The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-17
DISSOLVE CAUCUS
WITHOUT ACTION
Democrats OF House Avert Row
by Agreeing to Do
Nothing.
FIGHT OVER REOIsTRIcTlNG
Developed That Original Call
Was Tor Joint Caucus.
May Try Again.

only pE yielding % the enorts 70,
Dar,y harmony pu, forth BY Judge
Martin Williams ami John W. stephen
son did the majority of the Den.ocrats
of the House Of Delegates last nigh,
avert a stormy session. which would
nave inevitably resulted in the. hottest
tSht OF the session The caucus.
which was called for the purpose OF
settling the congressional redistrict-
ing proposition. dissolved Itself with
out transIcting Any business, DOUBTS
as to it's legality having been raised.
AS IL was, III feeling was manifested
by some of the members Tho excite
mont, while suppressed. was evident.
and Indignant members held heated
conversations following thc dissolu-
ton.
Try Another Gail
An effort Will be made this morn
Ing, II was stated. 10 call a caucus
Tor next Tuesday night Chairman
cd~ih T. Cox said positively after the
meeting that ne would no. act Of hi.
own voHtion, and that nc wouIt, Issue
call only upon the signed oetitlon Of
majority of the Democrats Of tho
House. There seems 20 &c some doubt
II this majority can Ia secured.
Judge Williams. as Democratic floor
leader desires that a caucus DC hel0
nc knows Of 10 -ed!st-ictinE ever ac-
compHEhcd in any State except ay
.ss'heht among majority of tho
members OF the dominant partv and
SAYS IL is always made portv nat-nr
Complications over tho situation
arise cv,r% hour, and are influenced ~,
p'huca! events both recent and an.
ciuist an
Districts Arc Changed.
Inc "hoie trouble arises over dis
IA "a p Ia
trict members with the redlstr;c,tar
Dill as reported from the IIousn 60.
in'ttoe OF Privileges and r,Iec,inns
ihia measure provides thu, ITatirs
county be taken from the Stxtb nj,
lric' and placed In the Fs!Ct%. ard ~.
,'l'eS' siand and Ta1ewelI be removed
rom the Ninth and put in the sirtS
40 Other district is affected
Ine IDEA is to make tho Etr,, NJ
trict surely Democrats j6sreaa s
ceedingly doubtful which It is =,
present. The cha nee II is sunnosaa
would also aid the Democrats or m.
Nihth by taking away ReDubItcan
majority estimated NJ from 400 To sun
ss'Ge from the strong financial ana
business Influences which centre in
Iaz"weil. Tho Ninth Distric, dclera-
tho bill. to'
But the matter goes further. at
least In the minds OF many members
| some of the Sixth District peopl. he.
heEe II to DC a blow at Represents
( tive Carter Glass By removing the
centre Of political influence from
Lynchburg TO Roanoke, as Hanfax
would be taken from the east end and
three counties added 10 the west end
OF the district II is also feared that
the Sixth would be rendered doubtful
politically as the Republicans, who
nave ceased 10 fight OF recent years,
might pluck up courage and make
trouble.
So the sixth Distrtc, men, including
those from Lynchburg and BEDFORD.
have been active in working up senti-
mcnt against the bill, and IL seem.
that they might have nearly ma.
jorty. The two House members from
Halifax also object to going INFO the
Fifth District
Would SETTLE by Caucus.
A call for caucus was circulated
first on TUESDAY Senators declined TO
sign ii Oh the ground that tho nili
is not III that body. anG the House
should settle ii rrst Chairman Cox
yesterday morning issued Il call ba sed
on a majority OF House members, for
the meeting last nign,
At tn. moment he called the meet
Ing TO orde: F. ". Smith, OF King and
Queen, challenged that q maiority had
signed the call. Mr.. Cox SD This
could he best asccrtaincd by calling
tho roll. Acting secretary Mcctzcl
called It. and forty -eiGh, members