New Britain herald., 1916-04-28
HOUSE DEMOCRATS
 JUMP THE TRACES
Refuse to Abide by Terms Of Sen-
 ate Philippine Bill

! l their caucus last night on the Philip 1 pine Independence bill the democrats of the house were confronted with l such a serious defection that the rate l of the administration measure is in 1 doubt and the senate bill may be de- feated in the house. Twenty fight l house democrats refused to abide by l the caucus action approving the senate bill which contains the Clarke amendment decreeing the freedom of the islands after two and within four years.
 The democratic majority in the house over all parties is only twenty one. Assuming that the minority will vote solidly against the Philip pine bill the majority party will lack half a dozen votes, at least, unless some of the democrats who an nounced last night they would re- fuse to stand by the caucus action can be persuaded to reconsider. The democratic caucus was an acrimonious affair, and the debate continued for more than three hours. An indirect attack by Representatives Rainey of Illinois and Thomas of Kentucky on so-called Irish mem
  caused a stormy scene.
 No Irishmen, All Americans. Replying to Mr. Rainey, Represen- tative Gallivan of Massachusetts hotly said:
 There are no Irishmen here. We are all Americana
 MT. Rainey, according to reports following the caucus, had expressed his surprise that Irish members of the house should be opposed to the freedom of any nation.
 The resolution adopted by the caucus provides for the consideration of the senate bill as a party measure in the house. No amendments are to be permitted, except to that section which provides for prohibition in the islands. Chairman Jones of the in- sular affairs committee compromised with certain opponets of the bill by agreeing to permit amendments on the prohibition issue. There are to be no amendments. however, to the Clarke provision which aroused the most serious house opposition to the bill.
 After the caucus MT. Jones ex- pressed the belief that not all the democrats who absolved themselves from the caucus action last night would hold to their decision. He ad- mitted that if twenty-eight demo- Crats vote against the bill and the minority opposition is practically colid the bill will be defeated. MT. Jones said, however, that rather than permit defeat there would probably be a modification of the Clarke amendment, as a last reesort.
 "An independence bill for the Philippines will be passed at this session. said MT. Jones. 'It may be necessary to modify the bill by pro- viding for independence within five or even ten years, but the Philippine bill must pass"
 Wilson Indorses Measure.
 President Wilson wrote to Mr. Jones unqualihedly indorsing the senate bill and the Clarke amend ment. The president. MT, Jones said, was still for the senate measure, but even this did not bring the entire house majority into line.
 The caucus voted in favor of the hill by I40 to 35. Of the thirty-five recalcitrants twenty eight announced they would not be bound by the caucus action cn account of pledges made to their constituents and con- scientious opposition to freeing the islands at this time.
 The twenty eight democrats who refused to abide by the caucus man. date were:
 Representative Allen of Ohio, Reakes of Michigan, Bruckner of New York. Carew of New York, Coady of Maryland, Conry New York, Dale of New York, Dooling of New York, Eagen of New Jersey, Estopinal of Louisiana. Farley of New York, Fitz- gerald of New York, Flynn of New York, Gallagher of Illinois, Gallivan of Massachusetts, Griffin of New York, Hart of New Jersey, Hubert of New York, Igoe of Missouri, Me- Andrews and McDermott of Illinois, Maher of New York, Oglesby of New York, Olney of Massac chusetts, Patten of New York, Riordan of New York, sherley of Kentucky, and Smith of New York
 The bitterest portions of the debate came after MT. Rainey's reference to the opposition of Irish mem bers'' to the independence bill. MT. Conry of New York said that it was "an insult to the United States to compare the treatment of the Philippines by this country to the treament of Ireland by Great Britain.
 Representative Thomas of Ken lucky angered MT. Conry and others