Arizona republican., 1906-02-06
PATTERSON'S REVOLT
 A SENATE SENSATION
He Attacks by Resolution the Democratic
 Caucus of Last Saturday
He Declares the Action of His Colleagues 10 be Crime Against Him, the State of Colorado, the Senate and the Constitution.

Washington. Feb. 5.-The senate was treated to a distinct sensation today by Mir. Patterson, democrat, of Colo rado, who followed up his retirement of last Saturday from the democratic caucus by introducing in the senate a resolution in effect declaring the ac- ton of the caucus to have been con- trary to the constitution of the United States. Apparently the senator's ac- tion was unexpected on the part of the majority of the senators and they lis tened attentively as the reading of the rather long preamble progressed, evil dently not a little concerned as to what should come next. MT. Patterson made no effort to secure the privilege of discussing the resolution today but gave notice that he would address the senate upon it tomorrow, or at the first available day afterward. It is ex- pected that the democrats generally will resist the adoption of the resolu- ton and that the republican senators win sustain MT. Patterson's conten- tions.
 Aside from the personal interest in MT. Patterson's political fortunes. the resolution raises a new question as to the rights of senators generally, so that there is much scope for animated discussion and a wide margin for diff ference of opinion. In all probability several days will elapse before the question is settled.
 Before MT. Patterson's matter came up. MT. Bacon had given notice of 2 speech for tomorrow, so that it is prob able that MT. PattersOn's speech will be postponed until Wednesday.
 The following is the resolution of MT. Patterson:
 Whereas, The Constitution of the United States provides that the senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state. chos- en by the legislatures thereof. and that each senator shall have one vote, and
 Whereas, Each senator before as- st1nning the duties of his office is re- quired sOlemnly to swear or affirm that he will support and defend the constitution of the United States and that he will faithfully discharge the duties Of his office upon which he .s about to enter and
 "Whereas, Because it was currently reported that one or. more democrat tic senators might vote upon a certain matter pending before the senate con- trary to the views of a majority of the body of democratic senators, the democratic senators were called to caucus upon such matters; and Whereas, It was found at such eau GUS that the said reports were correct and that certain democratic senators might vote or would vote contrary to the views of said majority; and
 Whereas, Thereupon the following resolutions were presented and adopted by more than two-thirds of the sena- tors present at said caucus:
 
 adopted by the Democratic caucus) and Whereas, The apparent purpose of said resolutions and actions was inn properly to induce or coerce democratic senators, who might believe that the best interests of the country required | the ratification of said treaty and be- cause thereof held it to be their duty to vote for its ratification and into disIegarding that part of their oaths i in which they declared that they would aithfully discharge the duties of the | office of senator's: therefore, be it,
 Resolved. First, that such action by | the said or any other caucus is in plain violation of the spirit and intent of the l constitution of the United States
 Second, that for two-thirds or any | other number of senators of any party i to meet and declare that it shall be 1 any question other than as his own 1 convictions impeI him. is a plain viola tion of the manifest intent and spirit of the constitution all have sworn to 1 uphold and defend.
 Third, that the one vote the con l stitution declares. each senator shall have is his own vote and not the vote of any other or of any number of other sena tors, and for a senator to cast that one vote against his convictions of right and duty in the premises is to disfranchise his state in the senate and to deprive it of the representation in that body the constitution provides 1t shall have.
 Fourth, that when any number Of | senators, by combination or otherwise, undertake through any species of CO., | ercion to induce other senators to vote except as their Judgments and con-
 sciences tell them, it is an invasion of the rights of state to equal repre- sentation with other states in the sen ate and is subversive of their rights
 to the equal representation and vote of its senators in the senate that the
 constitution has provided for.
 Fifth. That the senator who per mits any body of other senators to declare and define for him what his duty is in the matter of his vote in the
 senate and who casts his vote in re-
 sponse to such interference votes not a a senator from other states, and thus augments the power of the other states beyond that permitted by the cOnstitu- tion and weakens and degrades the
 power of his own state in the senate
 in violation of the spirit of the Con-
 stitution.