New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-04
Senate Ruled by Caucus.

In the Senate, whenever trouble threat
ened, the caucus was called to restore
solidarity TO the wavering ranks Sent-
ment in the Senate was overwhelmingly
against free wool and free sugar. but
caucus rule transmitted the minority Into
q majority and paved the way for the at
tainment OF the Presidents desire.
Even the caucus rule did not save the
Democratic leaders some anxious mo-
ments when their slender majority APP
peared to be dislntegrating. and the crisis
was not regarded as passed until the final
vote on the final passage Of the bill was
taken.
The onslaught Of the Republicans also
had temporary effect. When the bill
was reported from the House. on May s..
and the Republicans demanded that hear
ings be allowed by the Finance Commit
tee, the Democrats hastily reconsidered
their decision not to open the doors Of the
committee room to any one and allowed
perfunctory hearings by subcommittee.
From May l6 to June 20 the bill was
under consideration BY the Democratic
caucus after the committee had completed
its task. Democratic Senators from the
wool and beet sugar states threatened
and cajOled without success. When the
situation was at its worst. from the adj
minstraton point of view, the President
publicly charged the existence or IAN
nsidious lobby" An investigation fol-
lowed, and the disclosures frightened
tariff lobbyists to such an extent that the
corridors and committee rooms were
cleared, and manufacturers who had Il
legitimate interest In the measure gave
the Capitol wide berth.
Despite the charges OF the Democrats
that the Republicans were conducting a
filibuster. the bill remained i'm the hands
OF the Senate Democrats from May to
July II. when 1t was reported TO the Sen
ate. and for the first time revealed to the
gaze OF the Republicans The debate
lasted until September 3.
Revolt in Senate.
At the last moment an outbreak was
threatened over the income tax Senator
Vardaman and others joining with some
Of the Republicans In demanding higher
tax on swollen incomes. This was avert
ed by compromise by the caucus which
increased to some extent the House rates.
The death OF Senator Johnston near the
close of the struggle again alarmed the
Democratic leaders. whose narrow ma
jority had been cut down by the deser-
ton OF Senators Ransdell and Thornton,
Of Louisiana. who made desperate fight
on the sugar schedule. On final passage,
however, these Democratic losses were
overcome by the gain Of Senator Poindex-
ter Progressive. and Senator La Toilette,
Republican, who voted with the majority.
From September IL to September q the
conference committee wrestled with the
differences between the two houses. result
ing In an agreement on the latter date.
This provoked further dissension In the
Democratic ranks, several members Of the
majority threatening TO desert the cause
at the last moment because amendments
in which they were especially Interested
had been abandoned or altered by the con-
ference committee.
A final caucu7 was called and the whip
was cracked for the last time. On Octo-
Der the report was agreed to by the
Senate. but without any show Of opposi-