The Washington herald., 1909-03-23
MINORITY SCORES
PARTYS BOLTERS
Continued from Page one.

that under il the members were deprived
Of the rights they otherwise would have;
rights, it was contended. the Constitution
intended they should hava
The resolution finally was lost in the
disorder that followed. &. II was:
adopted by Trickery."
Resolved, That in the opinion OF the
( Democrats Of the House OF Representa-
tives. in caucus assembled. the present
rules of the House were adopted by trick
cry: that they do not meet with the ap-
proval Of a majority Of the members. and
that they should be Immediately revised
in a nonpartisan and impartial way. so
| that the House shall become a more de-
/ Lucrative body; and 10 secure a Just and
/ fair revision in the public interests, we
/ invoke the aid OF all members Of the
House dissatisfied with the existing rules,
and we hereby pledge ourselves 70 re-
| sort to every parliamentary device TO ac-
complish such revision: and. further.
/ Resolved, That a committee OF i've
! members be appointed by the chairman
/ Of this caucus 20 confer with a like COM
I mittee 70 be selected from the members
Of the majority agreeable hereto, and they
to report, with all convenient speed. TO a
conference subsequently 20 be called
Air of Disgust.
Following the meeting, there was an
air of disgust over the whole mix-up
among the regular Democrats, who de-
clared the actions Of the insurgents were
! entirely what they would expect from
anybody made the object Of a resolution
Of censure. They said that the claims
OF the insurgents were nothing more than
natural. and insisted that tho party was
on as solid foundation as II ever was IN
its history.
The Democrats declared that none Of
the appointments TO committees by
Speaker Cannon would be accepted by
the Democrats unless they had the ap-
provaI OF Champ Clark; that any mem
bers accepting such appointments would
do so at their own peril
what They said.
This IS what some OF the insurgents
had 10 say as they were leaving the
meeting
Mr.. Fitzgerald-The manipulations Of
the Democratic party March Is. and to-
night. are marked by the same idioey
that has characterized the Democratic
party clashes for the last fifteen years.
Mr Keliher-Champ Clark tonight re-
signed his leadership 10 Ollie James. Dir.
Clark as a leader proved an utter failure
and had no following
Mr. Harrison-We told them where they
got on. We asserted our rights and will
continue in our course, regardless Of
what they say
Mr.. Peters-T represent the Northern
man i'm Congress, and will not be sub
verted TO the selfish actions Of the minor
fly leader and his Kitchen cabinet"
The caucus adopted a set Of rules sim
| liar in many respects 20 those in force
| in the Senate. Hereafter no member can
! be held responsible for his actions on any
questions on which he is pledged 20 his
constituents. nor on any question IN
volving the Constitution. Neither can a
member be held accountable for his ac-
| tiou by the caucus II he notifies the
caucus in writing OF his intended actions.
The rules. as adopted. are as follows;
Preamble.
In r.opting the following rules FOR the
| Democratic caucus we affirm and declare
| that the following cardinal principle
/ should control Democratic actions.
pies and doctrines. unity.
"Cb) In nOnesseutials and in all things
not involving fidelity 10 party principles,
entire individual independence.
"(c) Party alignment only IN matters Of
| party faith or party policy
I'D Friendly conference, and, whenever
reasonably possible. party cooperation.
Democratic Caucus Rules.
-
House Of Representatives shall be prima
facie members Of the Democratic caucus.
80 Any member Of the Democratic eau
Gus failing 10 abide by the rules govern
| ing the same shall thereby automatically
/ cease TO he a member Of the caucus.
IS. Meetings OF the Democratic caucus
may be called by the chairman upon his
own motion. and shall be called by him
whenever requested In writing by twenty
FIVE members Of the caucus.
4. A quorum OF the caucus shall con-
sist Of a majority Of the Democratic
members Of the House.
-. General parliamentary law with
such special rules as may be adopted
shall govern the meeting OF the caucus.
Sc In the election Of officers, and in the
nominations OF candidates for Office in the
House, a majority OF those present and
voting shall binds the membership Of the
caucus.
a. In deciding upon action IN the House
involving party policy or principle. a two
thirds vote OF those present and voting at
a caucus meeting shall bind all members
Of the caucus provided, the said two
thirds vote IS a majority Of the full Dem
ocratic membership OF the House; and,
provided further, that no member shall
be bound upon questions involving a con-
StructiOn of the Constitution Of the United
States or upon which he made contrary
pledges TO his constituents prior 10 his
election or received contrary instructions
by resolution or platforms from his nomi-
mating authority.
Must BE Notified.
s. Whenever any member Of the caucus
shall determine by reason Of either Of
the exceptions provided for in the above