New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-02
DEMOCRATS VOTE FOR
DUTY ON RAW WUU[
Although They First Declare
1t Contrary to Their
Party Policy.
UNDERWOOD BILL AD0P1EO
Bryanites Placated by Declara
ton That Republican ExtraVa'
gance Makes Duty Necessary
Hot Fight in Caucus
from The Tribune Bureau !

i + -0in Inc Irlpune but"N''
| Washington, June 1.-The PROPOSE ~,
| cratic revision OF the wool scheu"'e =,
| Underwood bill--was unanimously aPp'
by n full Democratic caucus OF n'e'
! Of the House at midnight. tNelNe -
a fter IL had been made public by the 49,
and Means Committee. It's lhuo' 49,,
followed some rapid man6uvrlhs ~
Democratic leaders. who devised
which effectually disposed Of the oppo'-
ton of the free wool advocates.
Through q resolution which leaves the
Democratic party free I'm the future W ''
new its advocacy Of free raw WOOL "''
commits all Democrats to the support "
the present bill as revenue measure '"c
divergent interests were brought 'ose'n'
in the caucus shortly before midnight a""
su almost unanimous agreement wa
reached. ~
The final vote On the approval OF the
Underwood bill was made unanimous put
en- toIonirg members were excused from
2 nledee 10 support the caucus action rep
ros.r,otives Rucker of Colorado; ASH
brook. Francis and sharp, of ono anu
Gray, of Indiana.
The resolution, agreed 20 III CUM
Of the free raw wool advocates. was inlro'
duced in the caucus by Representa'N :
Kitchin. Of North Carolina IT deciareu
that the support Of a duty on raw WOO
should NOT be construed as an ABANDON
,nent Of the Democratic policy of free Wool
The need for a duty, the resolution sa'u
was due to Republican extravagance WHICH
made large revenue necessary.
Speaker Clark took the floor immediateiE
and supported the resolution. which ha'
been framed I'm the conference in when
himself and Representatives Burleson. o'
Texas: James. Of Kentucky; Fitzgerald. oil
New York, and Kitchin. of North Caroilna'
rad taken mart. The resolution was then
unanimously adopted by the caucus.
The Clarkitcs are asserting that theN
have won a great victory as the result u.
treir twelve hours struggle, and some Oh
the Bryanites say they have been buncoe',
but il is a reasonable assumption mat an
will stand by the vote Of the caucus ana
that the 90 per cent wool bill will he passed
after a debate which, by the Democrats
may he considered short
Representative James undertook 10 eN-
plain the attitude of Mr.. Bryan, whom ne
described as not seeking 10 dictate. ou'
merely as standing for logical Democracy
Mir James charged that the Ways and
Means Committee had been for free wool
and had reversed itself The introduction
OF the name OF the Ncbraskan served al
most every other purpose than to pour oil
on the troubled waters. and brought hot
retort from Representative Littleton who
II is asserted, was for free wool until MI
T. 10, I tfttat
showed himself vehcmen,ly opposed TO both
Bryan and free wool this evening.
Free Wool Democrats Defiant.
The free wool Democrats went into the
caucus defiant. although facing apparent
defeat, and the Bryan ranks presented a
solid front. Notwithstanding the efforts OF
Speaker Clark and Representative Under
wood TO solidify the factions prior to the
hour set for the meeting OF the divided
Democracy.
II required two hours for Nh Underwood
10 explain why his bill should he adopted
by the caucus as a party measure. The
chairman Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee insisted that the country ought To
be satisfied with practically q - per cent
cut in the woollen schedule, even though
raw wool still carried a duty of 90 per cent
ad yalorem and manufactured wool an
average duty Of i955 per cent.
Clark Underwood Democrats came out
into the corridors and declared that Mr.
Underwood had made a great speed. one
mber-Representative Adamson, OF
Georea-launched an Underwood Presi-
dental boom. Meanwhile. Speaker clark,
tI Of &c nd fa1
over Rryan's uliimatum that raw wool
must go on the free list remained within
! The chamber, but took no part in the
| heated debate
Representative Harrison. Of New York
now recognized as Bryan's spokesman. an
swered Mr.. Underwood and was equally
ELUSIVE in his contention that the Demo
Gratis had forsaken their principles OF fifty
years Standing-free raw materials. Mr.
| Harrison pleaded that number Of other
things might he taxed without levyinG a
duty on raw wool The New York mem
her then proposed his Bryan amendment
| zreeing TO tentative duty on raw wool
but binding the Democratic party auto
matically to reduce the duty until. in five
years. the raw product is free.
! Representative Clayton. Of Alabama, raj
lied to the flag borne by Mr.. Underwood
! What was the use. he argued of sending a
free woo hill over to the Senate when il
was a fercGone conclusion that the upper
Z chamber would throw IT into the discard
The Underwood bill was a good thing. a
substantial reduction, and the Democra Is
ought not to expect everything in day
No sooner had tie 'laytonesque elo-
quence cast its complete spell over the
yacilating Democracy than Representative
/ Raincy. of Illinois. protested, as member
Of the Ways and Means Committee, against
the bill brought i'm by the ma jority Of that
/ committee Tho Illinois member made q
spoech almost as long as that delivered
when he said he had discovered "rresu-
/ lariry" in The purchase Of the Panama
/ Canal