Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-02-16

Then, when the senate is called to OF.
der all of the republican senators will
vote for the officers selected by their
caucus.
Then after that shall have been ac.
complished the republican senators wiz
have another caucus in the marble
room, and they will decide who shah
be the chairman of tie 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 rat
flied by the solid votes of the entire
republican membership of the senate.
In the meantime the democrats, be-
ing in the minority, will assemble in the
conference room," and theye they will
determine upon their candidates for
similar Offices chairmanahips 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.
plimentary vote"
Later on the republicans will hold
caucus in the house of representatives,
and 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-
tant matters. 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 senator's
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 if they can
possibly do SO by any parliamentary
means.
Whether party rule, by caucus, is
proper aud worthy of the continued
support of politicians is a 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. Yong
of one fact, and keep it 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 a big stock of trouble; and that
he is usually defeated by the conniyance
of leading members of his own party.
The caucus rule is so strong thas any
man who undertakes to openly oppose
it clouds his immediate future.
In December, 1859, William McKin.
ley, of Ohio, was a candidate for sg.ak
er of the house of representatives. re
was defeated in caucus, and Tom Reed
became speaker. After the caucus de
cided upon Mr.. Reed, and he was nom
mated in the house, Mr.. Mckinley
voted with all other republicans for
Reed, who was elected. If 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 on
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 to
the front, and attained the presidency.
SMITH d. FRY.
Expensive.
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