The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-21
WILLIAMS, WROI.H
" ANTS TO RESIGN
Would Quit House Minority Lead
ership Because Democrats
Do Not Obey Him.
New YORK Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
Washington, JAN 81 80 IF the demo-
Gratis of the house will not follow me
in this, they will not follow me in any
thing. ;, M
John Sharp Williams said this to one
of his ieutenants after the vote was
taken on an amendment to the military
appropriation bill requiring army Off
GERS on the retired list to serve when
detailed to state duty without active
pay above the rank Of major.
At the same time Mr.. Williams de-
termined to resi- gn the minority leader
ship. He wrote out a petition to Rep
resentative Hay, chairman of the demo
cratic caucus, requesting that con-
ference be called for Monday night,
signed it and placed it in circulation.
Kept from Northerners.
Efforts were made to prevent north
ern democrats from knowing what was
being done. The petition was pre-
sented only to members from the south.
the purpose Of, the conference was to
discuss various matters to be presented
when the time came. He lid not an
! nource his intention Of resigning to
anybody. 49, = 49,.
A large number Of signatures were
obtained to the petition before it be-
came known that Mr.. Williams had de-
cided to resign and request that some
body be chosen in his place. All those
democrats who learned of this inten-
ton Immediately started in hot haste
| after the petition and erased their
! Names: ,... -. ...,. i j. .--... ... -,
Mr.. Williams has led determined
! fight against the amendment to the mil
| itarv tim hill which
officers on the retired list to serve on
/ state details without active pay above
the rank Of major. It was generally
understood the amendment was aimed
at Lieutenant General Miles, who had
accepted detail on the staff Of Gov.
ernor Douglas Of Massachusetts,.
| Miles and Jeff Davis.
The southern democrats had not for.
| gotten that 1T was Miles who placed
Jeff Davis in irons and were deter
mined to give him hard whack when
the time to vote arrived. The amend
ment was adopted by vote Of POP to
80. Of the fifty negatives but thirty
one were cast by democrats, the re-
mainder being nineteen republicans, in
chusetts delegation. Sixty ght demo
Gratis voted with the republicans
against General Miles.
This division SO angered Mr.. Will
hams that he declared to one of his
chief advisers that if his associates in
the party would not follow his leader
ship in the matter, they would not fol
low him on any proposition. H
caucus and Immediately left the house
It is not believed that Mr.. Williams
resignation will be accepted, if ten
dered.- If Mr.. Williams should prove
obdurate and refuse to remain longe,
as minority leader, the selection o.
Representative De Almond of Missouri
is considered probable.
i J.. IN Bryan. at the Capitol. ~.
Mr.. Williams action-and pique--
were coincident with visit Of William
. Jennings Bryan to the capitol! ~
Bryan and Williams have not beel
on good terms since before the ST
Louis convention. Bryan appeared o.
the house side Of the capitol and he'll
reception. Democrats from all sec
tions. sought to do honor to him. an
court his favor. The Nebraskan wor
a self-satisfed smile, but he is not i
man to be overfattered by such after
ton, because he remembers how, onl
: year ago, he could come and go fror
the capitol alone and almost unnt
ticed. :. - - 8
! Bryan took occasion to give the s.
Louis convention 'reorganizers :
jolt or two, and Mr.. Williams and til
other Parker men were disgruntle
when they heard what BRYAN said.