The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-06
HEFL|N'S DEFENSE OF CAUCUS ACTION Brought About By Leader
 Mann's Taunts FIVE MINUTES TALK Tells Republicans That Democratic Caucuses Are Giving People the
 Legislation They Have
 Been Demanding
FIVE MINUTES TALK
RN WALTER HARPER

Washington, August 5.-(SpecaD At the opening of the debate on the cotton schedule in the House Thursday under the five minutes rule Leader Mann of the republican side called attention to the t'ndel wood Bryan incident of the day before and tried to make political capi- tai of the alleged division in the demo- crativ party. He ridiculed the idea that there is harmony in the party and though he paid high tribute to the leadership of Oscar Underwood he said that the spectacle on the floor the day before was proof a division in the party that could not be healed and that would bring dis aster to the party when harmony is most needed.
 A great part of the dicussion during the day hinged on the methods of the demo- cratic party He ridiculed the idea that charged that democrats in the minority are gagged and bound to vote against their better judgment.
 The arguments of the republicans were weak and did not get enthusiastic sup proof Of a division in the party that could
 One of the strongest defenses against this criticism was delivered by Congress- man J. Thomas Heflin of Alabama whose five minutes talk was punctuated with liberal and enthusiastic applause on the democratic side.
 Mr Hefln said:
 MT Chairman. inc democratic party Is no longer composed of divided and dis cordant elements. Today we present d solid front to the divided, broken and shattered elements of the republican par ty. Democratic unity, democratic har- mony, and democratic enthusiasm now mark the conduct of the democratic party.
 In the multitude of counsel the good book tells us there is wisdcm.' The democratic caucus is the place where we have the multitude of full and free dem- ocratie counsel And, MT Chairman, when we come forth from that democrat ic caucus and present our measures to the Congress and to the country, we have been fortunate enough, so far 10 have not only the democratic people of the country endorse those measures, but thousands of patriotic republicans have done so.
 MT Chairman. behold today the ridic- uous attitude of the republican party In this house Gentlemen of the minority. 1 and you know it pleases me more than can tell you to call you the minority.
 "Gentlemen, who have been lashed with the whip of public opinion lashed until they were driven from power, now con- sume hours at great cost to the people in discussing the democratic caucus in stead of discussing and offering meas ures that will tend to relieve the people of the burdens that you have put upon them during all the years that you have been in power.
 But. MT Chairman. there is method in their madness. Their purpose is clearly disclosed. When I was a boy I
 used to fox hunt a great deal. and the velping of pack of hounds is still sweet music to my ears I used to go out into | the woods in the spring time when the
 mother fox had her young hid away In | a hollow log or in a hole in the ground,
 and the minute that she heard the
 sound of my horn calling my dogs for the
 chase sine would come between her young
 and the dogs and with this foxy perfor
 nance she would lead the dogs off in
 another direction, away from where her | young were.
 | "She did it to protect her treasures, MT l Chairman. Under the splendid leadership | of the able and distinguished gentleman from Alabama tMr. Underwood the dem
 ocratic party in this house has been
 storming the citadel of high tariff pro-
 lection and day after day we are dis | mantling this infamous stronghold of the republican party. Like the old fox. you republicans are trying to turn the at tention of the country from just tariff legislation to a discussion of a democrat ie caucus and other things with which you hope to deceive the public
 "The good book tells us that by their fruits ye shall know them What are the fruits of our democratic caucus? A reciprocity agreement with Canada; a woolen schedule against which you voted ; farmers free list bill have all passed this house. And when the people of the country learn of your attack on our dem ocratfc caucus and recall that these
 measures are the fruits of a democratic caucus, they will say, long live the dem- | ocrafia ca11cIIs