Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
HAVE HOPE, BUT
WITHOUT CONFIDENCE
Democratic Efforts to Defeat
the Dominican Treaty.
SENATORS HOLD A CAUCUS
Resolutions Adopted Binding Those
Present.
NO GUARANTEE OF UNITY
Two Absentees without Excuse-Talk
of Taking Drastic Action
in the Future.
SENATORS HOLD A CAUCUS
GUARANTEE OF UNITY

The democrats of the Senate have mad.
an effort TO secure compact organization
that can be welded effectively I'm opposins
the ratification of the Santo Domingo
treaty. For nearly five hours they were
behind closed doors in the minority room
OF the Senate yesterday and every moment
of the time was taken up by earnest apneal
for party unity on the one hand and for
the right TO assert individuality on the
other tn the consideration Of party ques-
tions and especially of treaties which some
of the senators declared are Of such a na-
true that no party lines ought 20 be drawn.
regardless of whether they appear TO vlo-
late party principles.
The result OF this long caucus was The
adoption of two resolutions which were
voted on separately, each receiving more
than a two-thirds vote. These resolutions
were as follows:
Resolved. That the Senate ought not 10
advise and consent to the treaty between
the United States and the Republic Of
santo Domingo, now pending before the
Senate.
Resolved That If two-thirds of this cau-
Gus shall vote in favor Of the foregoing
resolution it shall be the duty OF every
democratic senator to vote agaisnt the rati-
fication of the said treaty"
The first resolution was adopted by n
vote of "a to l. Clarke OF Arkansas voting
in the negative. The second was adopted
20 to 4, Clarke Of Arkansas. Daniel. Foster
and Mallory voting in the negative
The position Of the absentees on the
treaty, as represented in the caucus. gives
90 against the treaty with the position OF
Clarke of Arkansas. McEnery Patterson
and Taliaferro not known, save for the
public expression OF Patterson In the Sen
ate in favor of the administration policy.
No Guarantee of Unity.
According TO the view of some senators
the adoption OF these resolutions VIII do
much to prevent the ratification of the
treaty with Santo Domingo, but when the
conditions surrounding the events of the
day are viewed It Will be seen that that
feeling is rather the result of hope and that
the action is far from being guarantee OF
unity.
Senators also point to the proposition that
has been made by those who want TO sup
port the administration in the matter of the
Santo Domingo complication in favor of a
joint resolution 10 be passed by both houses
of Congress which would require only a
majority of the Senate and House and
that It is believed by some senators, could
readily be accomplished.
Although the resolution favoring united
action against the treaty In the Senate was
adopted by more than two-thirds OF those
who attended the caucus, the fact that nine
senators did not vote at all, that two or
them were in the city without any special
overlooked. Senators McEnery and Talis-
ferro remained away from the caucus. MI
McEnery, it is understood will vote for
ratification. but the friends OF Mr.. Ialia-
ferro declared yesterday afternoon that his
absence did not mean that he would favor
the treaty. But Mr.. Taliaferro was in the
Capitol during the day, and the fact that
he avoided the caucus was accepted as
equivalent TO a declaration that he did not
wish to be bound by such action.
Mr.. Patterson's Opposition.
Senator Patterson was present during
the earlier stages of the proceedings and
spoke strongly against the adoption Of the
resolution. He left the minority room be-
fore the vote was taken, so as to leave no
doubt as to his intention OF not being
bound by what was done. Senator Clarke
of Arkansas also left after spending about
an hour in the caucus. but returned be-
fore the vote was taken. He has been
looked upon as in favor of ratification.
Mr.. Patterson declined to make any ex
PLANTATION Of his leaving the caucus beyond
the bare statement that he did not want
to participate IN the vote that was then
about to be taken. When pressed 10 say
whether he had departed because he did
not want 10 consider himself bound by the
result of the vote he refused TO answer,
and said that If he had more to say he
would declare himself on the floor OF the
Senate He said that the proceedings had
been amicable throughout
Besides Messrs McEenery, Tallaferro and
Patterson
They were Mr.. Berry. who was in Arkan-
sas: Mr. Carmack, who left for Tennessee
Friday evening; Mr.. Clark Of Montana. who
is in New York, Mr.. Gearin, absent in New
York: Mr.. McLaurin. who is in Mississippi;
Mr.. Stone, absent In New York. and Mr..
Teller, who favored voting against the
treaty, but did not approve the passage OF
the resolutions and left before the vote was
taken.
Mr.. German was not present, being de-
tained at his home in this city by Illness
-. ~ nd
corded as voting In the affirmative. Any
of the absent senator's might have done the
same thing, and 1t is believed that every
ore of them had notice of the caucus anu
of the object for which it was called
What the Senators Said.
,raa-i,, every senator in attendance had
something to say on the subject Of making
treaties questions of party policy Several
senators declared that the republicans al
readv had made the Dominican treaty
Marty ouestion by uniting for its support
and on this ground the arguments were
made that If the minority hoped to accom-
plish anything party It behooved them
to emulate the republicans and re-establish
party discipline. Senator Bailey was one or
the chief speakers. voicing this sentiment
Senator Teller said that he was opposed
10 the ratification of the treaty. but at the
same time he did not care to bind tho
Marty by caucus action on treaty questions.
senator Clarke of Arkansas said that he
wanted more information concerning the
treaty and what it will do before he COM
nitted himself TO vote on IL al all. Sena-
tors Culberson. Daniel, Dubois and Patter-
son spoke at length, the last named taking
the stand that treaties should not be con-
sidered In the caucus.
Tho idea that a caucus binds a senator
who attends 1t prevails generally. but there
are many senators who decline 10 accept
that view of its effect when they vote
against the action decided upon in caucus.
There have been times when the effect OF