Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
SLATED FOR OFFICE GIVE THEIR REASONS
Leshmann Sheriff. and de to Six Democrats From Georgia
Get Appointments Reply to Criticism.
IN DIPL LOMATIC SERVICE DIFFERENCE AS TO POLICY
President Secretary of State Voted for Amendment in Accord
Agree Changes. With Platform.
OBRIEN WILL STAY TOXIC PAST CAUCUSES BINDING
Is Know Those o
Are Person Graa Plans.
Six Democrats From Georgia
Reply to Criticism.
SERVICE DIFFERENCE AS TO POLICY
Voted for Amendment in Accord
ance With Platform.
PAST CAUCUsEs NOT BINDING
Regret That Conference Was Not
Called Earlier to Allow Dis
cussion Of Plans.

For the first time since their demo-
cratic brethren in the House began 10
criticise them for voting in opposition %
Minority Leader Clark during the con-
sideration of the Fitzgerald amendments
to the rules of the House last Monday
the six Georgia members last night made
an explanation Of their course They
are Livingston. Howard, Brantley. Ed
wards. Lee and GriggS
These Georgians say they differed from
some Of the other democrats on a ques-
tion of policy. not of principle. I'VE be-
lieve It more in keeping with democracy
and the plank of the Denver platform de-
claring for a revision of the rules they
say, Ito present a democratic proposal for
such revision. rather than create a COM
mittee composed of nine republicans and
six democrats to carry out the democratic
platform"
Present the Time to Act.
They further say they believe that now
Is the time to revise the rules-not nine
months hence. when the republican in
surgents and regulars will doubtless
have patched up their differences. Their
votes were cast. they point out. for
amendments prepared by a democratic. in
ClIlCL dCIOIddHCc Will the u6ulOCTduC
platform.
I'VE could not understand how M could
be democratic on the one hand" It Is
stated, "for democrats to vote for reeo-
lutios dictated by republicans. creating q
republican committee to revise the rules.
and on the other hand be undemocratic TO
vote for specific amendments prepared
and proposed by a democrat II 1t is dem
Ocratic for some democrats to afflliate
and vote with some republicans. IL can't
be undemCcratic TO permit the remaining
republicans to follow the lead Of the re-
naming democrats. We not only. voted
for amendments in strict accord with tho
Denver platform. but we violated no
caucus pledge in doing So
Past Caucuses Not Binding.
For twelve years, 1t is claimed. no demo-
cratic caucus has been binding. Tho
statement Is made that Representative
Howard during the caucus of democrats
Monday just before the House met. OBJ
tanned permission OF Minority Leader
Clark to present and vote for amend
ments other than those Mr.. Clark was
to propose.
While it is stated that the Georgians
are not criticising any one. 1t is urged
that they were not invited into any of
the caucuses or conferences that led up
to the reported agreement between -
few democrats and few insurgent re-
pubncans" 1t is pointed out tina. the
democrats of the Sixty-firSt Congress
were unorganized up to within two
hours of the time the House convened
Regret Lack of Discussion.
I'VE regard it as unfortunate" they
say, that a caucus on SO important
matter as accepting the leadership OF
republicans on anything could not have
been called early enough to have allowed
a full and free discussion. 1t was. per
haps, inevitable that a caucus called for
time just two hours before the House
was to meet had to be conducted under
arbitrary rules that denied discussion and
information.
1T is probable that IL the caucus
had been held at an earlier period q
complete understanding between all DEM
ocrats could have been reached. We see
no reason now. however. for democrats
TO fall out with one another because
every one acted according TO his best
judgment for what he belle I'd was the
best interest Of the party and the coun-
try"