The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-12
NOT PARTY QUESTION
REPUBLICANS WILL
JOIN DEMOCRATS TO BEAT
CRUMPACKER BILL
LOUISIANA WANTS SOME LOOT
Gathering Was Informal, but Indi-
cations Are That Effort to Cut
Southern Influence Will
Be Fought

WASHINGTON, Dec ia conference
of Southern Republicans in congress was
held here tonight st which were present
Senators McComas, of Maryland and
Prtchard, Of North Carolina, and mem
bers of the house from West Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina,
Missouri and Maryland.
The chief feature discussed related to
the superintendent of representation from
the South. with particular reference to
Mr.. Crumpacker's bill, which seeED to
reduce the Souths representation on the
ground that the negro is deprived of his
vote. The discussion was entirely infor-
NAL in character and no action was TAX
en- by the conference. The talk showed
that the members were not entirely in
accord on the question of their attitude
with respect to the bill Senator Pritch-
ard declared his positive opposition to it.
Another meeting will be held next
Wednesday night, at which it is expected
some agreement will be reached as to
what course the Republicans from the
South will adopt on the measure when it
comes UP IL the Republican caucus. The
Southern Republicans hope soon to per-
feet an organization for the protection
Of the interests of that section coming
before congress.
What Early Caucus Did.
WASHINGTON, Dec 1o-The Demo-
cratic senators today held Their first eau
Gus of the present session. Its purpose
was to consider committee assignments,
hut the occasion was more than ordin-
arily significant because Of the gem
eral attendance upon the caucus. All
the senators elected as Democrats, with
the exception of Senator McLaurin, Of
South Carolina, were present, as were
all the senators who were elected as
Silver Republicans and Populists. All
the Independents, except Senator Teller,
of Colorado, had entered the Democratic
caucus held just before adjournment
last March, but Senator Teller then re-
manned away. He was present, however,
at todays conference and participated
in the proceedings.
The caucus was called at the instance
of Senator Jones, of Arkansas, who stat
ed that he had thought 1t possible that
the new senators might want to make
some change In the officers of the eau
Gus. There was, however, a general
expression of satisfaction with the pres
ent officials and Senator Jones was unani-
mously reelected chairman Of the eau
Gus. The old committee on order of bust
ness also was reappointed and the one
vacancy on that committee was filed
by the selection of Senator Dubois, Of
Idaho, Who was the choice of all the
Western members of the caucus
During the proceedings Senator Till
man suggested that there should be fire.
quent conferences and continued eff
fort to agree upon the main features of
all political controversies. There was a
quite general response to this suggestion,
and the opinion was fairly unanimous
that the party should present a united
front, permitting no more stras gling than
was absolutely necessary
Won't Stand for Cut.
Senator Jones presented a statement
from the Republican committee on com
m1ttees, outlining it's wishes as to the
committee assignments, from which It
appeared that the Republicans were
anxious to increase the Republican mem
bership of several committees and to
decrease the Democratic membership
OF few of the committees The most
important change suggested by them was
That the Republicans should be allowed
to add one member to their side of the
committee on commerce. while the Demo-
Gratis should agree to surrender one OF
the places on that committee held by
them. The committee as now constituted
includes ten Republican members and
seven Democratic members. 1t was de-
cided vigorously to resist this innoya-
ton.
The Republicans also expressed a de-
sire to increase the membership of the
committees On agriculture and census
from nine to eleven each, the two new
members to be Republicans; to increase
the committee on claims from thirteen
to fourteen, the Republicans to have
eight and the Democrats six, as against
seven and six, respectively, as the COM
mittee is now constituted.
An,
committee on foreign relations AS it at
present stands the committee numbers
eleven members, four Of whom are DEM
ocrats. The proposal Is to make it con-
s1st of thirteen members, eight of whom
shall be Republicans and five Demo-
Gratis.
A change was also suggested In the
committee on irrigation, which Is at pres
ent composed of six Republicans and five
Democrats. The change, If adopted,
would give a membership of eleven, only
four of whom would be Democrats. The
Democrats decided to oppose the pro-
posed changes in the committees on
claims and irrigation.
The Republicans did not Indicate any
intention to take care Of Senator Well
ington in the matter Of committees nor
was any suggestion made in the caucus
that the Democrats should find places for
him.
Louisiana, I Love You.
Numerous conferences of Democratic
members Of the house were held prior to
the meeting Of the ways and means COM
mittee today because Of the question
which had arisen as to united opposition
to the Philippine bill drafted by the Re-
publican members 1t developed that the
four Louisiana members, now in the
city, Representatives Robertson. Never
Davey and Ransdell, were favorable to
the bill, and that the two Louisiana men,
bers out Of the city, Messrs Broussard
and Breadzeale, probably would favor it.
The members made no concealment of
the fact that the sugar Industry of their
state required the measure Of protection
against Philippine sugar, which the ma
jority bill gave by applying the Dingley
rates. Under these circumstances the
minority members reached no united de-
cision as to opposing the bill, and al
though there will be a minority report
opposing the measure on general grounds
the Louisiana members viii hold them
selves individually free to vote for the
bill.
Secretary Gage has written to Chair
man Payne pointing out that the bill
should provide for q rebate when ar
ticles exported from this country con-
tain ingredients imported from the Phil
ippines on which duty already has been
paid. The bill probably will be amended