The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-08
Democrats Issue Statement
Charging That Party Does
Not Want Campaign
Fund Publicity.
HIGH WORDS IN COMMITTEE
Minority Accuses Opponents of Break
Ing Quorum 10 Prevent Fla
yorablc Report on Me-
Call Bill.

Washington. April 7.--Following the
failure to-day OF the democratic mem
bers OF the house committee on cleo
ton OF the president, vlce-presldent
and representatives in congress to
force action by that commltte on the
bill introduced by Mr.. Mccall Of Mas
sachusetts (republican) to compel the
publication Of campaign contributions,
high words were passed, the meeting
broke up and an organized movement
Is now on foot on the democratic side
of the house to openly charge the re-
publicans with 'cowardice In system
atieally and persistently failing and re-
fusing TO go on record as either favor
Ing or opposing the campaign publicity
BILL
The five democratic members OF the
committee-Messrs. Rucker, OF Mis-
souri,, Gillespie of Texas. Lasster OF
Virginia. Hardwick of Georgia and
Hackett OF North Carollna-after the
meeting made public the following
signed statement with the approval OF
the minority leader, Mr.. Williams:
Hon. Joseph III. Gaines of West Vir-
ginla, chairman of the committee on
election OF president, vioe-presldent
and representatives In congress, called
a meeting Of the committee for 1890
this morning, The chairman convened
the committee and upon roll call Mr..
Burke of Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Dick
ema, of Michigan, republicans, and all
five of the democratic members OF the
committee, answered present. This
constituted quorum. Upon motion
made by one Of the democratic mem
bers, the chair called up H. II. 20l12
introduced by Mr.. Mccall of Massa-
chusetts, and popularity known as the
campaign contribution publicity bill.
''The chair proceeded to read said
bill at length and at the conclusion of
the reading one OF the democratic
member moved that the bill as read
be ordered favorably reported and on
that motion demanded the previous
question. The chairman suggested
that the gentlemen. who are not mem
bers of the committee had been In
vlted TO attend the committee meeting
to discuss the provisions OF this bill.
and asked II II was the purpose to re-
port 1t without hearing from those
gentlemen. The answer was that as
the committee had a very short time
in which 10 act and as congress was
fast approaching the close OF the
present session and as these gentle
men and others had previously been
heard on similar bills, the motion
would be insisted upon.
About this time the chairman en-
gagged In q whispered conversation
with Mr.. Dlckema and Mr.. Burke, the
two republican members present, aft
err which they Immediately left the
room The chair then announced to
the democratic members, all OF whom
were present, that no quorum was
present and that he would not put the
motion to report the bill. One OF the
democratic members asked the chair
man II, on roll call within five
minutes, quorum had not answered
present, to which he responded yes.
Then he was asked II the two repub-
llcan members who had Just retired
from the room did not absent Thorn
selves Mt his suggestion and he re-
piled to this inquiry, the chair does
not like to have to answer that aues-
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