The Washington herald., 1913-07-07
FIGHT over PLAN
TO Bind SOL0NS
Senator Simmons, However,
Hopeful that Caucus VIII
Adopt Resolution.
VIEWS OF THE LEADERS
Fear Unless Action Is Taken Some
Democrats Will Vote with Repub-
. ieans on Tariff Amendments.

Notwithstanding that q number Of
Democratic Senators are opposing reso
lotion to bind individual Democratic Sen
ators to support the tariff bill In TIT
form in which the caucus approved it
Chairman Simmons said last night that
he had no intention of abandoning hi.
plan for the passing Of such a res Ilu'
would adopt it
The opposition to the resolution. was
much more formidable than the Demo
cratic leaders had expected. In addition
to the two Louisiana Senators, number
of Western Democrats also spoke in OPP
position to the proposal. among item
Senator Chamberlain Of Oregon. Senator
Newlands of Nevada, and Senator Walsh
OF Montana. So determined was the op-
position that some OF the Democratic
leaders advised Chairman Simmons not
&c press his resolution.
The Democratic leaders fear that unless
they DO pass a binding resolution a snffi-
dent number Of Democratic Senator's
will vote with the Republicans on certain
amendments TO the tariff bill tina, are
sure to be offered by the Republicans, as
10 probably lead to a restoration of the
Iuty on wool and en- sugar, and probably
increases in other duties
Want Drastic Action.
What the Democratic leaders hope to
do is to pass a resolution so strict that
il will not only compel Individual
Democratic Senators 10 support the Dill.
but deprive them of the privilege of Of
(, ring amendments to the bill in the
Senate. or of voting for any amendments
that may he offered.
Those Democratic Senators who are
opposed to the proposed resolution to
bind their action have explained 10 their
colleagues that they cannot justify their
~ ton al home in voting against amend
mentS for small revenue duties on wool
and on sugar in the Senate, by explain
ing that they lid il as a matter of party
allegiance. They believe that they would
f- promptly met with suggestion tfat
they were sent to Washington to repre-
sent their States and to vote for local
interests and not TO follow the dictates
o: the party caucus.
Senator La Toilette, who is to take an
active part in the Republican fight on
the bill in the Senate, has already taken
up cudgeIs against the policy of making
a tariff bill in assecret party caucus, and
expects to make the most of il in a par
tisan way. The Western Senators fear
the effects of an onslaught by him in
their future elections if they surrender
their convictions as to their local inter-
ests and follow the dictates of the
caucus SEQ.
The Democratic caucus will reconvene
at o'clock this afternoon. Messages
have been sent to all absent Democratic
Senate to be in Washington and to
attend the caucus and to vote on the
resolution to bind individual Democratic
Senators. 1t is by no means certain
that there will be a full attendance. Only
thirty-one out OF the ffty-one Senators
who compose the caucus were present
This was not considered sig
nificant. however. because a number Of
them had left the city for the holidays
But there are indications that number
Of Democratic. Senators will refuse to be
bound by the caucus.
Hope to Complete Bill Today.
II is expected that the bill will be
completed today. although il may be
necessary to prolong the caucus into the
night or POSSIBLY into tomorrow TO ac-,
the result There will be a |
meeting of the full membership of the
nance Committee tomorrow or We'd
nesday. and within a day afterward the
tariff bill will be reported into the Sem
ate. although written reports from the
majority and the minority will not be
80 Lac in he IL