The Southern herald., 1899-03-10
THE TUG OF WAR.

Then, when the senate is called to OF
der, all of the republican senators viii
vote for the officers selected by their
caucus.
Then after that shall have been ac'
complished the republican senators will
have another caucus in the marble
room, and they will decide who shall
be the chairman Of the various i'm
portant committees, and which SEN
ators shall be members OF those COM
mittees. These matters having been
determined in caucus, they will be Sat'
flied by the solid votes Of the entire
republican membership of the senate.
In the meantime the democratic, be-
ing in the minority, viii assemble in the
Conference room" and there they will
determine upon their candidates for
similar offices, chairmanships and COM
mittee places. Then, in open senate,
they will vote solidly for their candi-
dates. OF course, they know that their
candidates will not be elected, but they
will give them a solid party "com-
plmentary vote"
Later on the republicans will hold a
caucus in the house Of representatives,
and a caucus in the marble room. Each
one of these caucuses will select com
mittee TO meet a committee from the
other caucus. These joint committees
will formulate some plan concerning
currency legislation and other impor'
tantmatters. Those committees will re-
port to their caucuses; and thus party
policy will be outlined, which will re-
ceive the solid party votes Of the ma
iority representatives in the senate and
house; and they will carry their party
determination into effect.
Meantime the democratic senators
and representatives will hold caucuses,
and they will determine upon policy
of opposition. Although in the minor
ity, the democrats will maintain their
party policy, and will obstruct party
legislation to the best Of their ability;
and will defeat the majority il they eau
possibly do SO by any parliamentary
means.
Whether party rule, by caucus, is
proper and worthy of the continued
support of politicians is question
which each thinking reader will deter
mine for himself. Young men who are
entering upon political careers will do
well to study the subject of the caucus
and be prepared to take some positive
stand one way or the other. iodng
men will do well to make mental note
OF one fact, and keep ii ever in memory:
Whenever any man of independent
spirit bolts from the caucus, or refuses
to be bound by caucus determination
it has always happened that such man
lays in big stock of trouble; and that
be is usually defeated by the connivancC
Of leading members OF his own party
The caucus rule is so strong that any
man who undertakes TO openly oppose
ii clouds his immediate future.
In December, 1859. William Mcllin.
ley, of Ohio, was candidate for speak.
er Of the house Of representatives. He
was defeated in caucus, and Tom Reed
became speaker. After the caucus dc.
cided upon MIR. Reed, and he was nom.
mated in the house. Mr., Mckinley
voted with all other republicans fol-
Reed, who was elected. II Mckinley
had been made speaker by that caucus
he might never have been president
But, being defeated for speaker, he was
made chairman of the committee OH
ways and means. That committee for.
mulated tariff bill which became
known as the Mckinley bill. That bill
made its putatiye author the most pop.
ular man In his party. Thus by being
defeated in caucus Mckinley came 10
the front, and attained the presidency,
SMITH d FRY