The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-02-08
ABOUT CAUCUS RULE.


Especial Washington letter.
When you read In the newspapers
about caucus, and understand what II
means, IL may be well to remember that
there are very many people who do not
know what II means; and that space il
well used in newspaper to explain the
subject.
There were two school-teachers here
recently from Chicago, and they are
ladies Of superior ability and attain
ments. II was the good fortune of the
writer to have an opportunity to ac-
company them to the capitol building
and show them portion of that mag
nificent edifice before they secured the
services Of professional guide.
While we were walking about the
gallery corridors of the senate q po-
liceman came up and reminded us that
II is against the rules of the capitol
for anyone 10 carry camera in the
building; and the lady carrying the
camera, being from Illinois, took the
little picture-maker to the committee
room of Senator Cullom. of Illinois. and
left II there for couple of hours.
Meantime we saw many of the won
derful things there, and the ladies
wrote> down the inscription upon the
PEDESTAL of the statue of John Hancock.
the first signer of the Declaration of In
dependence; an inscription which
everyone ought to have in memory or
in scrapbook. 1t is: "He wrote his
name where all nations should behold
it; and where all time should not eff
face it,"
But to return TO our caucus. While
we were seeing the senate wing Of the
capitol we came to door over which
we saw the gilded words: Conference
room" 1t was explained to the ladies
that the word Conference" Is, in po-
itical language, q synonym for the
word caucus" 1t was further en-
planned that in the senate there is al
ways majority and a minority party.
When the republicans have a majority
they hold their caucuses in the senate
marble room; and when the democrats
are in majority they hold their eau
cuses in the marble room. When either
party Is in the minority, they use this
conference room" for their caucuses.
The marble room is large and beauti-
full corridor, capable Of comfortably
seating 60 or more senator's; and there
never happens to be more than IS or 60
members of the majority party. The
conference room" will not comfort
ably accommodate more than IS or 40
senator's, and the minority never is
composed of more than that number.
What are caucuses for? As the po-
litical parties developed in this repub-
lie, and grew in cohesive strength, II
became imperative that each party
should act tremendously in all matters
of legislation. Consequently the Gus
tom of holding party conferences grad
ually grew. The members of political
party would gather together in secret
meetings, and the majority present
would decide upon certain lines of ac-
ton. Thereafter all of the members of
the party would vote together, even
though some of the members Of the
party did not wholly coincide with the
policy determined upon. 1t became
necessary to do this in order to secure
united party action in all matters.
Finally, when it became settled par
ty policy to do things in this manner.
the conferences were termed caucuses;
and that name will probably continue
for an indefinite period. Caucuses ulti-
mately extended from the national cap
ftal IN the state IN p;fa opd noun oil
political actions are predetermined in
caucuses.
For example: In the state of Vir-
ginia all of the democratic members of
the legislature, in caucus assembled,
decided to vote for the reelection of
John W. Daniel to the United States
senate. Then. when the legislature