New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-01
FARMERS FREE LIST
HANGS IN BALANCE
Democratic Senate Caucus Re-
jects Bai!ey's Tax on Meat
and Cereals.
HE THREATENS REVENGE
Says He Will Swing Insurgents
Against Bill. and Com
promise Plan May
Fail

Washington. July 31.-The fate Of the
Farmers Free List bin is left hanging in
the balance made more than ever pre-
carious by the action Of the caucus of
Democratic Senators this evening. For
more than two hours Senator Bailey
hsrsnsued the caucus. dems nding the in
dorsement Of his amendment striking
free meats and -four from the bill He
assured the caucus that he could swing
Senator La Toilette and his Insurgents
for the bill if the Bailey amendment
were adopted. and that he could and
would vote them against it If II were
rejected.
Senators Bacon and O'Gorman-who
has been found and brought back--and
others opposed the Bailey idea. and even
expressed themselves as favoring a rea-
sonable amount of Independence by the
Democrats, even though II resulted in
the loss Of the support Of Bailey and his
"unholy alliance" Finally. however. the
caucus adopted a resolution providing
that the Democrats would stand by the
sHouse bill and reject the Bailey amend
sYnent, whereupon the Texan departed in
shfsh dudgeon, predicting the emphatic
ydefeat Of the free list bill Whether he
twill think better Of his threats by morn
;dng remains TO be seen.
After prolonged and discordant debate
The caucus decided on a compromise by
which they hope 10 corral the insurgents
as we'll as the entire Democratic vote.
This consists OF proposition, fathered
BY Senator Kern. providing that in lieu
OF the unqualified admission free of -four
and meats. the bill shall be amended TO
sprovide that cereals and meats shall be
iadnitted free from such countries as
admit free Of duty American corn. oats.
hay, wheat. cotton. hogs and meats. II
was decided TO follow the same procedure
as that by which the wool bill was
passed. After a vote on the House bill
unamended on which It is expected the
bill will be defeated. a motion TO recon-
slider will be made. when Senator Kern
will offer the compromise amendment by
which it is hoped to enlist the support
OF Bailey and his insurgent followers.
II became obvious after an informal
conference Of the insurgents, after the
Senate adjourned. that their support for
the free list bill could not be counted
upon so long al ii contained a provision
for free meats and cereals on the other
hand. the Democrats. with many of their
number opposed To- the alliance on prin-
ciple and others opposed 10 any vote re-
tanning a duty on food products. were
uncertain about the stability of their
own side.
For a time il looked as If the ALI
ance was on the rocks. and even after
the caucus n reached its decision
Democratic Senators were unwilling 70
predict that the compromise plan would
he carried through successfully Some
recalcitrant Democrats indicated by their
actions that they would vote as they
pleased There were also misgivings
about the attitude Of the insurgents on
the compromise amendment which in ef-
feet means little or nothing az all
The differences FL the Democratic
n ranks over the free list bill we're ac-
vi centuated by a futile caucus which de-
" bated the measure for two hours during
the morning without arriving at any re-
suit
When the Senate convened at noon
the caucus had not yet reached con-
clusion, and tho debate was becoming
more emphatic every minute. with Sen
etors Johnson. MARITIME and others hold
ing out against the Bailey amendment
and the leaders unable 20 gee a way out
of the difficulty. As a last resort II was
decided to continue the caucus during
the evening