Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-21
Says His Party Did Not Sup
port Him.
A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
ONE WANTED BY THE MINORITY
LEADER.
Democrats Surprised at the Request
What Mr.. Williams Says-Two
Theories Advanced.

In the closing hours of yesterday SeS-
sion of the House the democrats were
treated to a mild sensation. Leader john
Sharp Williams sent to Representative
Hay of Virginia chairman of the demo-
cratic caucus a petition calling for eau
Gus next Monday. Mr.. Hay circulated the
petition No one knew why the caucus was
being called, as the petition did not state
but the fact that the minority leader had
asked for it was sufficient for democrats
to attach their signatures.
Then the startling rumor got around that
Chairman Williams was disgruntled and
intended to resign his leadership. where
upon there was rush Of democrats to can
eel their signatures. Then they began to
make inquiries why their leader wanted to
give up his captaincy of the democratic
host.
The Only Explanation.
The only explanation that any one could
furnish was that the party had failed to
present united front on the vote against
amendment to the army BILL which Mr.
Williams had opposed.
The amendment was designed to give two
thirds pay instead of fun pay 70
tailed to state militia duty Mr.. Williams
had claimed that it was leveled at General
Miles, recently detailed for duty In Massa-
chusetts, and he asked the democrats TO
defeat the amendment, but sixty eight DEM
ocrats voted with the republicans and
thirty lone with Mr.. Williams. Some one
said that Mr. Williams was heard to ex-
claim that he would rot lead party that
preston was general that Mr.. Williams
wanted to resign. and his friends said they
would not have 1t. When Mr.. Williams was
asked about it he declined to talk.
What Mr. Williams Says.
Mr. Williams was asked at the Capitol
today by a Star reporter about the rumers,
and this is what he said:
81 have not told a human being why the
caucus is called, because do not want II
to be discussed beforehand. No one knows
but myself. no one will know and no one
has right to presume to speculate.
1t was said this afternoon that although
Mr. Williams still insists upon the caucus
there will probably be enough Withdrawals
of names to prevent caucus.
Democrats say. 1t is absurd to talk of re-
signing his leadership because his party
did not sustain him. They point to the
fact that party leaders are frequently not
supported by the party on questions IN
volvng individual opinion and judgment OF
representatives.
Another Theory.
Another theory advanced for calling the
caucus was that Mr.. VIM. J. Bryan wants
the democrats to adopt policy with ref
erence to railway rate legislation. in the
hope of taking the wind Out of the sails of
the republicans, who have assumed the
lead In this campaign.
Mr. Bryan, however, Is an advocate OF
government ownership and control of rail-
ways. and the suggestion that Mr.. Bryan 5
friends might spring that policy upon the
democratic
democrats heart disease. 49,
Representative Hay of Virginia. chairman
of the democratic caucus, said this after
noon that although some names had been
erased from the call for a caucus. there
still remained forty-six names on the call.
fifteen more than the number required TO
call a caucus and Mr.. Hay gave II as his
opinion that the caucus would be called for
next Monday.
Trying to Prevent Williams Resigna-
ton.
Mr. Williams friends were very anxious
this afternoon that the formal call for the
caucus should be withheld until they could
talk with Mr.. Williams further and en-
deavor to dissuade him from what they
termed his rash intention to sacrifice him
self upon punctilio. It was generally
conceded by democrats this afternoon that
Mr. Williams intended to offer his resigna.
ton as leader when the caucus was sum-
moned.
Several of his friends said that Mr..
Williams was deeply incensed at the fail
ure of his colleagues to support him. One
southern democrat said that as he under
stands the case Mr.. Williams thought
that the sOutherners in refusing to vote
for the amendment were trying to re-
vive the old animosity in the south
against Gen. Miles for his alleged treat
ment of Jefferson Davis at Fortress Mon
roe.
Mr. Williams contention. according to
this southern member of the House, was
that as a democratic governor of Massa-
chusetts had selected Gen Miles the dem
ocratic party in the House should not
have permitted the legislation to prevent
that selection.
The democrats of the House could not
bring themselves today to take Mr.. Will
Jams position seriously. They think he
is altogether in the wrong in proposing
to give up his leadership If the excuse is
no better than the one generally ac-
credited to him.
However, it was said in some quarters