New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-09
WILSON TURNED DOWN
BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS
Party Refuses by a Large Ma
jority to Open Its Caucus
Doors to the Public.
TrrIu m IMMUNE EurcaI-l

frrom The Tribune BurcaI.l
Washington. April S.-After a heated
and excited debate. during which Repre-
sentative Underwood. tho majority leahcr'
and Representative Palmer. adminis'ra-
ton spokesman. were on the OPPOSING
sides. the caucus of House Democrats
late TO-DAY overwhelmingly rejected the
Wilson Brvan scheme OF an open caucus.
The Democrats will continue to hold ther
party councils behind closed doors
The caucus wranglcd for two hours over
a resolution To throw open the doors ana
additional significance was lent 10 tno
row when Representative Carln. VINO m
troducod the resolution. referred to the
President az a reputcd advocate OF pun
licity for partv conclaves. This brought
the rctort from Mr. Helm that the Presi-
dents Cabinet met behind closed doors
and no one had questioned the right oI
the Senate to- hold executive sessions.
Mr.. Palmer the caucus chairman '.it
the chair To- cspouse the open caucus
resolution He regretted that ne had 10
disagree seriously for the first time "l'h
the majority leader Nh Underwood MI
Palmer made no direct reference To the
Presidents suggestion that the caucus
should be public but his intmatlons were
generally construed as reflective oil the
administrations attitude. Two years az"
Mr. Palmer was on committee when
decided against "a proposed plan to open
thc caucus to the press and public
Mr. Underwood frankly told his col
leagues that the Democracy should not
publish it's secret councils to the "oriu
through hostile Republican press. ana
that an opcn caucus meant ammunition
for the opposition party in tie House.
New Members in Wrangle.
The heat OF the debate was intensiheh
when Mr. Thompson. new member from
Oklahoma. shouted At Mr. Murray. "i
Nassa chusctts. young man. go back.
You can't put me out of here
Mr. Murray. also one of the new mem
hers. angrily replied that he wasn't at
tempting to Dust Mr.. Thompson. but was
irving TO explain the significance oi
motion 10 table all motions pending. me
ol,Iahoman. coached by several new
members. waved aside parliamentary
rules and spoke loudly and bitterly IN
favor of the open door.
Mr.. Thompson declined To take MS seat
mr. to hermit Chairman Palmer to explain
the pending motion. Inc okiaho',a ,ahIo
her said he construed a motion 10 tapl'
as beinC equivalent to star 'hdInp'.
caucus Il confess | am ignorant "uou'
these things" he shouted above the nun
bub. .,.,.,, ,,,or,bcrs
In unisnn. meanwhile trying To clrD thc
hnlliceront member. who was c"acheu Wy
"Alfalfa Bill" Murray. also from oh'a,
bona. and who also favored le'''hs ="
n ,r.s when Mr.. Murray, of MaSsachu-
colts hustled To Mr.. Thompson seat 20
,dvisa him regarding the meaning %. ~, ,
several motions pendinfd 'n y" ..rn back and
New EnE!ander ""S '''
Mr Murray IL assistant secretary OF
the caucus ana was Jo'''"
vice was spurncd.
Secrecy Wins Victory.
In nrcscntlng his open caucus resolution
NJ corIin referred to the fact that the
p,,.,dont had been quoted as favorinS
n,hlicitv of Democratic caucus proceed
ir.gs. From that time on the d''iu'.'s n"o
- to,ueon the original Bryan idea Tor
wac -, caucus and the Underwood view
~ ~ nartv councils should be- secret MI
i.nderwood won on the hhal rohca' ~
rn W Clark and Mr.. Underwood
ol oS" 30 table all resolutions to change
iiloN'" ,,,cus rules and Representatives
nn1r,cr and Henry. recosnlz'u rs WI So"
non voted I'm opposition, - ,,oo,s
hs Ss; necessarily fram"d tarln plll
LoiIsiu cioeed doors. Mr.. Underwood ar
pchlhu ~ to admit the pubic To a caucus
nn",,id mean injury 10 tne man VAN ,,o,,s -,
VIII Ia morsonaI convictions III caucus III
, .i 'i interest OF party harmohhi ~ n,",
the ..'' der Illustrated by cltlhs man
JoIl't i',1,t desire a duty on wool ana y.t
WHO ho n'as,,,d go into the House ara Note
no ~, ,,.ool following the caucus aet'oi.
iC ,r, IT, resoIutions regarding me caucus
~ ~, -, offered as soon as w. ''ino
fults W., Wr Shackelford OF missouri,
cI" f,..d ,bat The caucus should pe open 10
~, ,,loN ~ president. members ~ ms 'anlne,
w Sanatnrs Mr.. Carlln waht.n !" tuIvW
vide the galleries to press a,ru ca',c,,s
WI NJ Uobson moved that eacm cauuuS
should make it's own rule regarding pun
licity. ,o,,roen the opposing
,.,,io,s" enc representative OF the Ciark
,'i Inderwood view and the other OF
'h leu of the White Hous" ana me
c,a,o Den,rtmcnt-was QUICKLY "ranh'
~, ,notion of MIR Thomas. OF kentucky,
III ending motions were tabled ana ,ne
1yiIson-Pryan plan was defeated iarsely
a. tbe result of Mr.. Underwood poslu'e
stand against me Palmer attitude