The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-09
THE PATTERSON REsoLUr1oN.

How the republicans must be enjoy
ing the unseemly squabble now going
on in the senate among the democrats
The republicans need four votes from
the democratic side in order to secure,
with their solid vote, the necessary
two-thirds majority for ratification of
the treaty negotiated by the president
with the government of Santc Domin-
go.
The democratic caucus Of the senate,
as our readers know, has declared this
to be a party Measure and has decided
that where two-thirds of the democrats
in the senate shall in caucus declare
in favor of a certain line Of action on
any political question before the senate
such declaration shall be binding on
all the democratic senators.
The resolution introduced in the SEN
ate by Senator Patterson, of Colorado,
a democrat. who had already announc-
ed his determination to vote with the
republicans for ratification of the Do
minican treaty, is for The purpose Of
undoing the action of the democratic
caucus. This resolution will require
only a majority vote for its adoption.
The republicans have a majority in the
senate. We suppose there will be no
question as to the passage Of the Pat
terson resolution. The republicans, no
doubt, will vote for it solidly in order
to embarrass the minority and to aid
Ill easing the consciences of those fod7
or five democratic senators who are in.
clined to vote for ratification of the
treaty. For the senat to make such a
declaration as that contained in this
resolution would, in their opinion, boost
the courage of those democrats who
are inclined to go against the wishes
and the declared political policy OF
their party's caucus.
If this is done it will be nothing
more than a declaration by the repub-
lican members of the senate as to what
effect shall be given by the democratic
members to a resolution regarding a
plan of procedure adopted by a caucus
of the latter party. What have the
republicans to do with rules govern
ing the proceedings and actions of a
democratic caucus?
The adoption of such resolution
should have no effect upon the actions
of any members of the senate on the
democratic side-no more than if it
had been adopted in a caucus of repub-
lican senator's.
While it should not and may not
have the desired effect on any demo-
cratic senator, what may be the effect
at some future day of the passage of
such a resolution on the republican
party in the senate? The passage of
this resolution will put the republican
side in that body on record as ID
posed to control by caucus of it's mem
bers on any important question which
may hereafter come up for considera-
ton which any republican member
may see fit to declare is a non-politi-
cal measur Those republican sena-
tors of the present day who are so
willing to pass this resolution for the
purpose of embarrassing the democrats
and as a means of securing their end
in the Santo Domingo matter may be
establishing a precedent which will
cause them much trouble in the fu-
ture. It will be nothing more than
a declaration by the republicans of the
senate that no senator's conscience or
opinion as to his proper course
of action should be bound by a caucus
declaration. Are they willing to put
themselves in such position?