Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-11
LETTER FROM JEFFERSON CITY.
JEFFERSON CITY, Jan. 9th, 1879.

LETTER FROM JEFFERSON CITY.
JEFFERSON CITY, Jan. 9th, 1879.
EDITOR INTELLIGENcER:-The demo-
cratic nat and house caucuses met
last night to select candidates for the
various positions in the gift of the gen.
e-al assembly. The rules were rather
more liberal than have prevailed in the
past. especially in the house. where all
members of the press were admitted.
In the senate the contest began, after
the election of Gov. Brockmeyer as
chairman of the caucus, and Messrs.
Waller Young and w. C. B. Gillespie,
as secretaries. in the nomination for sec
rotary. For this position Messrs. w.
Y. Pemberton and Dan. Able were
named: The gallant and eloquent Penn
berton received the nomination on the
first ballot. receiving IL of the % votes.
Mr.. VIM. H. Mayo was elected assist
ant secretary, with virtually no opposi-
ton.
Mr.. Ashley Ewing. of Cole county,
was nominated for sergeant-at-arms;
his competitors being John L. Morrison,
of Howard county. and Charles Perrie,
of Cooper county.
Mr.. p. B. Bailey. of Galloway county.
was elected door-keeper.
Mr.. James johnson. OF St. Louis was
named for Official reporter.
Masters Hutsing, OF St. Louis. and
Phipps. of Moberly, where chosen as
pages.
In the house the caucus passed off
very quietly aud without a jar Of any
kind. everything being good humoredly
and expeditiously settled.
Mr.. ". R. Anderson. of Marion coun-
ty, was made chairman. N. NJ. Bell chief
clerk and Dan. Boone assistant.
For speaker there were two nomina-
tons, J. Ed. Belch, of Cole, and Frank
P. Wiley. of Randolph. Mr.. Wiley's
name was Withdrawn by Capt. R. A.
Collins. and the nomination of Mr..
Belch was made by acclamation-a great
compliment to the gentleman and a we'll
deserved one.
Mr.. Seymour. of Ray county, was then
nominated tor chief clerk. by a vote OF
100. to s for his opponent. Mr.. Wood.
Mr.. Thos. J. Lingle. of Henry county,
was chosen as assistant clerk.
For engrossing clerk Mr.. J. b.
Thompson. of Macon county, was named.
For enrolling clerk Mr.. Fred L. Wen
sci, of Gasconade, was named.
The representatives from Lafayette,
Of course, took especial interest in the
election of sergeant-at-arms. having a
candidate in the field for the place, Mr..
Harvey w. %Plattenburg, of Dover. The
gentleman's popular and pleasing man.
nsrs had made a good impression on the
members before the meeting of the con-
vention, and all that was needed to
gracefully round up his was
supplied by Capt. Collins in a few elo-
quent and happy words In placing him
in nomination. The first ballot showed
Mr.. P%lattenburg to be far in advance
of any other candidate, there being five
or six. and the second ballot easily de-
cided the matter in his favor. he receiv-
ing 81 votes.
Col. II. E. Moore, of Cole county, was
elected door keeper.
The evenings work was we'll rounded
up by the election of a worthy gentle
man to be official reporter. Mr.. Tennie
Matthews. OF Jefferson City.
Both houses are we'll Differed, princi-
pally by gentlemen of experience in the
duties which they will be required to
fill. and all OF them worthy of confidence.
The senatorial contest Is very quietly
conducted, and there is little or no ex-
element attending It. Messrs. Vest.
Allen and Glover are on the ground, and
also his excellency. the governor.
The general opinions seem to be that
Weiss chances are now the best. The
greenbackers' determination to seek no
utilization with either OF the old parties
relieves the situation of its complications
somewhat, 70 they were rather an un-
certain factor. 1t is remarked by every
body that the present is the most sober
and orderly senatorial contest that has
been held in Missouri for many years.
None Of the candidates have any liquors
in their rooms and all seems TO be NOV
ing along decently and decorously much
to the chagrin of those who ENJOY the
excitements brought on by the flowing
bowl. Vest and Glover are now the
only candidates whose names are heard
on everybody's lips; but Allen. Phelps
and Hardin have friends, in numbers,
ranging probably as l here name them.
About six inches of snow fell here
Tuesday night. the deepest snow OF the
season. The weather is nov clear and
cold.
Gov. Phelps will hold a grand recep-
ton tonight. his daughter. Mrs. Mont
gomery. doing the honors of the man.
sion.
The sessions of the senate and house
to-day were taken up with the election
of the democratic nominees for the off
ces to be filed in the two bodies. and in
listening to the reading of the governors
message, copy of which l herewith send
you. You will observe that tits volumln,
Gus, and treats in extenso and very ex.
haustively from his point OF view ths
financial, educational and criminal law
OF the state.
j, You may derive some idea OF the
coming senatorial contest from the lie
suit in the organization of the assembly
the greater portion Of the officers being
friends of Col. Vest. The caucuse!
numbered 26 in the senate and 1O5 in tn,
house. the full number in the first being
u q -~1 t. ~ lAk1.