Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-05
THE HOUSE OFFICERS
Republican Caucus Will Be
Held Saturday Night.
NO CONTEST EXPECTED
CANNON TO BE NAMED FOR
SPEAKER WITHOUT OPPOSITION.
Democrats Will Meet Tomorrow After
noon or Night-Williams to
Be Put Up.

non, chairman of the republican caucus
committee of the House of Representatives,
has received a large number OF teleSrams
from members of the House asking that
the meeting of the caucus be postponed
until Saturday evening. 1t has been de-
cided to call the caucus for o'clock Sat
urday evening to meet in the hall of the
House. which will permit the attendance
of a large number of members who have
telegraphed that they cannot reach this
city before Saturday afternoon. Before
this decision was reached it was thought
that the meeting of the caucus would be
held at noon Saturday.
While it is competent for any member
of the caucus to bring up any matter OF
interest respecting the policies of the party,
it is not thought likely that that will be
done at the meeting Saturday evening
Such matters are likely to be deferred I'M
til another meeting. officers of the House
will be nominated No contest is expected
on the matter of the House offices. Mr..
Cannon will be named for the speaker
ship, and following that all the incum-
bents will be slated for reelection.
Mr. Cannon is now chairman Of the
caucus committee, which place he will not
retain in view of becoming Speaker OF the
House. 1t is thought that Mr.. Grosyenor
of Ohio may be made chairman. Mr.
LoudenSlager, present secretary or the
caucus committee, will be retained in that
place.
Democratic Caucus.
The democratic caucus will be held to-
morrow afternoon or evening in the House
chamber. The formal call for the meeting
has not been issued but the understanding
as to the time is general. The chairman of
the caucus, Representative Hay of Virginia,
is expected in the city this afternoon or to-
night. and as soon as he arrives, it is said,
the calf will be sent out.
Representative John Sharp Williams of
Mississippi, who, it is announced, will be
the democratic candidate for the speaker
ship. arrived in the city last evening and Is
at the Metropolitan. Mr.. Williams be-
gins Monday next his sixth term in Con-
gress. having served a a representative in
the Fifty-third, Fiftyfourth. F'ifty-ffth,
F'ifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses,
and been reelected to the Fifty-eighth. Mr..
Williams has long been prominent in the
democratic party and popular with his fell
low members of the House. He is regarded
as forceful speaker being quick at repair
tee and sharp in sarcasm
When Representative Hay calls the eau
Gus to order tomorrow it is expected that
Mr.. Williams will be unanimously decided
upon as the candidate of the party for the
speakership This nomination Is equivalent
to a formal selection as the leader of the
minority in the House, and Mr.. Williams
will be so regarded.
The democratic leader for the past few
years has been Representative James d.
Richardson, who will close his long service
lin Congress with the end of the term upon
which he enters Monday. On account Of his
forthcoming retirement from Congress and
from politics Mr.. Richardson Is not expect
ed to take prominent part in the party
battles this session. He will In future de-
vote his whole time to the Masonic fra
ternity, in which he has risen to such an
exalted station. Mr.. Richardson Is the
head of the Scottish Rite for the southern
Jurisdiction, an office formerly held by the
late Albert Pike
The Democratic Policy.
When seen at his hotel this afternoon
Representative Williams said he would
rather not talk just yet as to the demo-
cratic policy in the forthcoming Congress-
The policy Of the party will probably be
decided at the caucus tomorrow, and until
that time, he declared, nothing definite
could be said
Judge Griggs of Georgia, chairman of the
democratic congressional committee is ex-
pected in the city this afternoon, and upon
nus arrival there will probably be an in
formal but important conference at the
committee rooms in the Bliss building. Sec
rotary Charley Edwards of the committee
VINO has been in New York during the past
ie" UdyS, Interested In the municipal cam
palgn, returned to the city last night.
There is a growing impression that the
coming Congress, outside of the Cuban
reciprocity treaty and routine affairs will
accomplish little in the way Of legislation
OF national Importance. 1t is not believed
that there will be any radical currency
legislation, for too many influential men in
the republican party are opposed to it,
The 'stand-patters'' on the tariff question
feel that they have the upper hand and
that the schedule will not be changed in
any important particular.
With these two important subjects out OF
the way and nothing else in sight at this
time, 1t Is believed that the session will
resolve itself into a very interesting game
of politics, everything being said and done
with respect to its bearing upon the presi-
Dental campaign of next fall This is the
democratic view of the situation and tho
members Of the minority are preparing to
measure swords with their republican OPP
ponents at every turn.
In view of these conditions and prospects
little minority policy is necessary or likely.
1t will simply be a matter of adhering
strictly to democratic principles and main
tanning close party vigil. 1t is not be-
lieved the democrats have in contempla; ton
any move that will affect the legislation so
strenuously recommended by The adminis-
tratfon and which has resulted in the extra
SeSSiOn-Cuban reciprocity