The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-08
Caucus Urges Vote Against
San Domingo Treaty.
ARE FORCED INTO LINE
Those Breaking Senate Caucus Rule
Will Be Read Out Of the. Party.
The Outcome Of the Action
Very Problemstical.

A W.dSuluStOu SpCCldl Sdyo. SAoSA
the action taken by senate democrats
in their caucus Saturday, any DEM
ocrat who refuses to vote against the
ratification of the San Domingo treaty
will be barred from future party eau
cuses.
So far as his fellow senators are.
concerned, any member who declines
to be bound by caucus action will be
read out of the party.
The effect of this step, In the opin-
ion of democratic leaders, will be
the defeat Of the pending treaty.
Senator Patterson, who has declar-
ed himself supporter of the pres.
ident's program, was present during
the discussion, but withdrew before
the vote, serving notice that he could
not permit himself to be bound by it
Senator McEnery, who has been !
quo6ed as declaring he would vote for
the treaty, caucus or no caucus, was.
absent. What position Senator Clarke
Of Arkansas will take upon the final
vote on the treaty is uncertain. He
was the only senator present who
voted against a resolution declaring
against the. ratification of the treaty,
but his associates seem to believe be
will be bound by the caucus. There
were other absentees, but their fall
ure to be present does not, in the
opinion of fellow democrats, Indicate
that they are in any degree white
house democrats" !"
Two resolutions adopted at the cau-
Gus not only will dispose OF the Do
minican treaty, but will furnish the
precedent for demanding united par.
ty vote on all questions that may. be-
considered partisan in their character,
when two-thirds Of the democratic
senators so decide.
The resolutions, both Of which were:
carried by more than two-thirds OF.
those present, follow:
Resolved, That the senate ought
not to advise and consent to the treaty
between the. United States and the
republic of Santo Domingo, now pend
ing before the senate.
Resolved, That If two thirds OF the
caucus shall vote in favor Of the fore.
going resolution, it shall be the duty
of every democratic senator to vote
against the ratification Of the same
treaty.
Represented in the caucus were
twenty-six of the thirty-three minority
members. Those who were absent
were Berry, Clark Of Montana, Gearin.
McLaurin and Stone, all out OF the,
city. Patterson withdrew before the
vote was taken. Teller voted for the
first resolution, and was excused from
voting on the second, and McEnery
and Taliaferro absented themselves:
without explanation.
German was i'll and Carmack was
out Of the city, but both authorized
their votes to be cast. Guerin was
called to New York, and telegraphed
instructions to be counted at present.
His dispatch was not sufficiently ex-
plicit to have his vote recorded. The
first resolution was adopted by a vote;
adopted 20 to 4, Clark OF Arkansas,
in the negative. The second was
adopted 20 to 4, Clarke Of Arkansas,
Daniel, Foster and Mallory voting in
the negative.
The spirit manifested in the caucus
and voiced by several leading sena-
tors in emphatic expressions after the.
caucus adjourned was that this ac.s
ton meant that the democrats of the:
senate would have united party action
on matters determined by two-thirds
= Of their number to be questions at
tecting party policy. Those who do
not abide by caucus decision will not
be regarded as democrats, and the
point will be raised against them,
should they appear in future caucuses
of the party.