The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-01-28

Representatives met IN caucus III Ine
hall of the House at s o'clock this
evening, and, after short, but splr-
tied contest, adopted resolutions de-
claring that they were without power
to promulgate a platform of princi-
Piles for the party, owing to the bind
ing character of the party platform
heretofore regularly made at ma
tional convention.
The caucus was the outgrowth of
animated discussion among Demo
cratic m enbers ever since the pres
ent session of Congress began, the
chief issue being as to the extent to
which the Kansas city platform
should be reafirmed or should be
superseded by new declaration OF
policy. The plan of an entirely new
declaration took form early in the
session in resolutions by Representa-
tive Mcclellan, of New York, setting
forth numerous planks, but omitting
the financial declarations of the Kan
sas City platform. Mr.. Fitzgerald,
of New York, also proposed reso-
luton, declaring against interfere nee
with the present standard of values.
On the other hand, Representative
Ball, of Texas, proposed a specific
reaffirmatlon of the Kansas City plat
form. These and several other reso-
lutions of policy we're referred to a
special committee of twelve leading
Democratic members, headed by
Representative Richardson, of Ten
nessee, the Democratic floor leader.
It was to receive the report Of this
committee that the caucus of tonight
was held.
The interest taken was shown in
the large attendance, 139 Democrats
out of the total of 153 being present.
Representative Hay. of Virginia, oc,
cupied the chair md by his rulings
endeavored to allay the friction
which has occurred at times during
the discussions. Mr. Richardson pre-.
sented the majority report, concurred
in by all Of the membeas Of the spe-
cial committee, except Mr.. Henry. 1t
recited the work of the committee
and closed with the following recon,
mendation:
"We are of opinion that as the re
presentatives of our various constl-
tuencies, and as members of the eau
Gus, made up of such representatives,
we have no power or authority to
construct or promulgate platform
of principles for our party; that we
cannot increase or minimize the bind
ing effect of platforms of the party
heretofore regularly made, aDd
adopted by the people in convention
assembled for that purpose.
"That in the House, of which we
are members, we should vigorously
and aggressively battle for Demo
cratic principles and with equal Vlgor
and aggressiveness we should oppose
everything contrary, in substance or
method, to those principles and
should meet each question as it arises
with a full conference and a solid
and undivided 'front.'"
The minority report Of Mr.. Henry,
of Texas, proposed the following de,
claration 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 Democratic
Representative to adhere to the Ma
tional Democratic platform until the
succeeding convention adopts an
other PLATFORM"
Mr.. Henry also proposed that the
caucus action should govern every
representative when the same &C
corded with the declaration of the
last national platform.
The vote was taken first on Mr.
Henry's minority propositions, an(
| they were defeated by a vote Of II t.
90. The majority declaration wa
then adopted without dissent.
Before the vote was taken severa