New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-27
They Defeat Attempt
to Jam Philippines
Measure Through.
FORCE LEADERS
TO DELAY ACTION
Conference Will Resume
Tonight, but Bill Is
Believed Doomed.
From The Tribune Bureau ]

FROM The Tribune bureau
Washington, April ga revolt
against the attempt to jam the Philip
pines scuttle bill through by caucus &C
tion tonight reached such proportions,
despite a written appeal for the meas
ure by President Wilson read to the
Democrats by Chairman Jones, OF the
House Insular Affairs Committee, that
action had to be postponed until to-
morrow night.
About thirty-five Democratic mem
bers Of the House refused TO be bound
when the time came for a vote on
whether the independence bill should be
made a party measure. This caused so
much dissension that Speaker Clark
moved that the caucus recess Until to-
morrow night. Long after the doors
had been opened some of the indig-
nant members were still expressing
their protests against gag rule and de-
claring that the small Democratic ma
iority would have been wiped out a.
the last election if any such proposal
as immediate independence for the
Philippines had been in contemplation.
May Never Pass.
Prospects are that the bill will never
mass the House. Its opponents are
rushing a food of kilograms 10 absen-
tees, urging their return TO vote TO-
morrow night against making the
Philippine bill a party measure.
Opposition to the bill was led by the
Tsmmany members, Representatives
Fitzgerald. Conry and Hubert making
speeches against it. The Boston mem
hers and nearly the entire Kentucky
delegation are opposed to IT. one oil
the items frequently attacked IN the
caucus was that imposing immediate
prohibition on the islands.
Chairman Jones opened the discus
sion by reading a letter from President
Wilson, written to-day, stating his "un,
oualjfed Endorsement" of the bill
passed by the Senate. and urging IT'S
massage without amendment by the
House. This letter was mildly ap-
plauded. but it soon became evident
that if all opponents Of the measure
refused to be bound by the caucus It's
passage would be hopeless. .,
Administration forces were hopetul
when the meeting broke up that. win
all tomorrow to bring the Presidents
influence 20 bear. they would be aoie
10 keep the recalcitrsnts in line to-mor,
row night. Speaker Clark expressed
the hope that by allowing opponents
all the time they wanted they might
agree 70 support the bill, under pro
test, as party measure after Tree
discussion and vote had shown that
the majority OF the Democrats Ia
vored II.
Islands Not Yet Ready.
Chairman Jones pointed out that the
Clarke amendment would give the ISL
ands their independence in 1921 at the
outside. allowing the President to eN-
tend the four-year period until the
conclusion of the following session OF
Congress. In 1902, he said, the Demo
Gratis of the House voted UNANIMOUSLY
for a bill TO give the islands their IN
dependence in 1911. The bill passed
with heavy Republican support, and
was amended in the Senate TO grant
independence in 1907, though this
measure was killed in the upper house.
Representative Fitzgerald said ne
had promised his constituents that ne
would not vote for any measure grant
ing the islands their independence un-
iii stable form OF government hsd
been set up. which condition, he
thought, had not by any means been
reached
Representative Conry, OF New YORK.
offered a resolution providing that no
action should be taken on any Philip
nine bill until all Americans having
property interests in the islands had
b.en given a hearing. An attempt to
Law this resolution on the table raised
40 much opposition. and caused so
many threats 10 withdraw from the
caucus. that it was withdrawn and the
debate went on.