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SEPTEMBER 1 191:1
TherCbjtnmoneft
Undemocratic Secret Caucus Must Go
THE SECRET CAUCUS DOOMED
Sometime ago The Commoner printed an edi
torial from which the following extract is taken:
"If the democratic members of the house did not
submit to secret caucuses on public affairs there
would be no doubt concerning any of their
proceedings.
. "Why should any democratic member submit
tp the secret caucus? Why should not the
public business which these men have to do
be transacted in the open so that their consti
tuents may be able to fix responsibility for all
that they do and for aH that they fail to do?
"The secret caucus is one of the worst foes
of popular government. If you are opposed to
it write your member of congress and urge him
to protest against it."
The following is a dispatch to the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat: "Washington, August 19.
Representative Oscar Underwood of Alabama,
majority leador of the house, has seen a light.
His announcement today, In view of his recent
attack on William J. Bryan that he is in favor
of open party-caucuses hereafter, is evidence of
the fact.
"Underwood stated today that he favored
opening party caucuses in futuro to the press.
A recent issue of The Commoner had across
the whole front page in big headlines "The
Secret Caucus Must Go." Evidently Mr. Under
wood has come to the same viewpoint as Mr.
Bryan, editor of The Commoner, on this one
subject, although he explains that he was
prompted to make this announcement by criti
cisms made on the floor of the house at this
session over the course of the democrats in ex
plaining caucus rule framing legislative pro
grammes behind the closed doors of the caucus
and binding the members of the party to 'vote
for the program.
"Underwood today said that caucus publicity
was essential to good legislation and adminis
tration of the laws. He has carried out his
whole program this session by caucus rule,
but now on the eve of adjournment he declares
for publicity of caucus action.
"Underwood -was an important member of the
conference committee on the wool bill, which
held its final session in public. He did not move
to hold an open session and' admit newspaper
correspondents. Senator Bailey did that, and
La Follette gave Bailey credit for it. However,
it seems to be a popular thing just now, especi
ally in view of the hammering of Mr. Bryan in
his paper to advocate action in the open.
" 'Some of the republican members of the
house, as well as a portion of the press,' said
Mr. Underwood today, 'have indulged in criti
cisms of what they choose to call 'secret caucus
rule.' In some instances these criticisms have
been leveled at me personally. For many years
it has been the custom of all parties to hold
party caucuses with a view to securing har
monious action. In former times it was cus
tomary for such caucuses to pass resolutions that
its proceedings be kept secret. No such resolu
tions have been adopted since I was made chair
man of the ways and means committee. Noth
ing has occurred at any of our caucuses which,
if given fullest publicity, would have ernbaV
rassed our party or any member of it. (
" 'I see no objection whatever to opening the
press gallery at our caucuses and allowing the
newspapers to carry full reports of our pro
ceedings. I am one of those who believe that
the fullest publicity concerning all public ques
tions is essential to good legislation and good
administration of the laws.' "
If this dispatch can be relied upon the secret
caucus will soon be a thing of the past. Let us
hope that Mr. Underwood is correctly reported.
Mr. Bryan can afford to be attacked l)y Mr.
Uffclerwood if he can be instrumental in pro
tecting the party and the country at large from
the menace of a1 secret caucus. It is not pleasant
to criticise one's own party, but it is better to
criticise and secure reforms than to defend
wrong or even to remain silent while wrong
is being done. The Commoner congratulates
Mr. Underwood upon the position he has taken
in favor of the open caucus if the report is true.
A GREAT VICTORY .- ,
Sioux City 'TiWa) Tribune: "For seyeral
weeks, through u. pages of his Commoner; Mr.
Bryan has been ' condemning vigorously the
secret caucus methods of the house democrats.
It .has been part of his campaign against Chair
man Underwood, of the ways and means com
mittee, whom ho accuses of being a protectionist
wearing a democratic mask, and his demands
that the caucus bo thrown open to tho public
have been most emphatic.
"Saturday last Mr. Underwood gave out an
interview in which he declared that he would
move for open caucuses when congress re
assembles next winter. Ho did not refer, of
course, to Mr. Bryan's attacks on tho secret
caucus methods, but he did say, as Mr. Bryan
has frequently said, that ho believed tho secret
method was a bad one, and that publicity is
essential to the enactment of good laws.
"Mr. Underwood's concession is an important
one, owing to the importance of the caucus
itself in the management of the house under
the democratic regime. Every measure passed
by the house at the special session was first
submitted to and agreed Upon by tho caucus,
and this plan, it is announced, will be followed
In the future. Open caucuses at Washington
will be a new departure, but they will be an
other great democratic advance in government.
"Meanwhile those who Imagine that Mr.
Bryan's influence in his own party is on tho
wane, or who pretend that his party leaders at
Washington neetl have no fear of his criticism,
have another guess coming. Mr. Underwood is a
very astute politician, and his attitude in this
matter is an admission that he does not care
to invite any more attacks from Mr. Bryan than
can be avoided."
