Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-27
parry ROW EXPECTED
Caucus Of the House Democrats
Likely to Be Decidedly
Warm.
Division in the Party Ranks Will
Probably Become More
Apparent.
richardson's Leadership Not
Pleasing to Some..Lack Of
Policy Deplored.

lIldl tLiSIe VIII pS q ilSSiy Sesssloh VI liAS
democrats of the house when the party
caucus is held on Jan. 10 to discuss the
position to be taken by the minority on
matters that probably come before the
present session Of congress. AT the ini-
tial caucus, held on the Saturday before
the opening of congress, the democrats
oontented themselves with the profitless
performance Of selecting candidates for
the official positions in congress to be
defeated at the opening session. A num-
ber Of resolutions calculated to define
the position of the minority on impor-
rot acted upon. At The time 1t was an
nounced that the questions would be dis
cussed at the party caucus to be held in
January.
In the preliminary work of congress-
before the recess for the holidays, a
number of symptoms developed indica
tive of the division that exists In the
democratic ranks over the position to be
taken upon some Of the public questions
before congress. The first strong indica-
ton of this kind appeared in the con-
sideration of the Philippine tariff bill by
the house. Owing to the position of the
Louisiana delegation, fayoring the adop-
ton of the republican measure. Mr..
Richardson, leader of the house MINORS
ty. declined to outline policy for his
party, and the members were at liberty
10 ,tr., Ill
displeasing TO certain democrats. Mr..
De Almond, OF Missouri, and John Wes-
ley Gaines. of Tennessee. and Mr.. Hen
ry, of Texas, were especially vigorous in
their opposition to the measure and in
their disappointment that no party poll
cy had been outlined. Mr.. Gaines was
outspoken in his dissatisfaction. On the
floor OF the house and elsewhere he ex-
pressed his disgust, stating that he had
no objection to being led but that he
objected strongly to being "misled" on
questions involving the principles OF the
party.
Mr.. Gaines protests that his party has
been placed ut serious disadvantage
by reason Of some definite. policy not
taving been outlined by the party lead
err. He declares that hereafter he will
not agree to any proposition OF the ma
;ority that will cut oft debate. as was
the case in the discussion OF the Philip
pine tariff proposition. In this he is
supported by n number OF the younger
democrats OF the house, who are grow
ing quite restless under the conserva-
stism shown by Mr.. Richardson in his
minority leadership. While the unrest
has not reached the revolt stage there
IL force enough to 1t to demand more
vigorous action, and this will be one
of the questions discussed at the party
caucus.
The real contest OF the caucus how
ever, will probably come over the resolu-
tons that have been introduced by Con-
delegation. and Mr.. Burleson. of Texas
Mr. McClelian's resolution was practi-
cally an announcement that Tammany
desires to dictate the policy of the demo-
Gratis in congress. The resolution of Mr..
Rurleson proclaims adherence to the
Chicago and Kansas City platforms and
fixes loyalty to those platforms as a
qualification OF full membership in the
democratic ranks. The Texans and the
democrats from the west and southwest
are behind Mr.. Burleson. They take the
position that the serious consideration
Of any other policy would be slap at
Mr.. Bryan and an abandonment OF the
principles upon which they made their
fight and secured their election. Many
Of them, 1t Is true. are in no danger of
becoming overheated In their zeal for
free silver and other tenets OF the Kan
sas City platform, but they insist that
those principles are the cardinal doc
trine OF the party and must be sup
ported until the party in national con-
vention abslndons them. Any attempt,
they contend. to desert those principles
row would spell party treachery. They
take the position that reorganization OF
the democratic party, IL there Is any.
must come from the delegates to the
party's convention and not from men
selected upon the platforms which are
recognized as the expression of the par
tvs conviction, expressed in national
conventions.
The supporters of the Mcclellan reso-
luton take the eastern view that Mr..
Bryan has twice led his party to defeat;
that the logic of events has eliminated
silver as national issue, and that in
complete reorganization Of the party lies
Its only hope OF any measure of success
In the congressional elections to be held
next fall and In the national contest in
1904.
WHY HE QUIT THE CLUB.
Henderson Reprimanded by Clerk for
V;oie<;on nf nheo1e%a Rule