The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-01
HOW REPUBLICANS CAUCUS.
Manner of Getting Together an the
Marble Room.

IS having no end OF trSu just Ho" WIN
his Republican subjects in the Senate. In
his efforts to round up his trl-e ana get
them to come to some amicable under
standing on the Porto Rican question ne
has been obliged to work over time ana.
at the same time display to the popular
gaze his inability to control some of the
young as well as some of the old bucks
who live on the Republican reservation.
In view of the numerous caucuses re-
Gently held by the Republicans i'm the SEN
ale over the Porto Rican bill 1t may be
Interesting to know how these caucuses
are vailed and conducted, In the Senate
caucuAes can be called upon the request
of five SENATORS to the chairman of the
caucus comn7ittee Senator Allison of
Iowa. On som@ occasions a caucus has
been called upon the suggestion of sin
gle senator. 1t As not necessary to get up
a signed petition for caucus in the Sen
ate, but in the House the caucus rule re-
quires formal petition signed by twenty
five members.
In the Marble Room.
Republican caucuses in the Senate are
usually held in the marble room imme-
diately in the rear of the Senate cham
before or Immediately after the sessions
of the Senate. 1t frequently occurs that
an early adjournment is agreed upon to
enable the party caucus to convene Al
these meetings double guerds are placed
at the entrances of the lobby leading 10
the marble room, and ell employees are
excluded from all portions OF the building
which might be within hearing distance
of the sacred council chamber. Messen>
gers and pages are not allowed to be
present at caucus, end senators are OBJ
iiged 10 run their own errands on these
occasions. In preparing the marble room
for a caucus the Sergeant at Arms draws
upon the senatorial property rooms FOR
fifty or sixty light cane bottom chairs to
reinforce the handsome maroon colored
leather furniture which generally orna-
ments that beautiful apartment. The
large center table Is moved to the west
eru end of the room Immediately in front
of aae large mirror for the accommodat ion
of the chairman of the caucus ana MS
secretary At present, Senator kean or
New Jersey, is secretary of the Republi-
can caucus. The duties of the secretary
are not ouorous, owing to the fact thar
he is not expected to preserve record
or the proceedings. Such notes or memo
randum as he may make during the eau
Gus ore always destroyed at the hour Of
adjournment. On very rare occasions he
Is required to call the roll TO test the
sentiment of the members on disputed
problems but no trace of said roll call Is
kept except by individual senators, who
may keep it for personal reasons, or for
knowing how their party associates voted
on certain problems. Final results are
generally reached without resorting 10 the
formality of a roll call. The discussion is
carried on with the greatest freedom and
when individual views have been freely
n11t4= fyA fetD ~ m
the chairman by unanimous consent.
spirit of Washington.
The spirit of the immortal father of his
country the lamented George Washiog-
ton. is ever present a caucus held in the
Marble Room. Owing to a remarkable
freak of nature the outlines of the head
and body of George Washing on are clear
ly defined by the blue veins running
through one of the white marb beams
which support The ceiling Of the room 1t
does not require vigorous stretching of the
magination to discover this natural por-
trait of the first President of the Unite
States, and IL is the great feature poin ed
out 10 visitors to the Senate wing OF the
Capitol. Participants in a Republican
caucus do not always live 10 George WASH
ington's standards of veracity when en-
gaging i'm hot political combat Tor IN Tn
heat of debate II Is not unusual for SAFE
ments TO he made which might be diff ut
10 verify under oath Within the pa it
two weeks the Republican caucuses have
been ennvened by acrimonious ard sharp
personal disputes between senators who
entertain conflicting views with regard 10
the future government Of Porto Rlco ana
orr other colonial possessions or deperden-
cies.
Senator Wellington of MARYLAND has on
several occasions recently created con-
siderable excitement IN caucus by giving
free p!ay TO his mighty emotional ana
somewhat sensational nature. Unfortun-
ately for him his views on great national
questions do not meet. the appreciation OF
a majority Of his Iarty associates. He IS
not unconscious of the fact of his per-
sonal unroyularity, but that does not de-
ter him from freely expressing his senti-
rnents other in caucus or in open SEN
ate. The result is that he often becomes
involved in personal disputes with those
who differ with him on subjects involving
party principles or party organization.
The Turbulent Mason.
Senator Mason Of Illinois often excites
opposition to his somewhat eccentric
views on great national questions. Not
only is he an advocate Of free trade with
Porto Rico. but he is a lively and some
times an irritating exponent Of free and
unbrldled speech Senatorial dignity and
the ancient traditions of the august body
of which he is member possess no ter
rors for the junior Senator from Illinois.
He is not always choice i'm selecting the
Language he employs In political discus
sion and it is perhaps an advantage TO
himself and his party that his utterances
are not always seriously considered Like
Senator Tillman of South Carolina, the
Senator from Illinois sometimes endeavors
TO create an impression upon his hearers
that he il the sole guardian of all the
honor, integrity patriotism and devotion
to the plain people of the United States
in the Senate. Although he may fail 10
influence his associates TO follow his lead
ership, he seldom fails to stir up oonsid-
cradle commotion when he turns himself
loose in she party caucus.
Senator Chandler of New Hampshire
who is sometimes alluded TO as the wasp
OF the Senate" delights 10 buzz around
in caucus inhicting aggravating stings up
on those who differ with him on disputed
questions. He is all the more exasperat-
ing because of his fiuency, the sharpness
OF his invectives and the insinuating ma
ture OF his utterances as applied to per
sons and circumstances. His remarkable
self-control enables him to indulge in
scathing denunciations. Sarcasm, which