FROM CONGRESSMAN DAUGIIERTV
House of Representatives, U. S., Washington,
D. C, Aug. 7, 1911. I wish to express my
hearty indorsement of your suggestion in last
week's Commoner to change the caucus rules
so as to require a public record vote on all
questions affecting the party's policy. Condi
tions would be greatly changed for the better,
and to. me personally such a ruling would bo
more than welcome. For instance, I should
have been very glad, indeed, if, when the wool
bill was considered in pur caucus, the fact that
I favored placing raw wool as well as the
manufactured product on the free list could
have become a matter of public record.
Every honest man should bo willing for his
constituents to know just whore he stands on
all matters affecting their interests and there
should bo iio hiding behind caucus rules.
I have been your ardent supporter and friend
since tho beginning of your political career and
want you to know I havo not lost faith in your
judgment and leadership. Sincerely yours,
J. A. DAUGHERTY.
WATCH IT GROW
Mr. Bryan has given instructions that every
new subscriber shall receive Tho Commoner for
a period of two years (which will carry it. be
yond tho presidential election of 1912) for tho
sum of one dollar. Every Commoner reader is
asked to secure at least one new subscriber.
Many will be able to securo more than one.
Everyone, however, may render some aid in
thin work.
The following named readers have sent in five
or more subscribers:
Dr. Jno. C. Ferbert, Cal.; S. D. Douglass,
Tenn.; R. F. Williams, Tenn.; G. W. McWherter,
Tex.; Ben. E. McCulloch, Tex.; Alex Mcintosh,
Tex.; G. H. Turner, Va.; Sam Meredith, O.; R.
G. Mitchell, la.; W. I. Boreman, W. Va.; O. O.
Pettit, 111.; W. F. Gilbreath, Tex.; Pat. J. Bo
hans, Wash.; Thos. Wolf, Pa.; J. M. Bowler,
Minn.; L. F. Luthy, Mo.; W. D. Lang, Tex.;
C. W. Osenton, Va.; Jno. J. Shoreggo, Minn.;
W. A. Summerrill, N. J.; R. W. Napier, Mo.;
T. H. Aalshus, Minn.; Jas. F. Thomson, Okla.;
S. S. Hanlyi O.; Max Church, Cal.; F. E. Brown,
Pa.; W. A. Purington, Me.; N. T. Chambers,
Tenn.; W. P. Brown, Mo.; Earl' C. Ohl, O.;
W. H. Hinks, Wash.; A. Clark, Cal.; R. R. Dud
ley, Mont.; C. E. Hamilton, W. Va.; W. B.
Lucas, S. D.; Joe Cox, Cal.; A. Parmley, Ark.;
Wm. H. Castle, Mich.; S. R. Chappell, Ind.;
L. E. Brlckell, S. D.; E. C. Carrington, O.; Dr.
J. L. Sweeney, Mo.; Perry Craig, Cal.; C. E.
Wells, Cal.; W. L. Heck, N. M.; J. J. Malton,
Ky.; Wm.. H. Hall, Mo.; J. A. Kuykendall,
Tex.; Jno. F. Hartman, O.; Geo. B.- Taylor, N.
Y.; H. Hr Wiling, Ind.; Geo. Tichenor, Ind.;
W. J. Wilhite;.Mo.; T. G. Gibson; Ky.; L. F.
Luthy, N. Y;,v.J: L. Bates, N. Y.;Jj"G. Cheese
bore, Cal. r'; Jacob J. Hunzeker,-Neb.; H. W.
Jones, O.; Wm. IT. Carr, Ind.; L. E. Larson,
la.; T. A. Stephenson, -Wash.; J. D.- Wilder,
Tonn.; Jno. M. Fulton, In,; S, W. MoCoIloch,
Cal.; Geo. A. Coloninn, 111.; C. L. Book, W. Vif.j
Thos. II.. Quigloy, Mo,; Jacob Chnmborlnln, Cal.:
E. W. Morrlss, W. Vn.; R. S. Chllds, Vt.; F. J.
Rowan, Wis.; J. O. Brooke, Ind.; O. L, Daw
son, Mo.; J. W. Walton, 111.; T. A. Randall,
Tex.; Jas. R. Shiran, Knn.; J. C. Owen, Ky.;
C. C. Fletcher, Ky.; B. II. Vanco, O.; J. II.
Woodward, Mo.; M. Ilalsor, la.; W. J. Graham,
111.; P. A. Lovelock, N. Y.; Anton Kaiser, Neb.;
Edgar A. Dolaha, Dola.; Dan'l. Hough, Mo.; 0.
L. Mahonoy, Ariz.; A. Tynan, Nob.; 13, F. Can
troll, N. J.; Milton Curtis, W. Va.; L. A. Var
roll, Mq.; M. C. Cunningham,. Knn.; A. P.
Conklln, N. Y.; B. A. Klrchnor, la.; Jno. J
Rhodes, Va.; O. M. Wllklns, Md.; M. M. Con
way, 0.; B. F. Roe, la.; Win. Mullor, S. D.;
Jno. A. Thomas, Ala.; 13. L. Croft, la.; E. C.
