The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-25
DEMOCRATIC POLICY
CONGRESSMAN WILL ADHERE TC
THE PLATFORM.
RESULT OF PARTY CAUCUS
NO ATTEMPT TO FORMULATE NEW
PRINCIPLES.

Theoretically the Kansas City Plat
form VIII Continue to Represent
the Principles of the Party--'rhe
Supporters of "A New Declaration
Evidently Too Much in the Nil
nority-The Caucus Goes on Re-
cord as FavOrinE Statehood for
Arizona. Oklahoma and New Mex
leo.
Washington, Jan. 24.-The Demo-
cratic members of the House of Repre-
sentatives met in caucus in the hall CT
the House q s o'clock this evening, and
after short but spirited contest,
adopted resolutions, declaring that they
were without power to prcmulgate a
platform OF principles for the party
owing to the binding character of the
party platform heretofore regularly
made at a national convention.
The caucus was the outgrowth of
animated discussion among Democratic
members ever since the present ses-
sion of Congress began, the chief issue
being as to the extent to which the
Kansas City platform should be re-
affirmed or should be superseded by
a new declaration of policy. The plan
of an entirely new declaration took
form early in the session in resolutions
by Representative Mcclellan of New
York, setting forth numerous planks,
but emitting the financial declarations
of the Kansas City platform. Mr..
Fitzgerald of New York also proposed
a resolution. declaring against any in
reference with the existing standard
of values. On the other hand, Repre-
sentative Ball of Texas proposed a
specific reaffirmation of the Kansas
City platform. These and several 9TH
er resolutions of policy were referred
to a special committee of twelve lead
ing Democratic members. headed by
Representative Richardson of Tonnes
see the Democratic floor leader. 1t
was to receive the report of this COM
mittee that the caucus of tonight was
held.
The interest then was shown in
the large attendance 1879 Democrats of
the total of 1853 being present. Repre-
sentative Hay of Virginia occupied the
chair, and by his rulings endeavored
to allay the friction which has occurred
at times during the discussions. Mr..
Richardson presented the majority re-
port, coRcurred in by all of the mem
bers of the special committee except
Mr.. Henry. 1t recited the work of
the committee and closed with the fol-
lowing recommendation:
No Power to Construct Platform.
1--WE are of opinion that as the rep
resentative of our various constituent
cies, and as members of the caucus,
made up of such representatives, we
have no power or authority to con-
struct or promulgate a platform of
principles for our party; that we can
not increase or minimize the binding
effect of platforms of the party here
tofore regularly made, and adopted by
the people in convention assembled for
that purpose.
THAT in the Houes of which we are
members we should vigorously and ag~
gressively battle for Democratic prin-
cipleS and with equal vigor and ag-
gressiveness we should oppose every
thing contrary, in substance or method,
to those principles, and should meet
each question as it arises with full
conference and a solid and undivided
front"
The minority report of Mr.. Henry,
of Texas, proposed the following decla-
ration in place of the Mcclellan and
Fitzgerald resolutions heretofore re-
ferred to:
The Minority Report
1T is not within the province of a
Democratic caucus to promulgate or
reverse a Democratic platform, but it
is the duty of every Democratic rep
resentative to adhere to the national
Democratic platform until the sue
ceeding convention adopts another
platform"
Mr.. Henry also proposed that the
caucus action should govern every rep
resentative when the SAME accorded
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 IL to 90. The
majority declaration then was adopted
without dissent.
Before the vote was taken several
short speeches were made on the two
propositions. The debate lasted less
than an hour.
The Fitzgerald. Mcclellan and other
resolutions were laid on the table, thus
leaving the majority declaration as the
unanimous sense of the Democratic
members of the House
The caucus also adopted the follow
ing:
Resolved, That the territories of
Arizona, Oklahoma and New Mexico
are entitled to statehood, and should be
admitted to the Union on equal foot
ing with the balance of the states, and
we pledge the support of the Demo-
Gratis in the House of Representatives
to such a bill.