The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-04-15
DENOCRATS KICK OYER TRACES
,,rTy.TVO GIVE THE LEADERS
TASTE or INSURGENCY.
rne, vote 20 Apply the Campaign Pub.
ucuy Hin TO Primaries. but Later
Vote TO strike Out the Amendment
and the Bui Is Passed Unanimously.

WASHINGTON. April N.-Champ Clark.
the new Speaker. and his Democratic
D.u,enants had u taste of insurgency
N the House of Representatives to-day.
For the ilrst time since the special session
,osan they experienced feelings akin to
the heartaches suffered by the Cannon
,,sanlzation in the last Congress. when
ae Republican insurgents took to the
sarpath.
The Democratic leaders had their
,,opbles over the Rucker bill. which pro-
y,des for publicity Of campaign contribu-
tons before as well as after elections.
The bill was passed before the House ad-
,ourned. but the process was marked by
,,cidsn,s which demonstrated that there
Gro Democratic as well as Republican
Insurgents. On one vote. regarded as
vital BY the Southern Democrats. who are
the real leaders in the House. fifty-two OF
the supposed followers Of Champ Clark
;oiped with the Republican minority in
forcing through a proposition that was
disspproved by the majority leaders.
The spectre OF Federal Interference in
,lections was the cause Of all the exoite-.
nent. This bugaboo was introduced In
The discussion by Representative jackson
Of Kansas. a Republican insurgent. In
.urgent jackson bounded into the scene
Unexpectedly. with the entire Republican
minority at his heels. and before the
Democrats could rally their forces fifty
two Of their number Joined with the new.
sader from Kansas in the attack.
Representative Jackson's amendment
provided in substance that every candi-
date for Congress in primaries and every
candidate for Congress in elections should
file a statement with the clerk OF the
House of Representatives "of all moneys
or things of value received from any
source and used by him in any way" in
the conduct Of his campaign. To fifty
Two Democrats and the Republican
minority this looked like publicity en-
tlrely in harmony with the before and
after election principles OF the Rucker
ILL., Down South. however. the real
tghts for places in Congress take place
,erore the elections and Republicans
,harge that a good deal Of money Is spent.
It any rate the presentation OF the
lackson amendment threw confusion into
.le ranks OF the Southern leaders. They
we're stampeded for the time. The
,~nl,,ort x,,aa ,,,,t t<~ a xyCfo and IN rriod
-i72 TO l81.
The announcement OF the result aroused
ae Republicans to great enthusiasm.
Ihey hooted and howled with glee and
shouted derisively at the Democrats.
The Rucker bill with the jackson amend
nent added to it. being exceedingl y
distssteful to the Democratic leaders.
hey Immediately set about to strike out
he amendment. The complaint Of the
-outhern leaders was that the jackson
amendment was "a force hin' idea. 1t
gave Federal officials power to interfere
IN elections. They charged further thai
il was All invasion of the rights Of the
States and that it represented Repub-
ilcan plot TO vitate the force OF the pro-
Iosed law on constitutional grounds.
Thereupon a number of the Demo-
cratic insur gent returned to the ma ajority
and voted with it on motion made by
Representative Rucker that tho bill be
referred back to the committee with
instructions TO eliminate the Objectionable
jackson amendment This motion was
carried by vote OF l57 to 148. a margin
80 narrow that it caused shivers to run
. naL L,a 81. n L. =
That the Democrats are as skilled in the
MANIPULATION of the steam roller as the
Republicans was disclosed in the methods
adopted by them in forcing through the
notion OF Mr.. Rucker to recommit. They
used pleas and threats in their efforts
10 get the insurgents into line. After the
House. or at least the Democratic ma
lorty, voted to recommit a vote was
taken on a motion to strike out the OBJ
ho1lous Jackson amendment and this was
carried by a vote of I8i to l39. The
Democratic insurgents had marched right
UP and turned around and marched righ,
Gown again.
There was no opposition to the principle
N the original Rucker bill. This was
demonstrated on its final passage. Not
negative vote was cast. All of the
members present (3O3) voted for it. The
republicans took advantage of an oppor'
tIhIty 70 place the Democrats on RECORD
as opposed to the introduction of the
publicity idea in the campaign of indi
N'ula!s Tor nomination or election. Re
publican leaders declare that this vote
d"mons'rates that the Democrats re-
ported and passed the Rucker bill merely
lF political purposes. The insincerity al
u' Democrats. Republicans insist. ID
N'rn IN their unwilingness to apply
p-ohe!'y all along the line. To this the
democrats reply that tine jackson amend
n"h' was clearly unconstitutional. tina,
ne Republicans knew it and that they
lforted II solely with view of gaininl
-rNal advantage.
me hu"ter bill proposes an amendment
~" campaign publicity law passed by
W." NlNty-irst Congress, which was con
u AeG N ho.h branches by the Republi
'"rs This law. which is now in effect
"'"r'e mo publication after elections o
'"onaign Contributions and disburse
"-'' hy political organizations operat
VIZ TO "" or more States II applies onl,
.O' rational and Congress committees
' h''A parties and has no effect 50 far Al
p ''cfl Committees are concerned tha
S,rn exclusively within a State.
'.' Fucker hlll provides that publicit,
'tinpaler contributions shall he mad,
'' r' as well as after elections. Unde