The Washington times., 1913-04-09
UNDERWOOD ASKS
PARTY HARMONY
Democratic Leader Tells Cau'
Gus of the Necessity OF
Avoiding Discord.
Continued from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First PageD
were on opposing sides. and Congress-
man THOMPSON of Oklahoma, a new
| member, asserted his rights in most
vigorous and vitriolic manner.
Free raw wool and ultimate free sus-
ar are the items against which the
most opposition will be leveied. Con-
Rressman Broussard, asserting that the
| Underwood bill will wipe out the prln-
| cipal industry of Louisiana. came to
the rates in the new tariff bill ana make
| the duty cents. instead of l cent
| mound on sugar. Thanked by Democrats
| from Colorado. Louisiana and Mlchl-
gan, Mr.. Broussard is also prepared TO
| fight to the end the proviso that sugar
| shall be free after three years.
| The antf-free wool members from the
middle West and New England mar
| shaled their forces today for a protrac-
TED fight on that item.
| The caucus session yesterday after
noon was a diverting and lively affair.
Even those on the outside-beyond the
closed doors-heard echoes of the fray,
and there was not dull moment.
Oklahoma Stands On Rights.
Young man, go back. You can't put
/ me out of here" shouted Congressman
Thompson, the Oklahoma new member.
at one stage of the proceedings. Con-
| sressman Murray of Massachusetts, had
hustled to Mr.. Thompson's seat to ex-
plain a pending motion to table all mo-
| tions for the open caucus. The Okla
| homan didn't want any advice, even II
| he was recruit legislator, and the more
| experienced Murray was shooed back to
| his place as ASSISTANT secretary oL the
Congressman Palmer, the caucus
Chairman, left the chair TO plead for
the open party council. He didn't refer
directly to the Presidents suggestions
| for open doors, but his position was
| generally understood to be reflective Of
| the White House view. Mr.. Palmer de-
clared that the public not only was en-
titled to know what was done in caucus.
| but how it was done.
| This brought an emphatic reply from
Mr.. Underwood, who favored the closed
| conclave. lir. Underwood frankly in
| formed his auditors that II the public
and press were admitted to the caucus
party. differences would be heralded as
party dissensiops.
Underwood Makes Retort.
He illustrated the case of a man who
might be opposed to free wool and
would strongly voice tnat opposition in
the secrecy of the caucus room. If that
member were to abide subsequently by
the caucus action and vote in the House
for free wool. argued Mr.. Underwood
no antagonist might confront him with
his caucus views. The open caucus
meant, said Mr.. Underwood. that the
| opposition, armed with knowledge Of
what occurred in the party council.
| would badger the member for swallow
ing his convictions and for voting for
something in which he did not believe.
| Congressman Carlin. who offered one
| of the resolutions to make the caucus
ident's reputed advocacy of such plan:
This but added fuel to the flames and
the fireworks continued.
Declines to Take Seat.
Congressman Thompson, despite his
legislative inexperience, was the most
| inisstent friend of the wide open eau
i Gus when Mr.. Thomas Of Kentucky
moved to table all motions the Oklaho-
ma Democrat said that looked to him
| like a plain attempt to continue star
| chamber proceedings.
Other members and the caucus chair
| man. amid great confusion. endeavor-
ed to explain that the caucus rules
now provide for a journal and roll
press, but that the caucus speeches are
! not available.
NJ. Thompson declined to take his
| seat or to permit Chairman Palmer to
explain the pending motion. The Okla
| homa member repeated that he con-
strued motion to table as being
| equivalent to a star chamber caucus.
st confess / am ignorant about these
things he shouted 1bove the hubbub.
| I'VE know it," yelled several MEM
| bers in unison, meanwhile attempting
| to curb the belligerent new member.
| who was coached by Alfalfa Bill" Muir
| ray, also from Oklahoma, and who like
| wise favored letting the public in.
Underwood Wins Out.
1t was when Mr. Murray, of Massa-
chusetts. hustled to Thompson's seat to
advise him regarding the meaning OF
the several motions pending that the
youthful New Englander was told TO
| go back and sit down" Mr.. Murray
is assistant secretary of the caucus
| and was jolted when his advice was
| spurned.
| CONGRESSMAN Carlin. in presenting his
| open-caucus resolution, referred to the
| fact that the President had been quoted
as favoring publicity of Democratic
caucus proceedings. From that time
| on the dividing line was between the
| original Bryan idea for an open caucus
and the Underwood position that party
| councils should be secret MIR. Under
| wood won out on the final roll call-l6I
| to "a.
moved to table all resolutions to change
| the caucus rules, and Congressman Pal
| mer and Henry, recognized as Wilson
| men, voted In opposition.
Confusion Exists in Chamber.
| CONGRESSMAN Hefin observed that
"the fowler who sets his net in the
| presence of the bird never catches him.
and he vigorously opposed opening the
doors to political enemies and hostile
newspapers. What did the public care
| regarding the way in which decision
was reached, so long as it was
remedial? And did not the President S
Cabinet and the Senate meet in secret
| at times and work out policies for the
| common good?
| While Mr.. Thompson held forth ut
| most confusion existed In the chamber.
| and at times hGlf-doZen members
| were speaking at once.
| "Pitchfork" Ben Tillman in his palm
| lest days doesn't compare to that fellow,
| Thompson when he gets on a rampage.
i exclaimed a flustered Democrat, as he
1 left the Capitol.
| Three resolutions regarding the eau
| Gus rules were offered as soon as the
| Democrats met. Mt. Shackelford. of
Missouri, moved that the caucus should
| be open to the President, the members
| Of the ca binCt, and Senators. Mr.. Car
| lin wanted to throw wide the galleries