The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-18
At Democratic Caucus in
Washington Thursday a
Plan of Campaign for Par
ty Mapped Out.
REVISE TARIFF AND
CURB THE SPEAKER
Leaders Say These Reforms
Are Agreed to and Will Be
Ratified at the Party's
Caucus.
tAmcrican News Service)

Washington, Jan. 1S.-"We won in
the November elections because we
pledged the people to correct the alb
uses OF the Payne-Aldrich tariff act,
and to stamp out Cannonism by restor-
Ing to the house the right to legislate.
which includes taking from the speak
er the power to appoint the commit.
toes. This has been agreed, and will
be ratified at the Democratic caucus
TO be held In the hall of the house Of
representatives, January 10. 1911"
This Is the answer made by the
Democrats when asked what they will
do next December.
Representative John N. Garner of
Texas. Democratic whip. Is authority
for the statement that at confer.
ence OF the leaders just after the meet
Ing OF congress. December 5, 1t was
decided that II the Democrats were
TO keep faith and carry out their
pledges in the next house Il would be
necessary to perfect the organization
at the earliest possible moment and
the way TO do this was to arrange for
party caucus. such as Is held when
the house Is organized just before
the opening Of new congress. Hence
tho call for the caucus which will be
held here tomorrow. II is to be full
party caucus. the SO members.elect
! who enter upon the discharge of their
duties next December, being urgently
Invited 70 attend TO take part In the
selection Of the ways and means CON-
mittec. the selection of the rules COM
mittee, and the committee on COM
mtttees. and from present indications
the majority will be present.
10 Without Precedent.
The holding of party caucus. such
rs has been called to meet in January
is without precedent; 1t Is by many
termed revolutionary. but then, as the
standpat Republicans say, this has
been a revolutionary congress. and
prccedcnts have been cut from their
moorings and sent adrift And SO the
Democrats have been keeping up with
the procession.
With few exceptions the Democrats
are confident that the caucus will
be not only harmonious but will result
In reaching an understanding. the out
against the opposition. and line up
for the campaign of 1912.
While there Is much interest in the
proposed committee on committees.
which Is to relieve the speaker from
the task of making the appointments
the real work of the caucus. the work
that deeply concerns the future of the
Democrats IL the selection OF the ways
and means committee. This commit.
preparing the amendments to the
Paync.Aldrich tariff act, promised the
people by the Democrats during the
last campaign. And Immediately fol.
lowing the selection OF this commit
tee an order will be made to collect
all available data that will assist in
framing new cotton and woolen sched
ules. In line with the criticisms that
have been made against the present
law. The Democrats shy that II would
be waste Of time to attempt a com
plete tariff revision. because such a
measure would have no chance what
ever In a Republican senate. but bill
or bills. correcting inequalities In the
Payne-Aldrich tariff act. such as sug,
gested by tariff rcformers, might at.
tract the progressive Republicans in
the senate, and thus some relief would
be given.
Make-up Agreed On.
With the knowledge that the Demo.
Gratis are committed to revision OF the
tariff by schedules. and this is ex.
pccted OF them by the country, the
leaders from Representative Champ
Clark. who will succeed Speaker Can.
non all down the line, are practically
unit that the ways and means com.
mittee should be selected at the Jan.
uary caucus. Already the Democrats :
have discussed this subject with the
result that the makeup Of the commit.
tee Ia tentatively agreed upon. II Is
the concensus OF opinion that Repre-.
sentative Oscar Underwood of Ala.
bama. who has served with distinction
on that committee for some years. and
whose tariff record Is in harmony with
his party, will be chosen chairman. II
10 believed that his selection will be
unanimous. 1t may be stated that,
owing to the large Democratic major.
ity In the next house. the membership
OF tho Ways and Means committee will
be increased to 20-thirteen Demo
Gratis and seven Republicans.
As tentatively agreed upon the fol
lowing will compose the majority OF
the ways and means committee: Rep
rcscntativcs Underwood. Alabama
James, Kentucky: Rainey. Illinois