
said that he regarded it as absurd that
any one should attempt to make a party
question out of the resolution to annex
HAWAII and he could not understand why
Mr. Bailey had attempted to do So
running over some historical references
MI Cochran suggested that President
Tyler, a wing; President Pierce a demo-
crat; the latters Secretary of State
Marcy. democrat without a peer. ali
strongly favored the annexation of these
islands.
Mr. Cochran was not inclined to think
that Mr. Bailey's action in calling a caucus
would do any injury TO the party. which.
ne said, was thoroughly united on all great
party questions. So far as Hawaii is con-
cerned, he did not think that matter would
cut much of a figure In the next campaign.