Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-10-07
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING, OCT. I, 1871.
Organization of the Legislature.

Organization or the Legislature.
The Republican journals have been re-
calling their party ever since the Supreme
Court decision affirming the last election,
upon the pleasing information that Rad.
ical majority existed in either branch of
the Assembly, and that consequently "the
majority would quietly elect their officers
aud proceed to business, without any of
the customary scramblng." 1t appears,
however, that the "hapry family" were
not Of that accord which the organs so
fondly desired, and that instead Of " choos.
ing their officers quietly" the caucuses
of the members of the House were exceed
ingly turbulant, requiring the most vigor-
Gus application Of the party lash to cause
the majority party to jog along with any
thing like apparent ease. The situation
may be briefly defined as f9lleys: The
Republican vote of-tkka ouse was sixteen,
all the. members being present; while the
Democratic strength consisted Of fourteen,
four of the members being absent. The
full Republican vote of sixteen was thus
required to constitute a quorum, as the
opposition, of course, would not willingly
aid in perfecting the organization until the
absentees should appear. Thus it was
that Maj. Van Bokkclen, and Mr.. Noyes
his special advocate for the honor, dignity
and cmolumcnts of the position of pre-
siding officer of the august assemblage,
were enabled to defeat the wishes of Gen
Ferry, the aspirations Of Deacon Bigclow
the fond hopes Of the party organs, and the
brilliant prospects Of the great Republican
party Of Washington Territory. The strug
gle was prolonged and sauguinary; the
Deacon protested in vain, his forensic clio
quence reverberating with elephautine en-
phasis as he depicted the chameleon.likt
political hues of rival aspirants. He de
clared he would not vote for Van, caucus
or no caucus, aud that he would, as an alter
native, rather vote for straight.out Dem
ocrat. The Democracy calmly awaited
results, resolved that chameleon Van should
be the Speaker, in preference to Parl
Winans, Deacon Biselow, or any ether un
adulterated Republican of official cliau,
choice. The result was realization O
their most sanguinc expectations; for o,
Tuesday, the Republican members to pre-
vent Van Bokkelen' selection by tho oppo
sition, with the aid of the votes of Va,
and his body guard, by motion declare,
the temporary organization permanent, an,
thus ended the humiliation of the prevail
ing party SO far as the House was con
cerned.
In the Council the "secret history" i
equally interesting. Mr.. Joslyn, the off
cial choice, made the most herculean effort
in his own behalf, and fought valliautl
until Wednesday afternoon, when he sue
cumbed to superior numbers if not NOR
brilliant generalship, and yielded his "brie
authority" as gracefully as circumstance
would permit, acknowledging Democrat
triumph with Radical appliances. 1t viii
be seen BY the proceedings published else
where that the temporary officers were
Joslyn for President, Porter for Chic
Clerk, Hays for Assistant Clerk, and Doyl
and Pettygrove for Sergeaut-at-Arms ane
Doorkeeper respectively. The temporar,
organization was made permanent afte
substituting, DR.. Smith for President ant
Elxood Evans for Chief Clerk-Mcssrs
Foster, McReavy, O'Bryant, DR.. Smith
Calhoun and Huntington voting in tn,
Affirmative. Thus Falstaff of the Surveyor
Generals Office and bis recruits, were arai,
placed hors DE- combat. 10 this connection
we cannot resist the inclination to copprat
nlate the people Of the Territory upon til,
auspices under which the Assembly OPENS
devoid Of the clique influence which souch
to letter its action by the choice of thu
strlctest partisans for the principal officers
lit 10 Is successful 10 thwartiug future ef