Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-08

had always held the views now held bv
him.
Bailey insisted that he was right in hi.
statement but he added that he was sat-
istied that Patterson had not misrcpre-
scented when he said he did not recall The
caucus.
CulbersOn verified Bailey's memory.
My colleagues statement is correct
he said, land L have here the record ot
the caucus action, verifying it, They show
that the senator from Colorado voted for
the resolution"
Patterson manifested some eyo;tnn,a,
In MARINER and his face was much flushed
but his words were distinct
TT seems that ample preparation has
been made to ovcrwhelm mo bv reaeo,
of the stand / have taken. ! VIII not
Gainsay the record; it is not impossihl.
that without due reflection | did vote for
the binding resolution. If so, the vote
was cast without due reflection. That
circumstance cannot, however, prevent a
change of course when after due investi
cation l become satisfied that the de
mand OF the caucus is in conflict with my
sense of justice and antagonistic to my
duty as a senator. Whether inconsist-
ency may be shown or not, ] am content
to let it stand; 1 can bear cheerfully tn,
cenSure or misunderstanding of nv
course. The rule does not change tn,
eternal truth or the obligation of scna
tors TO observe their oaths of office"
Replying, Bailey said that Pattorso
did himself an injustice by intimatrs
that there had been conspiracy for tn
purpose of accomplishing his discontinue
He was willing, he said. to accept Patio
sons explanation for he believed tina,
senator to be an honest man, although ali
emotional one, and one who, being in err.
ror, persists i'll it
Patterson responded that he did not
care SO much for the position in which
he was placed as for the fact that IL.
feared that the issue would be clouded y.
this incident. That, he said, mortified
him.
Bailey then suggested to Patterson that
there was but one proper recourse left
to him, and that was to change partic-
and to this suggestion Patterson rerlioe
that neither the sncers nor the inuendoe4
of Bailey would cause him to swerv
from his intention of following. his con
viction rather than the behest OF 4 par
ty. He had, he said, wanted only to i'm
press upon the country the size of tn.
danger that lurke in caucus dictat on. an!
he added that if he had succeeded in &C
complishing that result he would feet
satisfied. He had no regret for what II
had done. He had no doubt that tn
action of the caucus had been take t.,
place him before his own constituents /,
n bulter, ard he characterized the action
rs "the ghost Of ante-bellum DAYS ris-
ing to drive senators from their sense Of
duty"
The reference to Old times aroused Pai-
ley and he declared with a pnrceptibl'
show of scorn that he would waive the
reference as unworthy of notice" Il
must, he added be an appeal to the Re-
publican side to vote for Pattcrson's res.
olution. No Southern Democrat woul'
hesitate to defy his party when it camc
to n conflict between party and con-
science. but having done 50 he would
know that he must at home risk the con-
sequences of putting his own Judgment
against that OF twO-thrds Of his party.
THE senator makes q mistake in sup
posing 20 senators to be the Democratic
party" said Patterson. and Bailey re-
Piled that it is more nearly so than Pat
terson standing alone Patterson replied
briefly, saying that he was thoroughly
satisfied that he was correctly represent
ing his constituents; indeed, he declared
that he would misrepres"nt and betray
them if he should take any other course
than the one he had pursued. He was
satisfied that all right minded Democrats
in Colorado would sustain him.
The debate concluded at p NJ. and the
Senate went into executive session. Fiji
teen minutes later the Senate adjourned
and one of the most intensely exciting
days in the Senates history came to
close.