The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-11
GORMAN CHAIRMAN.

G0RMIN CHAIRMAN.
Maryland senator II seieeted Chair
mau Of the Democratic Caucus To-
day rirst step Has Been Taken
In Reasiting the Party-Expfrsr
lion Of senator Jones' Term Mark.
ed the Pnssins Of Free silver and
Bryan Advocacy In Politics.
Washington, ID. G., March. 6.-The
election today of Senator Arthur p.
German, as chairman Of the Democrat:
ic caucus and Herewith leader OF tie
senate Democrats to succeed Senator
James Is. Jones, Of Arkansas, Is re-
garded here as n long step towards the
reunion Of the Democratic factions and
a reorganization Of the party along
the lines which carried Cleveland TO
the presidency with Democratic vic
tory.
German, II will be remembered, has
always been q sound money Democrat,
although he supported the ticket when
the free %silverites were on top. Sena-
tor Jones has stood with the free sill
yer wing and 1t Ii believed here that
his retirement carries with 1t the last
of that factions leadership In the
Democratic party. German was chair
man OF the national Democratic COM
mittee during the campaign which
landed Cleveland In the white house.
With Gorman's banner In the lead
again, hope has sprung anew in the
rank and file Of Democrats whose rep
resentatives are here.
With the factional lines wiped out
there Ii every reason to believe Dem
ocracy will triumph In 1904, for IL 10 Q
settled conviction over the country that
Democratic voters are In the majority
throughout the patton.
The enthusiastic support Of the west
ern and southern senators In the
election Of German is q strong evidence
that the division Is no more
A significant action Of the caucu
was the election Of Senator Carmack,
Of Tennessee, d secretary Of the eau
Gus. Carmack has publicly proclaimed
his advocacy Of Parker for the next
party nominee for president, and has
stated that he no longer looks TO the
money question as an issue On which
the Democrats can place q plank In
their platform. Carmack was former.
ly o strong free silver Democrat.
Gormsn Makes speech.
| The Democratic senatorial caucus
| which met at l o'clock today organ.
lied by electing Senator German to his
| old position as chairman Of the caucus.
This IL q permanent place and assures
him the occupancy Of Democratic con-
ference room, the most commodious
and best located committee room in
the senate end Of the capitol.
He made q brief speech on assuming
the chair and the conference then
proceeded to other business. There
was present % Of the SO Democratic
senator's.
Senator Germans nomination "a
chairman was suggested by Senator
Bacon, and there was no opposition to
| his selection. In taking the chair he
! thanked the senators for the honor
conferred, but did not make an ex-
tended speech. The remaining time
was devoted largely to the discussion
of the present situation in the senate
L auu luc hCCCocLty va -
mony aud unity Of action.
There was q general feeling that the
vacancies caused by the retirement Of
the Democratic senators from commit
tees which have to deal with questions
before the present called session should
be filed, and IL was decided that the
designation Of the members OF these
committees should be made by o steer
ing committee to be appointed by the
| chairman Of the cancus, but these
selections should later be ratified by
the caucus.
More Etecrers Wanted.
The steering committee for nhe-faSk'
congress has numbered only seven
members, bat Senator Gormon reqles-
ted that the number be increased TO
nine, which wa the number In the
DAYS OF his previous craftsmanship
and this increase was decided upon.
Mr.. German will make bis selection
OF members of this commettee In time
to have q meeting tomorrow, when
the question Of supplying the vacan-
cies on the regular committee OF the
senate will be taken up. .
The caucus placed In the hands Of
the steering committees authority 10
decide for the Democrats whether
there should bea general re-organiza-
ton of the senate committees or the
mere filling Of the vacancies on those
committees which will deal with press
ing questions during the extra SEES
sion. The committee Is empowered
to negotiate with the Republican
steering committees with q view OF
agreeing on q general reorganization.
But 30 far as there was IN expression
of opinion on this point, 1t was favora-
bic to the view OF leaving:the question
Of reorganization OIL general lines TO
be determined by the Republican line
as they are In power. There Ii no
doubt, however, that the Democratic
steering committee will insist on
having some OF the committees filled,
for the reason that the Democratic
party has lost quite heavily. In
some Of the committees which are
i'm control Of the present business.
They will ask, for instance, that the
vacancies on the committee on foreign
relations be filled.
Clark Succeeds Bailey.
Senator Bailey retired from the COM
mittee before the adjournment OF the
last congress and by unanimous con-
sent Senator Clark, Of Montana, was
appointed to the vacancy. 1t Is ex-
pected that the steering committee
will confirm this action and also will
name a successor to Senator Rawlins