The Saint Paul globe., 1902-03-20
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS DECIDES TO
FORCE ACTION ON RESOLUTIONS
OF SYMPATHY
APPEAL TO BRITAIN ASKED
Insist That Strict Neutrality Should
BE Enforced, but That American
Sentiment Should BE Ex-
pressed by Congress.
QUESTION MADE PARTY ISSUE

WASHINGTON, March 19.-The Demo-
cratic members of the house at a caucus
held tonight, unanimously adopted reso-
lutions declaring congress should express
the sympathy of the American people for
the struggling Boer republics, and pledg-
Ing themselves to use their utmost en-
deavors to force" the committees to re-
port resolutions expressive of such sym
pathy, if only that congress might have
an opportunity to act.
The Democratic steering committee
asks resolutions to investigate the fran
chise question, which was not consid-
cred at tonight's caucus. Representa-
tive Hay, of Virginia, presided at the
caucus, and Representative Robertson, of
Louisiana, acted as secretary. The at
tendance was large. There was no di-
vision of sentiment as to the course to
be taken, the question presented being
simply one of choice between two reso-
lutions, one offered by Mr. Randell, Of
Texas, and the other by Mr.. Sulzer, Of
New York. The Sulzer resolution was as
follows:
Resolved, BY the Democrats of the
House of Representatives of the United
That we sympathize with the Beers in
their heroic struggle to maintain their
liberty and independence, and protest in
the name of humanity and civilization
against continuation of a war which out
RACES the feelings of all liberty-loving
people, and that we shall use our best
efforts to have the congress of the Unit
ed States, being committed to the prin-
ciples of arbitration for the settlement Of
International disputes, request the preSi-
dent to urge upon the government of his
majesty, the wisdom of adopting this
policy for the purpose of stopping the
awful atrocities now going on in South
Africa, and that the government of the
United States should maintain strict
neutrality between the contending
forces"
The Randall resolution was as follows:
Resolved, By the Democratic members
OF the house Of representatives of the
United States of America, in caucus as
sembled, that the congress Of the United
States should, by resolution, express the
sympathy of the people of the United
States for the people of the South Af-
rlcan republic and the Orange Free State
in their heroic struggle to maintain their
liberty and Independence.
Resolved, That the congress should
in the spirit of amity and friendship, ap-
peal to the British government, in the
interest of humanity. to accept overtures
for peace, cease Eostilities and endeavor
to bring about a just and honor able
statement of existing differences to the
end that peace may be established
Resolved, That the United States
should fairly and honorably maintain
position of strict neutrality in this con-
test between Cations friendly to us, and
see 20 it that the neutrality laws are
vigorously and impartially enforced.
Resolved, That We, as Democrats and
representatives of the people, will use our
utmost endeavors to force the commit
tees now dominated by the Republican
party, having in their charge resolutions
similar to these, to report the same back
to the house, so that the congress may
give expression thereon, declaring the
sentiments and will of tie American peo-
pie"
After some remarks of Mr. Randall,
Mr.. Sulzer and Mr.. Cochran, of Missouri.
the Sulzer resolution was voted down
35 to 32-and the Randall resolution was
then unanimously adopted. In pursu-
ance of the action taken at the caucus
tonight, a resolution will be framed for
introduction n the house and hereafter
the Democrats will do everything in
their power to secure action upon it.