Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-01-25
THE PROPOSED MALL, LOOKING EAST
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
NO POWER To CONSTRUCT OR PRO-
MULGATE A PLATFORM.
Report of the Special Committee
AdOpted-Other Resolutions Laid
Upon the Table.

| A caucus of democrats of the Hous,
| was held at the Capitol last night to re
ceive the report of the special COMMITTEES
appointed at the beginning of this session
| to pass upon proposed changes of demo
| cratic political policy.
| The interest taken was shown in the large
| attendance, 139 democrats out of the total
| OF 1913 being present. Representative Hay
| of Virginia occupied the chair. Mr.. Rich
| ardson presented the majority report, con-
| Cured in by all of the members of the
| special committee except Mr.. Henry. 1t
recited the work of the committee, and
closed with the following recommends
ton:
I'VE are of opinion that the. rep
reSentatiVeS of our various constituencies,
and members of the caucus, made up of
such representatives, we have no power or
authority to construct or promulgate a
platform of principles for our party; that
We cannot increase minimize the bind
ing effect of platforms of the party here
/ tofore regularly made and adopted by the
people in convention assembled for that
purpose.
THAT in the House of which we are men,
bers we should vigorously and aggressive.
iy battle for democratic principles, and
with equal vigor and aggressiveness we
should oppose everything contrary, in sub
stance or method, to those PRINCIPLES and
should meet each question as it arises with
a full conference and solid and undivided
'front.'
The minority report of Mr.. Henry of Tex
as proposed the following declarations:
1T is not within the province of a demo-
cratic caucus to promulgate or reverse a
democratic platform, but it is the duty OF
every democratic representative to adhere
to the national democratic plat form until
the succeeding convention adopts another
platform
Mr.. Henry also proposed that the eau
Gus action should govern every represen-
tative when the same accorded with the
declarations of the last national platform.
The vote was taken first on Mr., Henry's
minority propositions and they were de-
feated by vote Of II to 3d. The ajority
declaration then was adopted without dis
sent.
Before the vote was taken several short
speeches. We're made on the two PROPOSE
tons Mr.. Richardson spoke on the desir-
abhlty OF getting together and Of harmon
lzing differences. This was the only speech
Tor the majority proposition, as it was
deemed desirable to avoid long discussion.
Messrs. Wheeler of Kentucky and Burles-
on and Henry of Texas supported the mi
nority plan, urging that the Kansas CITY
platform should be specifically reaf1rmed |
as the policy Of the party until the next
PLATFORM was made. The debate lasted less |
than an hour.
The Fitzgerald, Mcclellan and other roc
buttons presented at the commencement of |
congress were laid on the table thus leay-
ing the majority declaration as the unani- |
nous sense of the democratic members or
the House, "
me caucus also adopted the following.
resolved, that the territories Of Arizo-
IA, Okla hona and New Mexico are entitled |
20 statehood, and should be admitted to tba
mon on equal footing with the baIance ut
me states. and we pledge the support of the |
Ernocrats In the House of Representa- tives
20 such a BILL"
Ar. Burleson of Texas, In a speecb RI
ne assemblage, arraigned his coIIeagues
or thelr alleged Vacillating policy
gentlemen, he said, permit me to call
our attention to the effect this timid
'vasive policy Is having We have not
'niy become weak in our support Of onr
'"n platform. but we are now timid in orr
esistance to the policies advocated bv the
dominant party. ~ 'A'
In fact, 1t is well known to lis all that
he efforts of the minority in the way 81
opposition to the designs and purposes Of |
ne republicans have become so puny and |
mpotent that We no longer arouse their
ears, but only provoke their scorn and
ontempt, and we are RAPIDLY henornina
ne subject Of ridicule by the press and
eople. p'" anu
The reason Of this is palpable to every
milking man; it is because the demooratio |
arty is wanting in unity of mind and mir
ose. anu pur-
AT THIS moment no member Of this call
US can mention one issue or a single mol
~ upon winch all of us are united. It. is
Weh-known fact that members of the
arty stand for one thing in one section
no other members something else In an
Their. et'0 III All
we have free-trade democrats In Mis- |
lssippl; nigh protection democrats in |
'ouisiana In Alabama expansion or i'm
erialistic democrats are to be found
nile In Arkansas they are anti-imperjaI,
us or anti-expansionist democrats. Geor.
Id ana texas believe in bimetalIism, while
/ New York and Massachusetts, thew are
dvocates Of the single gold standard. Is
surprising the party suffers defeat?,