The Washington herald., 1909-03-23

With the Democrats declaring they had
run the bolters out Of the party and
those referred 10 as boilers asserting the
party Was split to pieces" worse than
It had been for fifteen years. one OF the
liveiiest Democratic caucuses ever held
at the Capitol was brought 10 3 close ar
1 O'Clock this morning.
More than twenty-five stinsing speeches
were made by members OF both factions
and the insurgents. or boilers. as the
organization forces call them. spared no
words TO express the contempt in which
they held the party for the course = has
taken It was suggested BY some thar
she insurgents would speak in an effort
10 square themselves. but this rumor was
set AZ naught soon after the meeting was
fairly started.
Makes First Speech.
Representative Fitzgerald made thu
first speech, and no part OF IL could be
construed as an apology for his actions
and following him Representatives Fran
els Burton Harrison. Of New York and
keiiher and Peters, Of MssachussttS.
stated their positions in what they later
termed cold and deliberate statements
Champ Clark scored the men he said
had deserted from the ranks Of the Dem
ocratic party 20 save "Caunonisn~ in rra
House. and deplored the fact that tI,a
party Of jefferson should have among ffq
members such representatives He fa-
ei2red tie Cannon appointments 10 COM
mlttees were not sanctioned BY The party
ard tldt The Speaker had delibersrar,-
made the appointments with a view OF
personal gain and 10 win a point over the
Democracy-
He said on the Rules COMMITTEES v-ss
member who represented IN no va
The principles Of the party. and thar r1e
new Democratic appointments 20 frs
ways and Means Committee were equally
as unsatisfactory 70 the minority.
Made Their Reports.
The select committee OF fifteen appoint
ed a. the caucus of the Democrats lac.
week 10 draft a set of party rules and
report on what action should b rsls,
toward the 'bolters- made their reports.
and then the fight started.
The resolution OF eensgre was 7dvocs7e5
in speeches by Champ Clark and dozen
other members of the minority and r.
brought replies from all Of the Insurgents
present
Representative Keiihe-. Peters ana
y ConneI, of Massachusetts,. Fitzeerai5
harrison and ForneS. or New York. were
among those who opposed the action.
the Democrats. Who followed the lead SCI
by Representative Fitzgerald on March
d. snc clSciaims any responsibility on the
part oi The minority Tor such action. and
was carried by vote Of l06 10 10.
The Resolution.
Il follows
The Democratic members OF the Ho7zs
Of Representative OF the Sixty-frst Con-
gress. in caucus assembled. declare
'First-Ne depIore the action Of those
Democrats who supported the Fi;zze-,lf
plan Of saving Cannon ism. This action
was in conflict with the caucus action or
their party, in violation CT its platform
pledge. and. We believe. or overwheIn-rs
Democratic sentiment. The Democratic
party In the House disavoWs thei- a.
uon. and dlsclaims all responsibility
therefor.
'Second-Cnder the guise of giving %
the Democracy Of the House representa-
ton on the Rules COMMITTEES and on fhs
WAYS and Means Committee. Speaker.
Cannon appointed -on the Rules Commit
tee. as a Democratic member. the pro-
p0nent Of the Fitzgerald resolution. who
is opposed 10 the Democracy OF the Houss
in its fight 10 reform the rules. and is
in aCCOTd with the Speaker He appointed
on the WAYS and Means Committee. as
Democratic member, gentleman
known 10 be wholly opposed 20 the Demo-
cratic tariff view. and known. by his
vote. 70 be opposed 10 any change in the
Cannon rules.
PreteRse Of Speaker.
I'VE condemn the false pretense OF the
Speaker that in these appointments he
has granted the Democracy. representation
on the said committees. and we hereby
declare that in neither Of these appoint
ments Is the Democracy Of the House or
the country represented. and we decline 10
recognize such appOinteeS as representa-
tives Of our party on said committees
This arbitrary and unjust conduct -
the Speaker demonstrates anew the W
gent need for a thorough revision Of tia
rules ana better spirit iu their applica-
ton, so a. TO curb the Speaker. protect
the members. and free legislation and
legislative procedure from bossism.
The issue is too great 20 be confined
within party lines. OF national innp5r-
tance- II challenges the consideration OF
every American voter whose neck IS fraa
from the collar OF a boss and whose back
knows not the machine drivers lssn.'
Committee Of Five.
Representative Sulzer then offered an
additional resolution calling for The an
pointment OF committee OF five 70 con-
fer with ? similar committee from rbe
Republican membership of the House n
draft a set OF rules n guide the action os
the House of Representatives.
The document aSsailed tho present gvs-
-em Of rules in the House. and declared
Continued on PAGE 3. Column 2.