Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-15
E o~SE DEMOCRATS
HOLD A CAUCUS
On Rules. the SpeakerShip and
Question Of Tariff
Legislation.
CHAMP CLARK MADE LEADER,
Resolution, Presented by Underwood
OF Alabama, Adopted TO support
Attempt TO Overthrow Rules.

Washington. March l5.-The caucus
of the Democratic members of tho
house on rules. the speakership and
tarr, began shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning Representative Champ
CLARK Of Missouri was chosen as Demo
cratic candidate for speaker on nomin-
alton or Representative Lloyd OF Mis-
souri, Representatives Bartlett OF Mis-
souri, Dixon of Indiana, Rucker of Col
orado ana Wilson Of Pennsylvania sec-
onded Mr. Clark's nomination, each
making short speech. The only roll
call taken showed 1862 present out Of
al Democratic members Of the house.
three or four belated members entering
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 evil
dence of a bolt. The members Of the
Georgia delegation who had prepared
set Of resolutions proposing to bind the
Republican insurgents 20 vote against
Mr.. Cannon for speaker, 20 favor free
debate and Unrestricted amendment to
the tariff bill and 60 favor the adoption
Of new set of rules, offered "a resolu-
| ton proposing that each and every
Democratic member OF the house pres
ent at the caucus should be bound by
/ its action
Representative Henry Of Texas pre-
sided during the selection Of officers
which resulted In the reelection OF
| Representative Clayton Of Alabama as
If r1I f411
| for speaker OF the house this afternoon
/ Representative Robinson Of Arkansas
! was elected secretary. Representative
Underwood of Alabama was recognized
| by the chairman 20 present his resolu-
l tion which pledged the members 10
/ support the Democratic leader in his
| efforts TO overthrow the present arbl-
| tray rules OF the house and to adopt
| rules that win 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 70 10
! TO be elected by the members Of the
/ house and we favor a thorough and
I complete revision OF the rules of the
/ house"
The resolution also said: THAT we
! denounce the present ules Of the house
] 0l IeIlIN Sc p LtLlhtS AZ a machine lNNelN-
ed 10 thwart and destroy the represen-
I tative character Of the house and 10
enable the speaker Of the house TO
/ absolutely control legislation regard
! loss Of the win Of the majority"
There were FIVE absentees, as follows:
I Ehepard Of Texas, Clark of Florida,
1 Goldfogle of New York, Legare OF
/ South Carolina, ana MoDeTmott Of H.
l linois.
OF these Representative Shepard and
| Goldfogle are expected 70 attend the or
/ ganization Of the house.
MI Un1orwo0d's resolution was OPP
posed by Representative Livingston Of
] Georgia and several other members.
/ Champ Clark Of Missouri addressed the
/ caucus In support Of the resolution
Those selected 20 continue in the po-
I sitIona which the Democrat caucus
/ has the power 70 an are Joseph Snnott
/ OF Virginia, special messenger, Robert
COwart OF Texas, and Paul Porter Of
| Missouri. messengers.
Before the vote was taken on the
Underwood resolution Representative
/ Livingston of Georgia offered the reso-
/ luton proposed by the GeOrgians and
a lively debate followed BY this time
i67 OF the Democratic members Of the
house We're present. Represe NATIVE
Ci0ldfOgle Of New York, having arrived
keproSenLALlNa n Don OF tennessee ltll
the caucus before IL had taken any
action on the rules question. He de-
cared that his vote could be counted
upon by Mr. Clark, but that &c was
against his principles 20 be bound by
any caucus.
The Underwood resolution TO bind
Democratic members 70 support Champ
Clark In the proposed enlargement Of
the rules committee 10 10 members, all
elective by the house. was adopted.
The Livingston resolution which pro
posed 70 bind the Republican insurgents
10 vote against Mr. Cannon for speaker
was voted down.
The Democratic nominations for Of
ncers Of the house we've made as fol-
lows.
For Clerk-Former Representative
Kimball OF Kentucky
For serReant-at- arms. T. Ellington
OF North Carolina.
Postmaster-Ro Robert /. Douglas Of
South Carolina.
No nominee for doorkoeper was Sc
lected
Tho caucus adjourned until o'clock
/ tonight.