The Washington times., 1902-03-22
Deal Between Beet Sugar
Men and Democrats a
Possibility.
LEADERS FROWk ON MEASURE
Interest of Crumpacker Bill Find Diff
Guilty in Gaining Adherents to Meas
ure-0pponents Expect to Defeat 1t.

Strong opposition is developing among
the Republicans of the House to the
adoption of the Crumpacker proposition
to investigate the suffrage conditions in
the South. which the Committee on Rules
has agreed to report to the House.
So manifest is the antagonism TO the
resolution that the leaders in the move
ment are beginning TO doubt their ability
to muster enough votes to secure its
adoption.
Not Meeting With Encouragement.
They have selected a committee con-
sisting of Representatives Crumpacker.
Dick, and Tawney. which yesterday be-
gan a systematic canvass of the Repub-
lican members to ascertain their views.
and IL possible to secure sufficient pledges
to ensure the adoption of the resolution.
From reliable sources it was stated yes
terday that this committee was meeting
with anything but encoura cement and sue
cess.
Nearly all of the big leaders of the
House throw cold water on the PROPOSE
tion. although they are not actively op-
posing it for the reason that the resolu-
tion has been adopted by the Republican
caucus. Notwithstanding the fact that
the Republicans of the Committee on
Rules have agreed to report the resolu-
tion for an investigation. it is even now
possible that the matter may never be
brought TO the attention of the House.
Leaders Afraid of Defeat.
The leaders do not wish to have it
brought in and then defeated. For this
reason the committee mentioned is en-
deavoring to secure the promise of suf-
ficient members to make its passage be-
yond question.
Some OF the beet sugar men are said to
be considering the advisabilty of using
the Crunpacker resolution as a club to
defeat the scheme for Cuban reciprocity
The members of the Michigan delegation
held a conference yesterday, and it is
stated that some of the members sug-
gested the propriety of making overtures
to the Democrats to stand by them and
assist in defeating the suffrage investiga-
tion, provided the Democrats will aid
them in defeating the Payne bill for
reduction of 20 per cent Upon Cuban
products.
An Alliance Unlikely.
1t is only possible, however, that the
Democrats would enter any such alIi-
ance. In the first place majority of
them are in favor of Cuban reciprocity
In the second place they are not much
alarmed over the prospects of the passage
of the Crumpacker resolution under any
circumstances.
II is possible, however. that they
might be willing to accept the assistance
of the beet sugar men in an effort to Sc
cure the incorporation of certain amend
ments to the Payne bill.
The present plan of the House leaders
is not TO report a rule prohibiting the in
PRODUCTION of amendments to the Payne
bill, but to rule them out as they are Of
fered on the ground that they are not ger
name to the issue providing for reciproci-
ty with Cuba alone.
Tariff Amendments Out of Order.
The Democrats will, of course. offer
general tariff amendments. 1t is pro-
posed by the Republican leaders that they
shall be declared out of order. An appeal
will then be taken.
Then the beet sugar Republicans may
be of some material assistance to the
Democrats. Whether the beet sugar men
can control sufficient votes to overrule
the decision of the Chair is a question
upon which there can now be no definite
answer.
1t is quite certain, however. that there
are number of men who will fight to the
bitter end on the floor of the House. and
will vote with the Democrats for any
amendments which may tend to load
down the bill and prevent Its passage. A
further conference OF the beet sugar men
will be held in a day or SO to decide upon
what course Of action they will take
Some of them are said to be willing to
vote against the Crumpacker resolution
provided they can get any aid from the
other side OF the chamber in defeating
Cuban reciprocity.