Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-23
LASH PARTY BOILERS
Democratic Regulars Adopt
Caustic Resolutions.
GAG RULE FOR FUTURE
Two-Thirds Caucus Vote Hereafter
to Be Binding.
FITZGERALD MEN STRIKE BACK
Champ Clark's Leadership Denounced
as "Idiotic" by So-Called "Trait-
ors" at Lively Meeting.

Wrath and wrangling predominated a.
last nights caucus Of the democratic
members OF the House of Representatives
After many of Champ Clark's regulars
and Fighting Fitz" Fitzgerald's so-called
boilers, had relieves themselves of harsh
thoughts couched in harsher language
the boilers were repudiated by an over
whelming vote. An iron-clad gag to con-
troll future caucuses was adopted, as was
resolution censuring those democrats
who voted with Mr.. Fitzgerald. week
ago last Monday, for his rules revision
proposition to which the republicans took
SO kindly.
The debate that preceded the action of
the caucus was bitter. If the regulars
expected to have it all their own way in
calling Mr.. Fitzgerald and his followers
''bolters'' and traitors and the like,
they were much disappointed. There was
sauce for the gander as we'll as the goose
and all of 1t was mighty highly seasoned
After adjournment Mr.. Fitzgerald en-
phatically asserted that the introduction
and proposal of the declaration of the
caucus was a manifestation of the same
idiotic leadership that has characterized
the democratic party for fifteen years,
and that the democratic members of the
House, in imagining that they are the
ors of ToOley street
Representative Keliher of Massachu-
sets also put hot one across the plate
Champ Clark ought to have five
crutches to walk upon," said he, for he
cannot stand on his own feet
Representative Harrison of New York
was also on deck with a comment
Il stand for the manhood and liberty
of the northern democracy said he, land
protest to its Subversion to the selfish
ambition of hot-headed, hair-brained rep
resentatives who do not even represent
their own constituents.
Georgians Stayed Away.
The boilers on hand last night were
Representatives Fitzgerald. Goldfogle Har-
rison, Lindsay, Fornes and Conroy of
New York; keliher and Peters of Massa-
chusetts and McDermott Of Illinois. The
six members of the Georgia delegation
show up. thereby causing many demo-
Gratis to wonder whether these half dozen
consider themselves as permanently out
OF party caucuSes, or whether they had
just stayed away because"
The set of new rules for the govern
ment of future party caucuses, prepared
by the spanking committee of fifteen, of
which Representative Clayton of Alabama
Is chairman. were reported to the meet
ing last night, and the row Immediately
was on. The committee reported in favor
Of dropping of boilers automatically from
the rolls of the caucus. and an attempt
was made to alter this so that no bolter
should be dropped until after his name
had been duly posted.
The committee also recommended that
hereafter two-thirds vote of all the
democratic members of the House in a
caucus should be binding upon every dem,
Ocratic member, unless he notified the
caucus in writing that he would not be
bound. or unless the subject dealt with
was a constitutional question or the men,
Der was already pledged to his constitu-
ency to vote otherwise.
The statement contained a criticism of
Speaker Cannon for appointing to COM
mittees democrats who were not in ac-
cord with their party The fact was
brought out that after long fight the
committee had decided not to criticise
specifically any of the democrats who
voted on the opening day of the special
session for the Fitzgerald amendments
to the rules and in opposition to Minority
Leader Clark. Instead, general criticism
was INDUCED in and the offenders We're
left to their respective constituencies for
approval or disapproval.
Text of the Statement.
The full text of the committees state
ment was as follows:
The democratic members of the House
of Representatives of the Sixty-first Con
gress in caucus assembled declare
First-We deplore the action of those
democrats who supported the Fitzgerald
plan of saving Cannonism. This action
was in conflict with the caucus actio.
Of their party, in violation of it's plat
form pledge, and, We believe, Of YER
democratic sentiment. The dem
ocratic party. in the House. disavows
thei" action and disclaim all RESPONSE
btlity therefor.
Second-Under the guise Of giving to
the democracy OF the House representa-
ton on the rules committee and on the
ways and means committee. Speaker Can /!
non appointed on the rules committee, as
4 democratic member the propouent of
The Fitzgerald resolution, who is OPP
posed to the democracy of the House /
n it's fight to reform the rules, and is |
n accord with the Speaker; he appoint /
I'd on the ways and means committee, as |
1 democratic member gentleman
<Dc wn TO be wholly opposed to the demo-
ratio tariff View. and shown. by his |
:ote. to be opposed to any change in !
he Cannon rules.
I'VE condemn the false pretense of the
Speaker that In these appointments he
has granted TO the democracy representa-
hereby declare that in neither of these
appointments Is the democracy of the
House or the country represented. and
Ne decline to recognize such appointees
Us representatives OF our party on SAD
This arbitrary and unjust conduct of
he Speaker demonstrates anew the
Urgent need for a thorough and real revi-
ZION Of he rules and better spirit in
heir application. so as to curb the
speaker. protect the members and free
egislation and legislative procedure from
,osssm.
THE issue is too great to be confined
within party lines-of nation wide i'm
aortance, 1t challenges the consideration
r. every American voter whose neck is
rec from the collar Of a boss and whose
pack knows not the machine drivers
ash"
Representative Sulzer New York of
cred an amendment to provide for a COM
nittee of five democrats to confer with
i've republicans looking toward the
amendment of the present rules of the
House.
Fitzgerald Defends Himself.
Scarcely had Inc declaration and amend