New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-15
A CAUCUS on HAWAII.
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE FAIL
TO GET TOGETHER.

DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE FAIL
TO GET TOGETHER.
Washington June ii (SpeciaD.-About seventy
Democratic members of the House OF Repre-
sentatives met in caucus late this afternoon and
remained in session more than an hour and a
half The object Of the caucus was TO secure
harmony Of action II practicable on the Ha-
waiian annexation resolution, and 1t was not at
tanned on the contrary. the Democratic an
nexationists and anti-annexationists we're
further apart when thu caucus dissolved than
they had been before for a good deal of harsh
language had been used on both sides and q
good deal of bitterness engendered At times
the presiding officer Mr.. Richardson. Of Ten
nessee found 1t extremely difficult TO preserve
order, and the noisy blows OF his savel resound-
ed through the deserted corridors and passage
ways
OF course there was much speechmakng, and
some Of the speechmakers were excited and
vehement but nobody was convinced. num-
Der Of members who are in favor Of annexation.
including Messrs. Berry. Of Kentucky; Cochran,
of Missouri; Sulzer. OF New-York. Brucker. Of
Michigan; Ermentrout. OF Pennsylvania; Liv-
ingston. of Georgia, and Taylor, Of Alabama,
spoke. Mr. Bailey. Of Texas. delivered an une1-
pectedly temperate speech on the other side.
AeSSrS. Clayton, Oh AldDdlld, VI
Arkansas. and Williams of Mississippi. spoke
against annexation. which they declared to be
dangerous and un-Democratlc. and their re-
marks were holly resented by the annexation
lists. The latter. who had been assured that the
caucus was simply to permit free interchange
Of views. and not to bind the conscience or con-
troll the action OF any member. were suddenly
taken aback by a resolution offered by Mr. Dins-
more, of Arkansas, declaring that every mem
Der present should be bound by the decision Of
the majority Of the caucus. They protested so
violently and Indignantly that Mr.. Dinsmore
was finally constrained TO withdraw his reso-
luton and substitute the following:
Resolved That II is the sense OF the Demo-
cratic party as rcpres ented in the House Of Rep
resentatives that the annexation Of Hawaii Is
dangerous and undesirable; that 1t reverses our
traditional policy. and we believe VIII lead 70
colonial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and ultimately 10 the
destruction Of republican institutions.
After a sharp debate this resolution was
adopted by vote Of 30 to II. number Of mem
bers Of the minority having left the rail. The
ayes and noes were not called
After the caucus two Of the annexationsts
said they could count on twenty-six democratic
and Populist votes il. favor of the Hawaiian
resolution. and they expected few more. A
list in the hands of one of them who had made
a canvass OF the House contained the following
names OF Democrats and Populists:
Berry. Bodine. Botkin, Bradley. Brucker Coch-
ran. Cummings. Devices. briggs. Ermentrout.
Griffith, Gum, Jones. King. Kitchen Lewis
Washington. Lewis Georgia.. Livingston.
Meekison. Newlands Norton. Osborne Otey,
Ridgely. simpson. Sulzer. Taylor (Alabama), and
Todd-twenty-eign t in all.
1t was reported tonight. however: that Mr..
Bradley had changed his mind and that the
Democrats who would vote Tor
annexation were Messrs. Cummings briggs and
Sulzer.