The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-04
DEMOCRATS Vl|LL
STAND TOGETHER
Senators viii Compel a
Strict Party Vote on
Dominican Treaty
REPUBLICANS NEED
a MINORITY VOTES
And They Can't Get Them I'm
less Clarke, McEnery, Patter-
son and Talliaferro Re-
pudiate the Action of
the Senator's in
Caucus.
(By Associated Press. J

WASHINGTON, D. c., February 81
Democratic Senator's perfected to-day
what they believe to be compact or
sanizatlon to defeat the santo Domingo
treaty and place the minority in posi-
ton to compel u strict party vote on
other questions likely to arise during the
present session. Two resolutions were
adopted at II caucus continuing five hours,
which the Democrats assert not only Will
dispose of the Dominican treaty, but
viii furnish the precedent for demanding
Il united party vote on I'LL questions that
may be considered partisan in their char
acter, when two-thrds OF the Democratic
Senators so decide The resolutions. both
of which were carried by more than two-
thirds of those present, follows:
Resolved. That the Senate ought not
to advise and consent to the treaty be-
tween the United States and the Repuu-
lie of santo Domingo, now pending before
the Senate.
Resolved. That if two-thirds of this
caucus shall vote in favor of the fore
going resolution 1t shall be the duty OF
every Democratic Senator to vote against
the ratification of the said treaty
How They Voted.
Represented in the caucus We're twcn-
ty-sx of the thirty-thrce minority menu
bers. Those who were absent were
Berry, Clark, of Montana; Gearn. Me-
Laurin and Stone, all out of the city.
Patterson Withdrew before tho vote was
taken. Teller voted for the first resolu-
ton and was excused from voting on
the second, and McEnery and Tallaferro
absented themselves without explana-
ton. Gorman was i'll and carmack was
out OF the city, hut both authorized their
votes to lie cast. Gearin was called to
New York and telegrupiIed Instructions
to be counted as+prescrt. HIS siisps,tch
was not sufficiently explicit to have HIT
vote recorded. The first resolution WIS
adopted by n vote of "a to i. Clarke. Of
Arkansas, voting in the negative. Tie
second was adopted 20 to L. Clarke, of
Arkansas: Daniel. Foster and Mallory
voting in the negative.
The position of tho absentecs ON the
treaty as represented In the caucus, gives
twenty nine against the treaty with the
position OF Clarke, of Arkansas; Nc
Emery, Patterson and Talliaferro not
known, save for the public expressions
of Patterson in the Senate in favor oe
the administration policy.
Whether the other three senator's will
be bound by the action of the caucus
remains to he determined, either by some
expression or their own or when the vote
is taken
Mr.. Patterson declined to make any
explanation 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.s
Need -Four Democratic Votes.
1t is supposed that all of the Repub-
licans will vote for the treaty and that
four Democratic votes are necessary to
secure Its ratification.
Democratic leaders do not believe these
four votes will be Forthcoming. and eN-
press the hope that senators who may
be favorably disposed toward the treaty
will feel bound by the caucus action to-
day.
Nearly avery senator in attendance had
something to say on the subject OF max
ing treaties questions of party policy.
Several senators declared that the Re-
publcans already had made the Domin-
lean treaty n party question by uniting
for Its support and on this ground the
arguments were made that II the minor
ity hoped to accomplish anything as a
party It behooved them to emulate tha
Republicans and re-cstablish party disci-
Senator Bailey was one OF the chief
speakers voicing this sentiment. Senator
Clarke of Arkansas said that he wanted
more information concerning the treaty
and what 1t will do before he committed Z
himself to vote ON 1t Mt al, Senator'S
3C.nlberson. Daniel. Dubois ark Patterson
spoke mt length. the last named taking
that stand that treaties should not be-
considered in the caucus.