The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-18
REPUBLICANS OFFER TO DEFEAT
CRUMPACKER BILL IF SOUTH
ERNERS WILL AID THEM
BURLEsON OPPOSES THE PLAN
Despite All Opposition and Heated
Debate, the Minority Members
Are Forced in Conference
to Act as a Unit.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Demo-
Gratis of the house at a caucus held to-
night by very large majority, est mated
at 3 to l, adopted the following resolution
introduced by Mr.. Swanson, of Virginia:
Resolved, That we favor the removal
of the differential' on refined sugar, both
from Cuba and elsewhere, and believe
t. < such amendments are properly in
orr r. and we insist that it is the duty
of all Democrats to vote whenever op-
portunity is givsn to have these amend
ments added to the pending bill provid-
ing for Cuban reciprocity. We are op-
posed to the adoption of the previous
question when the bill is reported to the
house unless it shall have been pr perry
amended in committee of the whole. as
this will prevent an opportunity for just
and proper amendment with recorded
votes on the same
Resolved further. That the action of
this caucus is binding"
The caucus was rather turbulent dur
ing the early part of the evening put
toward the close the differences disap-
peared and it broke up amid evidences
of harmony and good feeling
The action taken tonight binds the
Democrats to vote to abolish the differ
ential on refined sugar and against the
previous question.
The Democratic members of the house
held the caucus tonight for the purpoe c of
reaching an agreement to act as a unlt
upon the Cuban reciprocity bill VIII ch
is to be voted upon tomorrow. Those who
were instrumental in calling the caucus
wanted the members of their party to
present a united front upon the propo-i-
tion to take the differentiaI off refined
sugar
Representative Hay, Of Virginia, presid
ed, and Representative Cowherd, of Mis-
souri, acted IS secretary.
Exciting Time in Caucus.
Ninety-four Democrats were present.
From the very outset the caucus was Of
an exciting character. Mr. Underwood
of Alabama, who got the floor immediate
ly after the meeting was called to order,
threw bOmbshel Into the caucus by an
nouncing that overtures had come to him
from the Republican side by which it was
to be agreed that the Republican leaders
would abandon the Crumpa cker resolu-
ton to investigate the Southern elections
law If the delegation from the states con-
ceTned North Carolina, South Carolina
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Vir-
ginia) would aid the majority to close de-
bate and would vote against the appeals
which will be taken from the decisions Of
the chair when the motions to open I'D
the bill to general amendment are offered
Mr.. Underwood declined to give the
name of the Republican from whom these
assurances regarding the abandonment of
the Crumpacker resolution came and all
though arguing that it was to the inter-
est of the states involved to accent the
offer made, he stated that the agreement
had not been positively accepted and, for
himself, agreed to abide by the decision
of the caucus.
The Democratic vote Wednesday to close
debate came principally from the states
mentioned. Mr. Swanson. of Virginia. Of
fered the first definite proposition for the
caucus to consider resolution declaring
1T to be the sense of the caucus that the
Democrats should vote solidly against the
demand for the previous question in order
to permit the admission of amendments to
reduce the tariff and upon the question
of the germaneness of such amendments
if necessary, to overrule the chair
Swanson Starts Heated Debate.
Mr.. Swanson argued strongly that the
Democrats should stand solidly for the
motion to take off the differential on re-
fined sugar, especially as there was at
least a chance of winning a victory To
this resolution, Mr.. Williams, of Missis-
sippi offered substitute to bind the
Democrats to vote for all propositions in
volving a reduction of the tariff but to
leave every Democrat free to vote his con-
victi0ns upon questions of parliamentary
procedure. Mr.. Williams maintained that
under the circumstances it would be to
the interests of the Democrats from the
states whose representations We're threat
ened by the Crumpacker resolution to
abide by the understanding reached.
During the heated debate that followed
Mr.. Burleson, of Texas, asked Mr. Under
wood if the Republican leaders had not
silenced Mr.. Crumpacker and his friends
on the Republican side, who were opposed
to the reciprocity bill, by agreeing to
report the Crumpacker resolution, and
if they were not now trying to create
a detection on the Democratic side by
offering to kill the resolution. Mr.. Bank
head of Alabama, sided with Mr.. Under
wood, and Mr.. Williams, Mr.. Cooper Of
Texas, and Mr. Brazeale of Louisiana,
with Mr.. Swanson. The two latter
strongly urged their colleagues to vote to
abolish the differential on refined sugar
Southern Leaders Defeated.
In the course of the, debate which fol-
lowed it developed that the Williams reso-
luton was interpreted to constitute an
instruction to the Democrats to vote for
the bill when the final vote was reached
Both Mr.. Bankhead. of Alabama. and Mr.
Williams, of Mississippi, confirmed the
terms of the proposition made to Mr.
Underwood by the Republicans Mr.. Will
hams argued that it should be accepted.
not so much because of the threat of
reducing Southern representation, as to
prevent the opening UP Of the race ques-
tion in the South.
Toward the close of the session Of the
caucus a number of amendments to the
pending resolutions were offered, and also
several other independent propositions.
one Of which was to make the action of
the caucus binding
All these EXCEPT the last, were with
5rawn or voteA down, and by a very
Sarge majority the Swanson resolution
was adopted, and also the resolution
0aking the action OF the caucus binding
Don all the Democrats Of the house.