The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-15
Is Again Unanimously Chosen as Minority Leader of
 Congress. Given a Housing Ovation by
 the Caucus. Asks Democrats to Stick To- gether and Points to Victor les in Last Session of Con- gress - Discussion of the Rules - Republican Insur- gents Will Bolt Cannon.
Special from United Press,

Especial from United Press.) Washington, March 15-As an evil dence of the sincerity of the Demo- crats in their campaign against the present rules of the house, there were 167 minority members present at their caucus this morning, when they met in the hall of the House to organize for the new Congress out of a possible I'll Coleman of Illinois, was the only ab- sentee. Sheppard of Texas sent word he would be present later. Legare, of South Carolina, and Clark of Florida. are sick.
 Representative Clayton of Alabama, presided over the meeting, and Rob- lnSon or Arkansas acted as secretary Champ Clark of Missouri who was minority leader during the past ses- sion, was again chosen, unanimously as the party's candidate for speaker. Clark was received with wild acclaim when he was escorted into the caucus. His address was as follows:
 Last December the Democratic cau- GUS elected me minority leader by unanimous vote. But moment ago you unanimously nominated me for speaker. For the hatterfng evidences of your confidence and esteem I am grateful
 gress we won some notable victories astonishing victories, when we remem- Der that there were a Republican ma Jority of fifty-seven in that House.
 we accomplished those triumphs by standing together and fighting togeth- CT. We can in the present congress win more victories, more easily be- cause there is now majority of only gether. The country expects us to stick together and fight together
 t'We must remember that, to very large extent, we have in our keeping he i111yo io fn f,rft1 nf cratic party. Recent events have demonstrated that the Republicans are disgruntled and at log headsegenerally. Let us close up demonstrate to the world that we are worthy of the high vocation wherein we are ca1led.'
 The meeting had not been in progress long, before Moody of Tennessee, with drew. He explained that his vote was all right, but he did not intend to at tend caucuseS of the Democrats, de- claring that heretofore they had been known as conferences. He objected to making a caucus binding on all pres ent.
 Underwood, of Alabama, presented a resolution declaring that the right of the speaker to veto bills under the present rules was offensive. in that he alone had the power to prevent the consideration of measures. It also pro- vided for the appointment of a com
 
 To this, Livingston, of Georgia offer ed a sub in effect, requiring no pledge of Democratic strength to the insur- gent movement in the House, until the insurgents had themselves shown their strength. The sub also demanded a free discussion of every paragraph of the tariff bill. It contained a pro- vision demanding reformation of the rules but not before the tariff was out of the way.
 The Livingstone sub was laid on the table after a brief debate and Under woods resolution adopted. Clayton of Alabama, Bartlett of Georgia and De- Arn1ond of Missouri, were among the prominent Democrats who urged their colleagues to stick by Clark in his fight for a revision of the rules.
 In the meantime, the caucus nomin- ated minor officers of the Senate and at 11:4O adjourned to make way for the special session of the 61St Congress called for noon.
 The insurgents were in session from g o'clock until nearly noon. About eighteen members were present. A final count showed, their leaders said. that they had 31 votes solidly pledged against the Reed rules.
 While every insurgent was left free to do as he pleased, regarding the speakership, it was said that nineteen had decided to vote against Cannon.
 telegram was received by every member of congress to-day from a group of New York publishers, urging that they vote against Cannon and Cannonism.'' The telegrams were sign ed by s. S. Mcclure. of McClure's Magazine: E.. J. Ridgeway of Every body's: David Graham Phillips, of the American: Lyman Abbott, of Outlook, and R. J. Collier, of Golfers Weekly.