The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-01-28
Democrats Must Stand
by Platform, Says the
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Vote e2 to 17-Other Minority Pro-
posaIs Tabled, Making Majority
Declaration Observation-Disclosures
of Three Territories Favored.

Washington, Jan. 25.-The Demo
cratic members OF the house OF rep
resentatiyes met in caucus in the hall
of the house, at s o'clock last night
The plan of an entirely new dec
laration took form early in the session
Of the present gathering OF congress-.
in resolutions by Representative NC
Clellan, 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 de-
claring against any interference with
the existing standard Of values. On
the other hand, Representative Ball.
Of Texas, proposed a specific reaf-
tirmation of the Kansas City platform.
These and several other RESOLUTIONS
of policy were referred to a special
committee of IL leading Democratic
members, headed by Representative
Richardson, of Tennessee, the Demo-
cratic floor leader. 1t was to receive
the report of this committee that the
caucus CT last night was held.
Large Attendance of Democrats.
The interest taken was shown in
the large attendance, 139 Democrats
out CT the total CT 1853 being present
| Representative Hay, Of Virginia, oc-
| cup.ed the chair. Mr.. Richardson
| presented tho majority report, con.
Cured in by all the members of the
special committee except Mr.. Henry.
1t recited the work OF the committee
and closed with the following recon-
mendations:
I'VE are CT opinion that as the rep
resentative3 of our various constitu-
! encies 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
tCfore regularly made and adopted
by the people in convention assem-.
bled for that purpose.
That in the house, of which we are
members, we should vigorously and
aggressively battle for Democratic
principles, and with equal vigor and
aggressiveneSs we should Oppose
everything 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,
declaration in place of the Mcclellan
and fitzgerald resolutions, heretofore
referred to:
1T is not within the province of a
Democratic caucus to promulgate or
reverse a democratic platform, but
it is the duty Of every emocratic rep
resentative TO adhere to the national
Dmocratic platform until the succeed.
ing convention adopts another plat.
FORM"
| Mr.. Henry also proposed that the
caucus action should govern every
representative when the. same ac-
corded with the declarations of tho
last national platform.
The vote was taken first on Mr..
Henry's minority propositions, and
they were defeated by vote Of II
to 92. The majority declaration was
then adopted without dissent
Several Short Speeches Made.
Before the vote was taken several
short speeches were made on the two
propositions. Mr.. Richardson spoke
on the desirability OF getting to-
gether and harmonizing differences.
This was the only speech for the ma.
jority proposition, as it was deemed
desirable to avoid long discussion.
Messrs. Whee.er, Of Kentucky. anu
Burlesson and Henry, of Texas, sup
ported the minority plan.
The Fitzgerald, McClelland and
other resolutions were laid on the
table, thus leaving the majority dec.
laration as the unanimous sense of
Z the Democratic members OF the house
| The caucus also adopted the fol
lowing:
|
, Resolved, That the territories OF
Arizona, Oklahoma and New Mexico
are entitled to statehood, and should
be admitted to the union on equal
footing with the balance of the
states, and we pledge the support OF
the Democrats in the house of repre-