The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-01-07
ORGANIZATION
OF Democratic Forces In
House and Senate Has
Been Effected
new LEADER CHOSEN

Columbus, o., Jan. 5.-Deciding
that a party program for the coming
session of the general assembly, which
begins Monday morning was an abso-
lutte essential, the Democratic caucus
of the house of representatives to-
night voted to invite their breth-
ren' of the senate to joint conference
Monday night to discuss ways and
means to bring about the desired end.
This action was taken after voting
down a proposition that the lower
branch act separately. The same body
also took the radical action of chang
ing it's leader, Representative Daniel
Yost, of Monroe county, and substi-
tuting for him Representative Edwin
S. wertz,, of Wayne county, who,
during the closing days of the session
of 1906, was the virtual chief of his
party in several of the sharp bat
ties that marked the struggle for party
advantage.
No open complaint was made In the
caucus against the deposed leader, but
the character OF the vote indicated
that there was general feeling that
there should be change He ac-
aulesced in the action OF his colleagues
by moving to make the election OF
Representative WertZ unanimous, and
that gentleman in turn called for a
motion TO return the thanks OF the
caucus to Yost for his services In
the past. In the senate the Demo-
Gratis held a session that lasted until
long In the night, at which II is un-
derstood the matter of passing upon
the nomination OF Governor Andrew l..
Harris and cooperation with the
house Democrats was discussed. In
addition nominations were made OF
several minor senate officials to take
the place of certain appointees who
have resigned.
The Republicans of the senate fail
ed to get together in sufficient force
TO hold n formal caucus. and the
absenteeism Of certain OF the mem-
bers gave rise 10 the story that they
would not combine with their breth-
rem In the support OF the state adj
ministration. In the house the Re
publican majority selected the former
Speaker pro tempore, Freeman T.
Eagleson, of Guernsey county, to fill
the vacancy In the speakershlp caused
by the election of Carmi, A. Thompson
as secretary of state. After a brisk
battle Representative Joseph Cham
berlain, of Dayton, was named over
two competitors as speaker pro TEN.
Although denied there was said TO
be factional politics in this contest.
with the Taft forces as the victors.
In both branches the matter of deer
mining the status OF the general as
sembly was discussed and a plan
agreed upon which Will bring the
question to a focus.
on Monday resolution will be
proposed in each house asking the
appointment OF n joint committee TO
take up this mooted question and re-
port a joint resolution. which. II
adopted will forever settle the issue
Senator Samuel II. West has already
prepared such a resolution, but II is
not satisfactory 10 all OF the members
who have acquaintance with It's con- |
tents. In the Republican house eau
Gus the pendency OF this matter was
laid before the members when about |
to pass upon a motion to authorize |
the newly chosen speaker TO MI va
cancies in cbairmanships and COM
mittees. The result was that action |
was deferred. The joint committee
will very likely be appointed Monday, |
and win consult with the attorney |
general at once, so the report can |
be made at once 20 the sessions on
the following day.
In the house the motion for a con- |
ference to determine upon a plan that
would guide the Democratic members
was made by Representative John |
OF Cleveland. His original
motion was for the appointment OF a
OF three TO report TO the
caucus tonight, but as this met with
opposition Il was withdrawn. In
speaking of the motion Representa-
tive Stockwell said that two years
ago the party had enuneiated certain
principles In Its platform and mem
bers of that party were bound to sup
port them and to use their best en-
deavors to have them enacted into
laws. Representative Judy, OF Drake
sarcastically remarked that
the best thing 10 do was to adopt a
resolution eleeting a legislature DEM
oeratic in both branches II these prin-
ciples we're to be enacted into law,
and until then they might as well be
talked OF in the open.
1t was upon the suggestion Of the /
new leader, Representative Wertz,
that the conference plan with the sem
ate was adopted. Later Stockwell
made clear what was behind the move
ment. He pointed out that in the last
two platforms the Democratic party
had committed itself to tax steam
and electric railways as going con-
Germs, to tax public franchises, p
grant home rule to cities, including
the power TO own and operate munic-
lpal utilities, to provide an efficient
bank inspection bill. to make the
giving Of railroad passes an offense /
against law, to elect United States
hv O dfraef vote NJ the UQO-