The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-18
DEMOCRATS
 IN CAUCUS Will Vote to Overrule
 the Chair. PARTY'S MEMBERS BOUND
PARTY'S MEMBERS BOUND
Underwood Throws Bomb
 shell into the Meeting.
Real Republican Reciprocity Re- vealed by Offer to Kill crum- packer Resolution in Exchange
 for Votes for Cuban Bill.

Washington, ApTil lf-Ine DsmocTdts or the House at caucus held tonight, by very large majority. estimated at three to one. adopted the following resolution, introduced by Mir Swanson of Virginia:
 Resolved, That we favor the removal of the differential on refined sugar. both from Cuba and elsewhere. and believe that such amendments are properly in or- der. and We insist that 1t is the duty Of all Democrats to vote whenever oppor- tunity is given to have these amend ments added to the pending bill providing for Cuban reciprocity. We are opposed to the adoption of the previous question when the bill is reported to the House. unless it shall have been properly amend ed in committee of the whole. as this will frevent an opportunity, for just and proper amendment with recorded votes cn the same.
 Resolved, further, That the action of this caucus is binding"
 The caucus was rather turbulent during tbs early part of the evening. but to- wards the close the differences disap- pcared and it broke up amid evidences of ndTmOny ana EOOU lSCubts o>ss~hs taken tonight binds the Democrats to vote to abolish the differentials oh re- fined sugar and against the previous question.
 Underwood Throws Bombshell.
 Ninety-four Democrats were present. From the very outset the caucus was of an exciting character. Mir. Underwood (Ala.) who got the floor immediately af- ter the meeting was called to order, threw a bombshell by announcing that overtures had come to him from the Re- publican side by which 1t was to be agreed that the Republican leaders would abandon the Crumpacker resolution to in vestigate the Southern election laws il the delegations from the States coneern- Cd, North Carolina. South Carolina, Ala bama Mississippi, Louisiana and Vir- ginia, would aid the majority to close de- bate and would vote against tho appeals which would be taken from the decisions of the chair when the motions to open up the bill to general amendment are off, fered. MT. Underwood declined to give the name of the Republican from whom these assurances regarding the abandon' ment of the Crumpacker resolutions came. and although arguing that it was to the interests of the States involved to accept the offer made, he stated that the agreement had not been positively &C., cepted. and. for himself, agreed to abide by the decision of the caucus.
 The Democratic vote on Wednesday to close debate came principally from the States mentioned above.
 Mir. Swanson (va.) offered the first deh- nite proposition for the caucus to con slider, d resolution declaring it to be the sense of the caucus that the Democrats would vote solidly against the demand E-. In IT, init the admissions of amendments to re- duce the tariff and upon the question of germaneness of such amendments. and, If necessary. to vote to overrule the chair.
 He argued strongly that the Democrats should stand solidly for the motion to take off the differential on refined sugar, especially as there were at least chance of winning a victory.
 To this resolution MT. Willltms Miss ) offered a substitute to bind the Democrats to vote for all propositions involving a reduction of the tariff. but to leave every Democrat to vote his convictions upon questions of parliamentary procedure.
 Williams Urges Substitute.
 MT. Williams maintained that, under these circumstances 1t would be to the interests of the Dem ocrats from the States whose representations were threatened by the Cru!npacker resolution to abide by the understanding reached
 During the heated debate that followed Mir. Burleson (Texas) asked MT. Under wood If the Republican leaders had not silenced Mir. Crumpacker and his friends on the Republican side who were opposed to the reciprocity bill. by agreeing to report the Crumpackcr resolution and il they were not trying to create defec- ton on the Democratic side by offering to kill the resolution.
 Mir. Bankhead (Ala.) sided with MT. Underwood and Mir. Williams. and Mir. Cooper (Texas) and Mir. Brazcale Ha0 ] with MT. Swanson. The two latter strongly urged their colleagues to vote to abolish the dinerential on refined sugar. In the course of tho debate it developed that the Williams resolutions were interpreted to constitute an in struction to the Democrats to vote for the bill when the final vote was reached.
 Both MT. Bankhead (Ala.) and MT. Will Hams (MissD confirmed the terms of the proposition made to MT. Underwood by the Republicans. MT. Williams argued that it should be accepted, not so much because of the threat of reducing South ern representation as to preventing the opening up Of the race question Tn tne South.
 Mir. DcArmond (Mo.) and Mir, ]. R. Williams Qll.) supported the Swanson resolution in forcible speeches. This resolution specifically committed the Democrats to vote against ordering the previous question and then declared it to be the sense of the caucus that an amendment to abolish the differential on refined sugar would be. germane to the bill. Toward the close of the session of the caucus d number of amendments to the pending resolutions were offered and also independent propositions, one of u,b,ch to make the action. of the caucus binding.
 All these, except the last. were with drawn or voted down and by very large majority the Swanson resolutions were adopted and also the resolution making the action of the caucus binding unon all the members of the House.