Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-25
Washington
Y Y LETTER
BY n, 3. WALKER
Star stan Correspondent.
THE END OF cAUcuSES
star Bureau.
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg,
WASHINGTON. April rs.

METROPOLITAN National Bank Bldg,
WASHINGTON. April %.
We are about to see the end of
caucus rule in Congress.
The Progressives in the House
started out with the announcement
that they would hold no caucuses.
Instead, they said they would hold
public party conferences, with every
body invited to attend. but nobody to
be bound by any action taken.
The Republicans, after denouncing
for years the Progressive idea Of
doing all public business in public,
are ready to accept it. and there will
be few more Republican caucuses,
especially since the last attempt at
holding them in the House resulted
in the best part of the party member
ship refusing to attend.
The Democrats, handicapped by
their overwhelming majority in the
House and confronted with the
necessity for finding some excuse for
keeping their badlydivided forces
united on the tariff, have so far per-
sisted in the caucus methods, but
have yielded to public opinion suf-
ficiently to keep a public record OF
caucus proceedings, to which MEM
bers and the press have access. al
though not for purposes of publica-
ton.
Even the Democratic caucus, how
ever, is likely to go when the tarlft
is out of the way. On questions or
legislation hereafter arising it is ex-
tremely doubtful If the House ma
jority can be held in caucus or held
together on any measure which may
later be considered.
1t was not aptagonism to President
Wilson or opposition to the principle
of open caueuses which he urged that
led to the defeat of the proposal of
the majority leader, A. Mitchell
Palmer, who wanted the tariff
caucuses thrown open to the public.
While some of the old stock argu-
ments like party solidarity being
necessary to majority rule and the
desirabiiity of dirty party linen being
washed in private are still heard
about the Capitol. they are not re-
ceiving any considerable degree of
considera ton.
Fact is, that the idea of open tariff
caucuses was voted down. not because
of opposition to open caucuses, but
because of the almost general agree
ment that the only way the Demo-
cratic majority could be held together
on tariff bill was to make the bill
in secret session and bind every Dem
ocrat to vote for it, whether he liked
it or not.
One of the most progressive and in
dependent Democrats i'm Congress is
Robert c. Bremner, of New Jersey.
He voted for the closed tariff eau
euses, but frankly admits that he did
so merely as a question of expediency.
1--WE ought to make all legislation
in the House in public, and every
member ought to have the same right
TO vote as he pleases, at all times,
said Bremner today. THAT would be
representative government and demo-
cracy. I'm against caucuses and
against star chamber legislation, but
on the tariff it was a condition and
not a theory with which we were con-
fronted. We had 10 have tariff bill
and we had to have the Democratic
votes united to pass it. II we had
taken it into the House and tried to
make it on the floor, without caucus
rule, every member. of all parties,
would have tried to save his own hide
by standing out fer the protection of
his local interests, and we would never
have made even as good a bill as we
have.
with the tariff out of the way
though. there isn't much excuse for
caucuses, and there is no excuse for
star chamber legislation"
The fight for abolishing secret eau
cuses will be renewed when the House
gets to the next question after the
tariff, and it will be different sort
of a fight While the House majority
is not made up wholly of progressiVes
or radicals, by any means, there is a
good sized group of radicals on the
Democratic side, who are not likely to
be guided by tradition or precedent
Any attempt to bind them against
their convictions, by caucus rule Is
likely to give birth to about the same
kind of an insurgent movement which
led to the overthrow of Cannonism In
the Republican days, and there are
members who are now talking and
planning just such a fight in case they
are forced to 1t.