The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-01-30
BOUND By The OLD PLATFORM.
House Democrats Are Without Power
to Franc Any New Declaration
of Policy.

democratic members Of the house Of |
representatives met in caucus in the !
hall Of the house at s o'clock Friday |
evening and after a short but spirited
contest adopted resolutions declaring
that they were without power TO pro-
mulgate q platform heretofore regular.
ly made at a national convention.
The contest occurred over a resolu.
ton proposed by Representative Hen
~, of Texas, more specifically declar-
ing it to be the duty of every demo
cratic representative to adhere to the
national democratic platform until an:
other democratic convention adopts
new platform.
The caucus was the outgrowth Of an
imated discussion among democratic
members ever since the present scs
sion of congress began, the chief is
sue being as to the extent to which
the Kansas City platform should be
superseded by new declaration OF
policy The plan Of an entirely new
declaration took form early in the ses'
sion in resolutions by Representative
Mcclellan, Of New York, setting forth
numerous planks, but omitting the
financial declarations of the Kansas
City platform.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, Of New York, also
proposed a resolution declaring
against any interference with the ex-
listing standard Of values. On the
other hand, Representative Ball, OF
Texas, proposed specific reaffirma
ton of the Kansas City platform.
These and several other resolutions of
policy were referred TO special COM
mittee OF twelve leading democratic
members, headed by Representative
Richardson, OF Tennessee, the demo
cratic floor leader. 1t was to receive
the report Of this committee that the
caucus of Friday night was held.
The interest taken was shown in the
large attendance, 139 democrats out OF
the total Of 153 being present. Repre-,
sentative Hay. Of Virginia, occupied
the chair and By his rulings endeav-
ored to allay the friction which has
occurred at times during the discus,
sioCs. Mr.. Richardson presented the
majority report, concurred in by all
the members of the special committee
except MIR. Henry. It recited the work
of the committee and closed with the
| following recommendation:
I'VE are of opinion that, as the rep
resentatives Of our various consult
uencies, and as members of the eau
Gus made up of such representatives,
we have no power or authority to con-
struct or promulgate a platform OF
principle for our party; that we can
not increase or minimize the binding
effect OF platforms Of the party here
.ofoce regularly made and adopted by
the people il convention assembled
| fer that purpose.
That in the house CT which we are
members we should vigorously and
aggressivcly battle for democratic
principles and with equal vigor and
aggressiveness We should oppose ev
erything contrary, in substance or
methods, to those principles, and
should meet each question as it arises
with full confidence and a solid and
undivided front"
The minority report of Mr.. Henry
of Texas. proposed the following de-
claration in place of the Mcclellan
and Fitzgera!d resolutions heretofore
referred TO: .....:
1T is not within the province OF a
democratic caucus to proniuiSate OF
reverse a democratic platform, but il
is the duty Of every democratic repre-
sentative to adhere TO the national
democratic platform until the succeed
ing convention adopts another plat
form"
Mr.. Henry also proposed that the
caucus action should govern every
representative when the same accord
| ed with the declarations Of the last ma
tional platform.
The vote was taken first on Mr.
Henry's minority propositions and
they were defeated by vote Of II tc
81.
The majority declaration was then
adopted without dissent.