The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-17
DEMOCRATS FAIL
70 HOLD CAUSUS
Senate Members Decline to
Participate in Redisdrict-
ing Meeting
WILL TRY AGAIN
ON MONDAY NIGHT
Warm Opposition to Con-
gressional Reappointment
As Reported by
Committee


motion to dissolve was carried i'm
nsetiiateiy after a motion failed to have
the meeting go into executive session.
wasn't held last night. opponents to
the proposed congressional reap
portionment plan bringing about dis
solution Of the gathering by attacking
its legality.
That was about as close TO 1t as the
vtrginian representative could get to
It. Yesterday call was read from
the desk Of the clerk OF the House OF
Delegates. signed by Chairman e. p.
Cox. calling for u caucus Of the House
at 8 O'Clock last night In the hall OF
the House. Last night Mr.. Cox said
that he had been mistaken in making
,lhe call In that way because petition
was for a joint caucus. the error hav-
! Ing been inadvertent.
But AZ the caucus was to consider
the congressional reapportionment
measure and there being no such meas
ure now pending before the Senate,
/ the Democrats of the body had De-
ciared the matter none of their run
eral so they didn't appear.
The gathering proceeded to tie itself
up in a large and splendidly assorted
variety OF knotty parliamentary Ques-
tons.
Before the body even had been called
TO orler Mr.. Smith. OF Essex. was try
ing to make speech on the legality
& OF the meeting. on the point that the
petition was for Joint caucus.
Wanted 10 Adjourn,
sfr. Mettxe, Of Prince william, act /.
ang a. caucus Necrctary. Ann 1ppno
that fOrty-sisht snemb<ra. ouU I'M
was present immediately that Ine
chair announced quorum was pres
snt. Mr.. WitiiAfne. Democratic moor
Iaaasr and chairman Of the HOUSE
Cor1sn1ttteA on Privileges and Elections,
adffeseed the body. He declared that
hin committee had made the changes
IN The Fifth, sixth and Ninth d'stricts
Tor political purposes solely; that they
wero proposed for the good OF the
Democratic party. and that they had
NO 5lisxuIses or conceaiments aeeat
the matter However az there mao
been Misrepresentation as to the meet
Ing he moved that adjournment oe
taken until Tuesday night next at
o'clock. -,
M. Oliver here interposed with .
declaration that the meeting snouio
70 into executive session. :.
There WIRE q number OF noes
heard to the proposal. MT. Steu-
Bins OF Halifax, took the floor. He
declared that he did not come IN
any sense as q fre-brand. All were
Democrats and not adversartes. ne
thought, however. that until II was
clearly asceFtained that the meeting
all
premature, even the one to adjourn
10 1 future date.
M. Cox stated that under caucus
rules and precedents the chairman
md the right to call a caucus at any
time BY riving reasonable notice.
Mr.. StebbIns declared that there
.shad been no petition for House
] caucus, the only caucus asked Tor
being . Joint one.
J. Inststs on Secret Session.
Al this point Mr. Oliver spoke IN
4sjs4entlv on hts motion that the eau
scus - into executive session. and de-
kciAred that his motion was not de-
sbatable.
n. White. OF Rockoridge. declared
]. that there WAS, nothing to conceal,
I'D mat the Newspaper representa-
dives ct least should DO allowed to
IA this point Mr.. Stephenson, Of
Bath. declaring that he had signed
The petition on the belief that there
Wns 20 be joint caucus. moved
that the cAucus dissolve.
AZ this point the motion TO &c
Into executive session was put and
{ n1eeated by IN overwhelming storm
az noes"
~. Nt&rhenson's molten to dis.
1 soive ~ then carried With little OPP
pSGifiOn.
Auotlper Petition To-day.
This morning there will be . Pc
sfifion aet IN motion ut once calling
Tor ! House caucus to be held on
Tuesday night to decide ~ to whether
i0r not the report Of the Commit-
- on privileges or Elections shall
n4anA u Il now 10 or shall be amend
III Nth rsfsrsnce TO congressional re-
ADpcrtioqtnentA
\ VI 31Io report meets with little favor
- lar ~ the Sixth District - con-
as3SrAed. - u takes from tho Sixth
Ntka lnfIe Democratic vote of Halifax
sHn6 adds tO Il the Republican CO.
sk0fae q Ia1eweli, with the counties
@6( Qil0s anA Bland neither Addinl
4to AZ Gnbtractlng from the nea
sn9rSna4A 81 the Democratic situation
lVexy considerably.
NTH 039trict people are almost
YulIte IN Upppsttion to the proposct
u r angAe, which radically increases
Iitno lengfh u their ahoe-string do
Nxk3c& . that II extends from tn
1nen6ure westerly boundary line o
Ennenburg county In the center Q
~ stats through to the Kentuck,
Many prominsnt Ninth Distric
#1SunCUrAtu believe that the gerry.
aN1er y % patent and will Be zen.
~ reIArded - unfair that 4 VII
u ! - effect upon the politica
6ilAoas u the three districts Y
R1f1oA sthoFo Are any consldefabl'
! ~ NapubllcAu voee&
n ~ 1--we n1sex1ctD Un10acAod.
n; olos1 Nill ~ : strsnucus ngh
~ w ~ adoption q the commit
Il ri ri - q would not ~ - -
~ upnAct a ~ Mholt
I 1( 4Si Y Nu1n ~ 11AvA ~ district
* M l tAe1 ~. ee1s!9