The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-15
DENOUNCE
PRESENT
RULES
Democratic Caucus Also
Chooses Champ Clark
to Oppose Cannon

Washington, March 1.-The caucus
of the Democratic members Of the
house on rules, the speakership and
tariff, began shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning. Representative Champ
OF Missouri was chosen as Democratic
candidate for speaker on nomination
OF Representative Lloyd of Missouri.
Representatives Bartlett of Georgia,
Dixon of Indiana, Rucker of Colorado,
and Wilson OF Pennsylvania, seconded
Mr.. Clark's nomination, each making
short speech. The only roll-call
taken showed 1872 present out of III
Democratic members of the house,
three or four belated members enter
ing the caucus after roll-call
When the caucus met there was no
indication of any wide difference OF
opinion regarding the action that
would be taken, nor was there any
evidence of a bolt. The members OF
the Georgia delegation who prepared
set of resolutions. proposing to bind
the Republican insurgents to vote
against Mr.. Cannon for speaker. to
favor free debate and unrestricted
amendment TO the tariff bill, and to
favor the adoption of q new set or
rules. offered resolution proposing
that each and every Democratic mem
Der OF the house present at the caucus
should be bound by its action.
Representative Henry Of Texas pro-
sided during the selection Of officers.
which resulted In the reelection of
Representative Clayton of Alabama
and will nominate Mr.. Clark for speak
or OF the house this afternoon Rep
resentative Robinson of Arkansas was
elected secretary. Representative Un-
derwood of Alabama was recognized
by the chairman to present his reso-
luton. which pledged the members to
support the Democratic leader "in his
efforts to overthrow the present arbi-
trary rules Of the house, and to adopt
rules that will enable the majority of
the representatives In congress TO leg
islate.
"To accomplish that end we favor
the enlargement OF the number OF
members on the rules committee to
fifteen to be elected by the members
OF the house and we favor a thorough
and complete revision of the rules OF
the house"
The resolution also said: That VIC
denounce the present rules of the
house OF representatives as machine
intended to thwart and destroy the
representative character of the house
and TO enable the speaker OF the house
to absolutely control legislation. re-
gardless of the will OF the majority -
Representative Clark, addressing the
caucus, said:
'Mr. Chairman and Fellow Demo-
Gratis: Last December the Democratic
caucus elected me minority leader by
unanimous vote. A moment ago, you
unanimously nominated me for speak
er. For these hattering evidences OF
your confidence and esteem, am
deeply grateful.
In the last days of the sixtieth con-
gress. we won some notable Victories
astonishing victories when we remem-
Der that there was a Republican ma
jority Of flfty-seven in that house.
I'VE achieved those triumphs by
standing together and fighting to-
gether. We can in the present con-
eress win more victories. more easily
because there is now a majority OF
only forty-seven against us.
1--WE must stick together in order 10
do our duty. The country expects us
to stick together and nght together
I'VE must remember that To a very
large extent we have In our keeping
the immediate future of the Demo-
cratic party Recent events have
demonstrated that the Republicans are
disorganized, disgruntled and at log
gerhesds generally. Let us close up
our ranks. present solid front and
demonstrate 10 the world that We are