Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-21
WANTED RULES REVISED NOW
SIX southerners who Helped Republi-
cans Defeat Oemoc attic. insurgent
Reforms in House Rules, Offer Their
oefense-Find Fault With the short
Time Allowed for Discussion.
Ry Associated Pr"sS.)

WASHINGTON, y. G.. March 20
For the first time since their Demo
cratic brethren IN the House began
to critiriSe them for voting in oppo-
sition to Minority Leader Clark dur
my the consideration of the Fitzgerald
amendments tn tn" rules Of the House
last Monda: the six Georgia members
tonight made an explanation of their
course
They are Livingston. Howard.
Rrantl"y Edwards. Ice ana Griges.
Tines" G"orgtanS say they differed
from gomc Of The other Democrats on
a question of policy. not of principle.
Want Rules Revised.
They say that they believe that
now is the time To revise the rules
not nine months hence, when the Re-
publican insurgents and regulars will
doubtlcss have patched up their diff
fcrenceS. Their votes were cast. they
say. for amendments prepared by a
Democrat and prepared In strict ac-
rordancc with the Democratic plat
form.
We could not understand how 1t
could be Democratic on the one hand.
they said. for Democrats to vote for
n resolution dictated by Republicans.
creating q Republican committee to
revive, the rules. and en- the luthfy
hand be undemocratic to vote for spe-
ciflc amendments prepared and pro-
posed by Democrat. simply, because,
these amendments met with support
from some Republicans. If II is Demo
cratie. for some Democrats to affiliate
and vote with the Republicans. II csn't
H. unlemOcratic to permit the remain
ing Republicans to follow the lead
OF the remaining Democrats. We not
only voted for amendments in strict
accord with the Denver platform but
We violated no caucus pledge In do
ing So"
caueuses Co Not Bind.
For twelve years. ii Is claimed, no
Democratic caucus has been binding.
The statement is made that Repre-
sentative Howard. during Tie caucus
OF Democrats on Monday just before
tho House met. obtained permission OF
Minority Leader Clark TO present and
vote for amendments other than those
Mr. Clark was to propose.
While il Is stated that the Geor-
gians are not criticising any one. 1t Is
urged that they were not INVITED into
airy Of the tsuous.s CT tCHfert~I
that led up to the reported agreement
between "a few Democrats and a few
insurgent Republicans"
II Is pointed out that the Demo
Gratis Of the Sixty-first Congress were
unorganized up to within two hours
OF the time the House convened.
Wanted More Time.
We regard it as unfortunate" they
say that caucus on SO important
a matter as accepting the leadership
of Republicans on anything. could not
have been called early enough TO have
allowed full and free discussion. II
was perhaps inevitable that a caucus
called fer time just two hours be-
fore the House was to meet had to
he conducted under arbitrary rnles
that denied discussion and iIfcrma-
ton. u is probable that IL the CAUCUS
had been held at an earlier period
thai a complete understanding be-
tween all Democrats could have been
reached.
We sec no reason Tow. however.
for Democrats 10 fail ont with one
another because EVERYONE acted ac-
cordirg 20 ais lest judgment for what
he believed was tho host interest o!
the parry and the country"