The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-23
WRANCL|NG
MARKS CAUCUS
SESSION
DEMOCRATS REPUDIATE BROTH.
ERs WHO SUPPORTED FlTz.
GERALD AMENDMENTS.

Washington, March 23.-After hours
of bitter wrangling the democratic
members of the house in caucus that
was in session until after midnight, by
democratic supporters of the Fitzgerald
amendments to the rules which were
adopted at the open meeting of the
extra session of the congress over the
opposition of Minority Leader Clark
The discussion was one of the most
bitter heard in democratic caucus in
years. A set of rules to govern future
caucuses also was adopted.
Mr.. Fitzgerald spoke in defense of
his action and was answered by Mr.
HardWick of Georgia, who spared the
feelings of no one Representative
Peters and Representative Keliher OF
Massachusetts, then denounced the gag
rule manner in which Minority Leader
Clark had conducted the fight for a
change in the rules.
After adjournment Representative
Fitzgerald asserted that the introduc-
tion and proposal Of the declaration
by the caucuses was a manifestation
of the same idiotic leadership that has
characterized the democratic party for
Is years, and that the democratic men,
bers of the house in imagining that
they are the democratic party are like
the three tailors of Tooley street."
Champ Clark ought to have five
n fn IL
sentative Keliher of Massachusetts
He cannot stand on his own feet"
Text Of Statement.
The full text of the committee S
statement follows:
'The democratic members of the
house of representatives of the sixty
first congress in caucus assembled de-
clare:
"First-We deplore the action of
those democrats who supported the
Fitzgerald plan of saving Cannonism
This action was in conflict with the
caucus action of this party, in viola
ton Of it's platform peldge and we be-
lieve an overwhelming democratic SEN
timent. The democratic party in the
house disavows their action and dis
claims all responsibility therefor.
"Second-Under the guise of giving
to the democracy of the house repre-
sentation on the rules committee and
on the ways and means committee
Speaker Cannon appointed on the rules
committee as democratic member the
proponent of the Fitzgerald resolution
who is opposed to the democracy of
the house in it's fight to reform the
rules and is in accordance with the
speaker; he appointed on the ways and
means committee as democratic
member a gentleman known to be
wholly opposed to the democratic tariff
view and showed by his vote to be op-
posed to any change in the Cannon
rules.
False Pretense.
I'VE condemn the false pretense of
the speaker that in these appointments
he has granted to the democracy rep
resentation on the same committees
and we hereby declare that in neither
of these appointments is the democracy
of the house or of the country repre-
sented, and we decline to recognize
such appointees as representatives OF
our party on said committees.
This arbitrary and unjust conduct
of the speaker demonstrates anew the
urgent need for a thorough and real
revision Of the rules and better spirit
of their application so as to curb the
speaker, protect the members and free
legislation and legislative procedure
from bossism.
"The issue is to a great extent to he
confined within party lines. OF nation
wide Importance. it challenges the con-
sideration of every American voter
whose neck is free from the collar OF
a boss and whose back knows no ma
chine driver"