, 1864-01-02
Letter from Olympia.

OLYMPIA, Dec. lUth, 1905.
EDS. STATESMAN Not knowing that you
have regular correspondent from this place
during the session of the Legislative Assem-
bly, 1 have thought that few items might
prove interesting to your readers, and pro
ceed to give you brief of what has occurred
mp to the present time. On Monday last the
House of Representatives was called to order,
and Jessee T. Bowles of Clark county select
ed as Speaker pro tenn. A committee on
credentials was appointed, f. P. Dugan OF
your county Chairman.
On Tuesday the report of this Committee
was received and adopted, giving to the
Democratic Representative from Claim coun-
ty seat as member, until after permanent
organization, when the question at issue could
be more fully determined. The House then
proceed to ballot for Speaker, having in view
permanent organization. Mr.. Dugan OF
Wala Walla, Mr.. Ward of Pierce and Mr.
Crosby of Thurston were placed in nOmina-
ton. Some five or six ballots were taken
without an election. Mr.. Dugan receiving
ten votes upon the last ballot and Mr.. Cros-
by ten Scattering three. Twenty three
were cast, and twelve being necessary to a
choice, no one receiving a majority. Where
upon the House adjourned until Wednesday
10 Am.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9th.-House met at
10 A. NJ All the members present except
MIR. Rogers from Walla Walla.
The House again proceeded to ballot for
Speaker, and upon the tenth ballot Mr.. Cros-
by of Thurston received twelve votes, Mr..
| Dugan nine and scattering two. Mr. Cros-
by was therefore declared duly elected
Speaker.
! j. i. Mcdonald Democrat of King
county, was then elected Chief Clerk. w.
H. Pope of Clark Assistant Clerk. Thomas
Prather Sergeant at Arms, and Jacob Sum
mers Door Keeper, and thus a permanent
organization was affected by the election of a
Republican Speaker, and the remainder of
the officers Democrats, except perhaps, the
Sergeant-at-Arms, who is not however, a
Black Republican. Mr. Dugan upon the
eighth ballot, took occasion to define his po-
sition very distinctly and appropriately, in
which he emphatically denied certain state
ments made by the opposition, and clearly
proved that he had not at any time during
his canvass in this part of the Territory for
the Democratic nominee for Delegate
been guilty Of them. He started out by
denying that he had ever endorsed Vallan-
digham or his suicidal policy that he had
ever been democrat and believed in the
principles of that party rested the ultimate
salvation and preservation of our National
! Union. That the nation had risen to its
great hegth in prosperity wealth and power,
before the rebellion under the control and
policy of true Democratic principles that
the fundamental principles of the Democrat
ic party was unity, peace and strength that
upon the policy of that party the govern
ment had united peace and strength to a
nation greater than had ever previous been
founded by man; that those principles had
been tried in war and peace, and found ade-
quate to meet the wants of free people uu-
der all circumstances, and that they being
eternal in themselves were Just as good now
as they ever were-and hence he saw no
cause for their abandonment by any one. He
further said that he was not in favor of a
dissolution of the Union, but On the contra
ry would vote to sustain the Government in
every effort founded in justice upon the rights
of the Constitution for the suppression of the
rebellion; and the only difference between
himself and other members on the floor of
the House was not as to the justice right
and duty of the Government to put down
the rebellion, but upon the policy adopted
by the Administration, in which the ques-
of slavery had wantonly been thrust That
while the policy of the Administration was
announced to be the great and all controlling
object to restore the Union he had Joined
heart hand in the effort, and would gladly
have this remain the first and paramount
question above all others.
Although Mr.. Dugan did not either gain
or lose any votes, his speech certainly had
very good effect upon all who heard him.
Your whole delegation have already shown
an ability fully equal to their position and
capacity to manage successfully for the best
interests of their constituents
The Council have not yet reached a per-
manent organization, owing to a quadrangle