The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-22
|T0 Be MADE By DEMOCRATS OF
THE HOUSE
CAUCUS LAST NIGHT
A Resolution Adopted to Vote for
all Motions on the Reciprocity
Bill Looking TO Taking h Diff
~ferentiaI on I'll Imported Sugar.
TheResolutisn Adopted-A Repub-
lican Offer to Abandon the Crum-
packer Resolution In Exchange
for Democratic Support of b
Bill.

Bill.
Washington. April 1.-THE demo
icratic members OF the house held 4
I~caucus tonight for the Urpose, IL pos
lsible of reaching an agreement to act
as q unit upon the Cuban reciprocity
bill which is to be voted upon toraor-
ROW. Those who were Instrumental In
lcalIing the caucus wanted the mem
lbers OF their party to present a united
front upon the proposition TO take the
ldiff~erential off OF refined sugar. Rep
Preventative Hay. Of Virginia, presided
land Representative Ccwherd, OF Mis-
lsouri. acted as secretary. N~inety-four
democrats were present. |
| From the very outset the caucus was
OF az exciting character. Mr.. Under
wood, Of Alabama, who got the floor
Immediately after the meeting WIS
lcalled 20 order ihrew a bombshell into
the caucus by announcing that over
lures had come to him from the re-
publican side by which it was 10 be
lagreed that the republican leaders
would abandon Ihe Crumpacker resc-
luton to investigate the southern cleo
ton laws If thu delegations from the
states concerned North Carolina,
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi.
Louisiana and tlrglnla) would aid the
ma jority to close debate ard would
vote against the appeals whic:, will be
taken from the decision of he chair
when the motions to open UP the bill
Ito general amendment. are offered.
Mr.. Underwood declined to give the
name of the republican from whom
lthese assurances regarding the abtn-
ldonment of the Crumpacker resolution
came, and. although arguing that 1t
was to the interests OF the tates in
volved to accept the offer made. he
lstated that the agreeu-ent had not
lbeen positively accepted Aid for him
Iself he agreed to abide by thu decision
Iof the caucus. The democratic vote on
"Wednesday to close debate came prin-
lcipally from the states mentioned
labove.
MI. Swanson, Of Virginia, offered the
first definite proposition for the eau
lcus to consider-a resolution declaring
lit to be the sense Of the caucus that
THE democrats should vote solidly
against the demand for the previous
lquestion, in order to permit the admis-
lsion Of the amendments to reduce the
tariff and upon the questions of the
lgermaneness of such amendments. If
necessary. to vote to overrule the
lchair. He argued strongly that the
democrats should stand solidly for the
lmotion to take of the differential on
lrefined sugar. especially as there was
lat least a chance Of winning a vic
tory.
To this resolution hr. Williams, Of
mississippi, offered a substitute, to
bind the democrats to vote for all prop
I0SltlOnC 1nVnIVlnD a TaHtynfio~ ~ &La
tariff. but to leave every democrat free
ITO vote his convictions upon questions
lof parliamentary procedure. Mr.. Will
llams maintained that under the cir
lcumstances it would be to the interest
lof the democrats from the states
lWhere representations were threatened
by the C~rumpaCker resolution to abide
lby the understanding reached.
During the heated debate that fol-
lowed Mr.. Burleson, of Texas, asked
Mr.. Underwood IL the republican lead
IerS had not silenced Mr.. Crumpacker
land his friends on the republican side,
who were opposed to the reciprocity
bill, by agreeing to report the Crum-
lpacker resolution and If they were not
now trying to create a detection on the
democratic side by offering to kill the
resolution.
Mr.. Bankhead, Of Alabama, sided
with Mr.. Underwood and Mr.. williams,
ldTu Mr.. cooper, or Texas, and Mr..
iBrazeale, of Louisiana, with Mr.. Swan
son. The two latter strongly urged
their colleagues to vote to abolish the
idifferential On refined sugar.
The caucus by a very large majority,
ESTIMATED at three to one, adopted the
following resolution introduced by Mr.
lSwanson, of Virginia.:
Resolved, That We favor the remova'
lof the differential on refined suga,
/ both from Cuba and elsewhere and be.
| Ilieve that such amendments are prop.
lerly in order. and we insist that IL Is
l the duty of all democrats to vote when.
) lever opportunity is given to have these
!, amendments added to the pending bll
providing for Cuban reciprocity. w.
2 ,are opposed 10 the adoption Of the pre-
|. Ivious question when the bill is reported
= Ito the Gus unless II shali have beer
properly amended I'm committee of tn,
q whole. as this will prevent an oppor
ltunity for just and proper amendment
o with record votes on the same.
! Resolved. further, that the action o
! this caucu is binding"
The caucus was rather turbulent dur
5 ling the early part OF the evening. blu
n toward the close the differences disap
| Ipeared and It broke DIP amid evidence,
= Iof harmony ana good feeling. The &C
, Ition taken tonight binds the democrat
Ito vote TO abolish the d%iYerential on re