The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-25

on this proposition on the first day OF
the special session Of Congress. tried be-
fore the caucus convened to muster sufi-
cient strength TO beat him. but their
plans were hopeless.
Minority Leader Clark and most of the
other Democratic leaders who think there
is chance of the House going Demo.
cratic this fall. and VINO demand har-
mony even at the price of a fight. worked
openly for Fitzgerald. whose election,
although he got less than any of the four
was never in doubt.
There were 40 Democrats present at the
caucus, In order TO keep things running
as smoothly as possible it was agreed
upon motion Of Representative Rainey, OF
Illinois, who heretofore has not put forth
much effort as q harmonizer. that there
should be no nomination, but that each
member present should vote for the four
members be wanted on the committee.
Champ Clark got rs votes; Underwood.
lO2; Dixon, 90, and Fitzgerald, 9S Next
was Slayden with 50, then Hammond
with IS, and Sulzer with ;. \ score or
more of the faithful received eompli-
mentary votes OF one ana two each.
Sims Tries TO Start Trouble.
The only member who threatened to
make trouble during the evening was
Thetus Willette Sims, of Linden. Tenn.
As soon as the caucus was called to
order be made a valiant effort TO secure
the immediate consideration of a resolu-
ton instructing the minority members of
the Rules Committee TO support any
proposition 10 take the power OF appointing
committees away from the Speaker and
vest 1t IN a committee on committees.
Here is Mr.. Sims resolution:
Resolved by the Democratic members
of the House of Representatives of the
Sixty-frst Congress. in caucus assembled.
that we hereby instruct the Democratic
members Of the Rules Committee Sc
lected by this caucus to support any
resolution or bill seeking TO take from
the Speaker the power to appoint the
standing committees OF the House. and
that they use all honorable efforts TO
bring about such a change in the rules
as TO have a committee on committees,
to be elected by the House. whose duty It
shall be TO appoint all standing commit
tees thereof
Supported by BurIeSOn.
Warm arguments in favor Of this propo-
sltion were made by Representatives
Sims, Jones. Of Virginia: Bartlett. OF
Georgia. and Burleson. Of Texas. Most of
the conservative Democrats In caucus saw
IN this resolution an attempt 10 keep Mr..
of the Committee on Rules.
He is known TO be against this committee
theory, and some OF the radicals thought
that If the minority members could be
instructed in this manner prior to
their selection Mr.. Fitzgerald might be-
come peevish and announce himself as
not a candidate. But the attempt. if this
is what It was, failed.
Representative Rainey, OF Illinois, made
a point of order that the Sims resolution
was premature, and Representative Clay
ton. Of Alabama, in the chair, sustained
him
Nothing daunted, Mr. Sims appealed
from this decision. but on being soothed
by those around him and assured by the
chair that he would have an opportunity
to present the resolution at the proper
time, he withdrew the appeal
After the names Of the four members
selected had been announced, Mr.. Sims
tried 10 offer his resolution then and
there. But Representative Johnson, Of
was ahead Of him with a mo.
lion 10 adjourn, which was carried, 81
20 80.