New-York tribune., 1912-08-15
ONE BATTlESH|P, NEW
PLAN Of DEMOCRATS
Fifth Caucus of House Members
ReCedeS from Previous De-
CisiOn Not to Build Any.
SULzER STILL HOPES FOR 2
Friends Of the Navy" Believe
Senate Will Refuse to Agree
to House ResolutIon-Caucus
Machinery Runs Smoothly.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. Aug l4-At the fifth eau
Gus held on the naval programme the
Democrats of the House late to-day re-
,ersed their former action and authorized
the House conferrees on the naval appro-
prIas ion bill to agree to the authorize
tion for one new battleslnp.
The resolution. adopted by the caucus
by d vote Of 70 to 10 and without a
rolcall, was as follows.
Resolved. That the former action OF the
democratic caucus in regard to battle
ships be and the same is hereby modified
so as to permit any and all Democratic
members who desire 10 do so TO vote for
one batgeshiD only. and TO permit the
Democratic members on the conference
committee on the naval appropriation bill
to agree to one new battleship. No
member s bound by this resolution TO
vote for one battIeship should he not de-
sire 20 do 50.
The resolution was offered by Chairman
Padgett of tine Naval Affairs Committee
and was adopted after brief discussion.
Representative Sulzer Of New York,
who has led tine fight for two ships. at
tempted 10 gain consideration for a reso-
luton resembling the action OF the former
caucuses and permitting the Democrats to
vote according to individual preferences
for any number Of new ships.
Representative Padgett made a point
OF order against the Sulzer resolution,
which had been offered as a substitute.
and Chairman Burleson sustained the
point OF order. The Padgett motion was
then carried and adjournment followed.
Speaker Pleads for Peace.
Speaker Champ Clark and Mr.. Padgett
made harmony speeches. Tine former
pleaded for party peace, asserting that the
ne-bsttleship programme was good
compromise between the no-bsttleship
and the two -battleship psrtisans.
Mr.. Sulzer wanted to know II the SEN
ate conferrees would accept the one-bat-
tleship compromise.
Il have assurances that they will" said
Mr. Padgett.
Nevertheless. Mr.. Suizer and faithful
little band of friends OF the navy are
hopeful tonight that the Senate con-
ferrees will remain firm and will refuse
to WELD OF the amendment providing for
two ships as inserted in the naval bill BY
the Senate.
The caucus to-day was q tame affair
In comparison with four preceding party
councils. at which the pork barrel Demo
Gratis and the big navy Democrats as
sailed each other. while the latter made
charges Of gag rule" Realizing that
political blun6er had been made when the
party went on record several months ago
and on Subsequent occasions as the enemy
fha
carefully laid thetr plans for compro-
mise agreement to-day and it went
through with machinsike precision.
Representative Sulzer. however, read
his fellow Democrats a lecture on the
folly Of making a partisan issue OF the
navy. and, with ten other two-battleship
partisans. held out 10 the last against
even d one-ship compromise.
The Democratic platform declares FOR
an sdequate navy" said Mr.. Sulzer, "a
navy sufficient to defend American poll
cios. protect our citizens and uphold the
honor and dignity OF the nation. n this
means anything II means two ships. and
the Democratic majority I'm the House
should cease to play peanut POLITICS and
now aaree 70 the Senate amendment for
two battleships.
Mr.. Sulzer informed the Democrats that
the party made "a mistake when IL made
nartisan issue of the navy. 1T never was
done before. and doubt II il ever Will be
done again" he added. We were wrong
ahout the navy. Let us be big enough 10
SAY so aud got right about II.
The Democratic row over tile pattleship