Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-11


for the Davey bill in tbs House Of Repre-.
sentattves. And Joined In the report OF
the Dayey BILL as amended, to the House
OF Representatives. How can you Justly
say 1 acted against the mandate OF the
democratic caucus? Reporting the Hearst
bill did not place II on tho calendar OF the
House. 1t gave 1t no official standing.
said on the floor Of the House that had
proved It as far as II went: but that ]
could not return to Florida without at least
urging and advocating other legislation IN
that line, and hope to sustain myself with
my people.
1.-The main features of the Hearst bill,
in part, at least. will be put In any bill to
be returned by the democrats or republic
cans. ] wrote you distinctly some weeks
ago that IL you or other members had any
suggestions to offer I would drop this bill
and advocate yours or any other demo-
Gratis.
You have no just right to assume that
/ could not act either with you or my
former associates in committee. You have
not written TO me In a proper spirit. 4
have borne your unjust accusations because
wanted to see your real feelings toward
me and TO give you cause to leave me
OF the committee on which now serve
other than your alleged accusation - the
want of party fealty. I assure you / Will
not let such a charge pass by II you put
your determination to remove me into Ell
feet
you wrote the most insulting letters to
me about Mr.. Hearst. Do you think this
was right and just to me when I had ex-
pressed the floor OF the House at least
a personal regard for him. and had praised
most of the features of his bill? Do you
think 1t was just and right? 1 am sure
1t was not Just and right.
"Unded no circumstances, Mr.. Williams,
would l make threat against you, but
IL you do me this great wrong and per-
sonal indignity I will feel at liberty to go
over all this matter OF our correspondence
In whatever way l deem best for my de-
Tense. You are about to do an act which
your party colleagues Will condemn In you,
IL not to your face at least In their hearts.
And the country will condemn you.
Il have nothing personal against you.
l released myself from the support of Mr..
Clark, with his consent, to vote for YOU
because you came from state that had
honored my uncle, Mr.. Justice Lamar
The matter is with you, and the con-
sequences OF a disruption Of our personal
friendship and association be with you, if
you so desire II. You cannot maintain
your charge against me. If there is want
OF harmony, IL there is dscord on our side
1t will not be my fault. 1t is an unjust
act you are about to do and I rest It all
there Very truly yours,
'tSigned) W B. LAMAR"
Mr.. Lamar Reviews Events.
After the sensational and dramatic scene
on the floor of the House Of Representa-
tives In which the minority leader and Mr.
made the following statement to Star re-
parfer:
Mr.. Williams whole course In this mat
and IN utter disregard for the truth. When
Mr.. Williams removed me from the COM
rnittee, giving as reason therefor that Is
absolutely false, I cannot help thinking that
his act was malicious and intended to do me
an injury in the state of Florida and with
my party colleagues in Congress.
The democratio caucus of last session
called by Mr. Williams to consider railroad
rate legislation was in reality called by him
to tender his resignation out of vexatfon
over being defeated partly by democratic
votes IN his fnsistence in the House on the
Miles amendment. All this matter is very
familiar to botn sides of the House. But
the caucus was diverted from Its personal
purpose to the consideration of a great ma
ttonal question. to wit, railroad rate legisla-
ton.
1T Was high offense In Mr.. Williams to
precipitate the members of the democratic
minority into acting on a great question
at that time. At the time the caucus was
held the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce of the House. Of which l
was a member had not completed its hear
ing of railroad men and shippers to dis
cover the evils OF the situation and frame
remedial legislation. From this great blum
der Mr.. Williams has never recovered. The
Davey bill adopted by the caucus that
night was done with the expressed under
standing in the caucus that each and every
member OF the caucus might recommend
such further additional Hesitation to co
into the bill in its final form as each mem
Der might think best. So deficient was the
Davey bill adopted by the caucus that the
members of the committee on Interstate
ana foreign commerce added five sections
to the bill, making seven in all. 1 Joined
In the report to be made on the bill and
even then, when the bill reached the House
II was SO noticeably deficient that in the
M Nv
asked permission Of the republicans to add
TWO sections more covering the private car
lines and terminal fees evils Had the
Davey bill been a strict caucus measure
neither the committee of which l was a
member nor Mr.. Williams could have al
tered 1t in the slightest particular.
Mr.. Williams Accused of Trickery,
THE truth Of the matter is. SO far as
Mr.. Williams Is concerned, that the caucus
was precipitated as fraud on the national
democracy In that it plunged the democratic
members OF the House into unprecedented
discussion Of a great national question
when in fact Mr.. Williams had called the
caucus for personal resignation purpose
Mr.. Shackleford and myself made a mere
subsidiary report on the Hearst bill to the
House. 1 considered that had perfect lib
erty to do this under the caucus rules I
look for no one but Mr.. Williams to dispute
1T. My purpose in reporting the Hearst bill
WAS SIMPLY tnat II contained legislation IA
yorable to the interests of the people Of
Florida which was not covered by the Esch-
Townsend nor the Dayey BILL / had not
the slightest objection to the Davey bill as
far as It went, but on the floor 1 made a
brief statement saying: I have felt that
the Davey bill does not exactly express my
views, and could not go back to my state
which had suffered so much on this particu-
lar question, unless L expressed my full
views
The people of Florida are educated on
TINS railroad rate question, and / could
no. go back to them standing on the lin
tied series of remedies proposed by the
Davey bill.
SO II is evident that my sole purpose
was in doing my full duty to the public at
large and the people of the state OF Flor
Ida.
Had Mr. Williams never lost his temper
over the defeat of his amendment there
would never have been any democratic
caucus over the rate bill
Having made such a horrible mistake
he is blaming everybody but himself 1
would have much more right or truth in
the charge that Mr.. Williams course was
dictated by a more polite and cordial con-
sideration for railroad interests than re-