Perkins, Wis.; W. G. Gobhnrdt, N. J.; BonJ.
Smith, 111.; G. II. Gray, la.; Lyman C. Ron, Mo.;
Seth Woodward, Conn.; J. K. Simmons, O.;
Frank Conrad, Kan.; Wm. II. Berry, Pa.; E. B.
Howard, la.; Abram Pancake, O.; J. S. Holll
han, N. Y.; A. J. Howard, Neb.; W. F. Boono,
Ga.; O. IT. Runyan, 0.; Jno. Richards, Va.;
M. Jasper, Cal.; Wm. F. Woodrow, Dola.; T. Y.
Elton, Tex.; L. Cunningham, O.; S. F. Hammer,
la.; T. G. Howe, M. D., Tex.; J. W. Wayne, Cal.;
A. R. Gamble, N.Y.; A. L. Barnes, Kan.; J. E.
Lelser, Minn.; II. Moss, W. Vn.; F. II. Howard,
la.; Jno. B. Butler, Tenn.; IT. IT. Burwoll, D. C;
B. C. Bales, Mont; ITy. Lamar, Mo.; W. J.
Bralnnrd, la.; Willis F. Corley, 111.; C. Rannoy,
Mich.; C. C. Duling, Kan.; J. F. Sailer, Pa.; Jno.
IT. Taylor, W. Va.; W. A. Gann, Okla.; Martha
R. Havens, Cal.; Geo. A. Grabo, Pa,; J. T. Hicks,
111.; Jos. Adamson, la.; W. C. Scrlmgeour, la.;
'W. M. Kaufman, O.; J. E. Willis, Ark.; R.
Jacobson, Cal.; Math las Burgraf, Cal.; J. M.
Bowler, Minn.; O. L. Swearing, Nob.; S. II.
Plorson, Fla.; J. L. Campbell, Minn.; A. V.
Paulson, Wash.; Everett C. Tharp, O.; Eva
Keith, la.; Wm. IT. Carter, 111.; W. W. Locks,
Mo.; J. M. Terry, la.; J. C. Blgham, Mo.; V. L.
Masey, Ark.; J. N. Potts, W. Vav.; C. Chapman,
111.; B. F. Patton, W. Va.; Gelbert Faber, 111.;
Chas. Main, Mich.; C. F. Host, Mich.; P. A.
Splcer, Ky.; J. M. Stephens, Ala.; M. L. Shield,
Pa.; E. T. Moon, Ind.; Thos. Coats, 111.; G. N.
McLeroy, Tex.; Jno. Shramok, Ida.; W. K.
Bartloson, Fla.; Jno. W. Howard, Cal.; Goo. P.
Pontius, Ind,; A. T. Armstrong, Tox.; W. R.
Bowles, Mo.; G. W. Reynolds, Tox.; J. L. Brown,
la.; J. E. NonTs, Ark.; J. A. Jayne, N. Y.; E.
IT. Morris, N. Y.; J. I. Llnohan, 111.; Jno. Sat-,
terwhito, Wash.; J. F. Griffin, Cal.; Leo Dillard,
Tonn.; Jas. IT. Foulker, Ky.; J. M. Fulton, la.;
W. T. Lyons, Pa.; J. R. Hawkins, Neb.; Wm.
P. Gregg, N. Y.; Thos L. Davis, Minn.
M. J. Edgoworth, Kankakee, 111. Encloica
find $3.00 for threo years' subscriptions to The
Commoner. Let Mr. Bryan continue his good
work and pay no attention to the red fire of
the Balloy-Aldrlch-Underwood crowd; neither
red fire nor saltpetre can save them and their
yoke of steel when tho next election comes
around.
L. J. Palmer, Winston-Salem, N. C. I send
you four dollars for which please send Tho
Commoner as per your special offer to tho
enclosed names. I do this to show my apprecia
tion, in a small way, for the grand work you aro
doing for tho masses of the people, which I
firmly believe, has already resulted In staving
off a revolution, for it will undoubtedly come,
if the "big interests" are given a free hand to
exact tribute and oppress the people. We only
have to look backward to Rome to see what our
country and people will inevitably come to, pro
vided the "interests" are not curbed in their,
desire to enslave tho American people.
F. M. Epperson, 111. Enclosed find $8.00 to
pay for eight two-year 1912 educational cam
paign subscriptions. I hope to do a great deal
of work for The Commoner, and desire that you
send me additional subscription blanks at once.
I. N. McClijitock, Kan. I am. enclosing a
draft for $6 to pay for six special two-year
1912 educational campaign subscriptions. Please
send me.mip're blanks so that I can secure addi
tional subscribers -with this great special offer.
v r- A TBIELY WARNING
'Cambridge (Mass.) Recorder: The demo
crats' should be' careful in the next presidential
campaign to chooso a man free from entangling
alliances." : If they don't it is goodbye to them.
They will go where they have 'gone' before-
to the pit-. " . ..:.'.' ,.';.
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