The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-13
TO HOLD STATEHOOD CAUCUS
HOUSE LEADERS DECIDE TO CALL
IT FOR WEDNESDAY.

MIR. BabeOck and His Force OF Insurgents
Say They VIII Not Attend. whether II
Ia Called n Caucus or q Conference
No Prospect That Senate VIII Yield
WASHINGTON, March 12.-The House.
leaders have decided to hold n caucus on the
Statehood matter on Wednesday, probably
Immediately after the adjournment of the
House, in order TO afford as little excuse as
possible for members to be absent. Repre-
sentative Babcock and the force Of insur-
gents under his command will not attend
the meeting. no matter whether it is called
a caucus or a conference. At least they
said so with emphasis to-day. Some in
s%urgents in the House, however, have been
known to change their minds at lines under
pressure. That pressure is to-day being
exerted with all the old-time rigor. 1t Is
ever said again that the threat has been
made to withhold the pork from the barrel
in the Public Buildings bill unless members
follow the leaders and vote against con
currence in the Senate amendments to the
Statehood bill.
Speaker Cannon, Chairman Hamilton Of
the Territories Committee, Representative
Watson, the Republican whip and other
Statehood leaders are determined tina the
House shall stand up for the Hamilton bill.
Representative Tawney and other con-
servatives, it Ia said, are seeking to induce
the Speaker to relent and allow the House
to agree to the Senate bill, but their efforts
have as yet had no appreciable effect upon
Mr.. Cannon.
There are a large number Of Republicans
who believe that the overwhelming senti-
g of the country demands the admis-
sion of Oklahoma and Indian Territory,
and that it would be merely a piece Of spite
because there Ia opposition to the ~jointure
of New Mexico and Arizona. They are
unable to understand why Speaker Cannon,
whose policy has always been n OF ex-
treme fairness and whose own rule is to
give and take, should insist upon forcing
the issue at the expense OF Oklahoma and
Indian Territory.
The reason for Speaker Cannon's position
is found in the fact that he believes the
House should stand up for its rights and
not be always forced to yield to the dictates
OF the. Senate. 1t is pointed out that the
Senate has virtually killed the Philippines
tariff bill. ia ready to emasculate the Hep
burn rate bill, and has sent the Statehood
bill back to the House out squarely in two.
The Hedse will get no opportunity to assert
"HdV DcneNes oDe ibS IiBnCs III tne Fntlp-
pines matter, and hence the leaders pro-
pose that it shall get back at the Senate
on the Statehood measure.
II the Statehood bill if sent to confer
enoe by a vote Of the House it is not i'm
probable hat it will remain there for the
remainder of the session, for the Senate is
even more strongly opposed to the House
bill than was indicated by the vote of ~ to
20 on the Foraker amendment with respect
to New Mexico and Arizona, a number of
Senators, it is said. having voted against
their W convictions with Senator Bever-
idge in order to support the President.
IL the Statehood measure fails, as now
seems not unlikely, the Administration will
which were advocated in the Presidents
message-Statehood, Philippines tariff, the
Santo Domingo treaty and the Rate bill
for although some sort of a rate measure
may be enacted it will very probably not
be the original Hepburn bill, which has
been considered the Administration meas
ure. The fac that all Of these measures
have been thrown down in the Senate, it
is argued, will nave a tendency to keen a
number of members of the House in line
for the original Hamilton bill, more be-
cause it is favored by the President than
for any other reason.
It is practically certain that with the in
surgents absent from the caucus on Wednes-
day the action will be q decision to stand
firm to the last for the House bill. The
insurgents are hoping that enough men,
bers will stay ava from the meeting to
make il impossible for the leaders to get a
quorum. By keeping away from the
caucus, they contend, they will not be bound
by Its action. and will be free to vote as they
see fit without reference to the Senate