Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-04

With the Delegates.
! The House caucus was not at all spicy,
and but little interest was manifested
in the proceedings. even by the members
themselves. All OF the old officers were
! renominated. and a few speeches were
made. but very little time was wasted.
| The caucus was called to order by Mr..
| T. G. Pitcher. who stated that ho did so
as an older member Of the House He
announced that nominations for chairman
/ Of the caucus were i'm order, and Major
| Baker =. Lee in eloquent words, placed
the name of Mr.. Merritt +. Cooke be-
! fore the body, characterizng him a young
and handsome man with a sonorous
voice. Messrs. Newberne and Bland Sc
conded the nomination, and Mr. Cooke
was elected chairman by acclamation.
In taking the chair he expressed his
thanks for the honor conferred upon him
after which he called for nominations
! for the secretaryship. Colonel Harwood's
name was placed before the body, and he
was unanimously chosen. Mr.. John h.
Miller. Of Rappahannock. was made
sergeant-at-arms OF the caucus
RYAN FOR SPEAKER AGAIN.
The business OF the caucus was then
gone into, and Mr. Randolph Harrison.
/ OF Lynchburg placed In nomination the
name Of John +. Ryan. Of LOudoun, for
the speakership of the House. He spoke
| i'm the highest terms Of Mr.. Ryan. and
said the House was fortunate i'm having
such a man 20 confer the honor upon.
Messrs Newberne and May seconded the
nomination, and Mr. Ryan was unani-
mousy chosen Speaker.
Major Baker T. Lee, General Hundley
and Mr.. Randolph Harrison were appoint
ed a committee 20 notify Mr.. Ryan Of his
! =. h.r IN,
few moments with the Speaker who was
received with applause. Mr. Ryan walk
| ed directly to the chair and, addressing
the caucus. said:
Fellow Democratic members. am
/ deeply grateful for the honor you have
conferred upon me. The duties that will
devolve upon me will be important
shall expect you all 10 aid me as far as
possible. The duty of appointing COM
mittees is no easy one. and IL will take
me several days to make up the slate
I may cause some disappointments. but
] assure you that / shall perform the
duty 70 the best Of my ability. l thank
you
The next officer to be elected was Clerk
/ of the House. Colonel John Bell Bigger
was nominated by Mr. Hubbard. and the
nomination was seconded by Major Fos-
ter. who paid a high tribute to the
sterling worth of the staunch old Demo
| crat He was unanimously selected. and
/ Messrs. Hubbard. Foster, and Reddy We're
delegated to escort him into the hall. lie
! entered shortly afterwards, all smiles,
and. ascending to the rostrum. rendered
! his thanks in his happiest style He
/ said: Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen.
1 declare, / wish you had left me alone
until tomorrow. for ! am afraid | will
have to say the things tonight | had
prepared for tomorrow" Colonel Big
ger then thanked the delegates for the
honor they had conferred upon him. and
pledged himself to perform his duties TO
the best of his ability.
MR.. COOKE ENDORSED.
Mr.. Willard, of Fairfax. introduced
a resolution endorsing Mr.. Cooke for
chairman of the joint caucus. which re-
ceived the unanimous vote Of the body.
This done, the nominations for Ser
! geant-at-Arms were called for. Mr. Berke-
| ley. of Roanoke. nominated Mr. f. T.
Kindred, Of Roanoke, for the office
| Major Lee seconded Mr.. Kindred's nomi-
| nation. Mr.. j. ;. Craig. Of Rock
bridge, nominated Mr. J. W. Johnston
Of Rockbridge. and Mr. Winston, OF
Hanover, seconded his nomination. \
| recorded vote was taken. and Mr.. John.
/ stOn was elected, receiving % votes as
| against 3 cast for Mr. Kindred Mr.
| Johnson was escorted into the hall. and
rendered his thanks for the vote ac
corded him.
For the position Of First Doorkeepei
I Mr.. Arthur o. Sullivan, the veteran door
keeper was nominated by Mr. McRae. OF
. Petersburg and his name was received
with loud applause. He was elected by
| acclamatiOn. and was soon brought into
the hall on his crutches and received al.
/ most an ovation. He also returned his
/ thanks.
For outer Doorkeeper Mr.. p. T. Lips
comb. Of King and queen. was nominated
| by Mr. George G. Bland. of his county.
/ Mr.. Harris nominated Mr.. W. y. Daw-
son. OF Nelson. Mr.. Lipscomb received
/ 46 votes. and Mr.. Dawson H. and
on motion Of Mr.. Harris, Mr. Lipscomb' 5
vote was made unanimous.
The caucus then adjourned.
who the New Men Are.
Mr. Joseph Button, the new Clerk of the
Senate, was born a years ago in Lynch
burg where his father. Mr.. Charles W.
/ 8uttOn. now deceased, long edited the
/ Lynchburg Nirginian Mr. Button spent
his earlier days in Lynchburg, receiving
his education in the free schools Of that
| city. After his graduation he connected
himself with the Nirginan. serving there
on i'm various capacities. He early showed
/ fOndness for politics, and ere he at
| tanned mis- majority became conspicuous
[ for his work for the Democratic party.
] In 1855 he removed TO Alabama. and en-
| gagged in the real estate business. He
/ remained there for two years, but still
| retained his citizenship In this State, re-
turning here at his own expense to vote
for Governor Mckinney against Malone.
In 1880 Mr.. Button returned 10 Virginia,
and settled in Appomattox. where he be-
came the editor OF the Appomattox and
/ buckingham Times. which position he still
/ retains. He took an active part in poll
/ tics. and was made chairman Of his Coun-
/ tv Democratic Committee, and a member
| of the state Central Committee from the
| Tenth District. He was a candidate for
the Senate cerkship last session, and
| was defeated by Dr. Pendleton by one
| vote. II is. therefore. in the nature OF
a coincidence that he should win this
time by a like majority He has not
/ selected his corps of committee clerks yet,
/ but expects 10 make up the slate to-day.
/ Mr. Frank b. watkins, who was elect
ed Sergeant-at-Arms. is a native Of Char
lotte county, and was born in 1876. lie
| has held a position IS clerk In the office
! of Colonel Bigger for one session, was
| clerk i'm the Auditors office for one year,
and in the Treasurer's Office for four
wears. He resigned the latter position
! to accept a business offer at Glasgow.
| He served in the war in the Charlotte
| cavalry. Company r. Fourteenth Virginia
| Regiment and was captured by Sherl-
| dams scouts the day before the surrender
! al Appomattox. He has worked faithfully
i'm the interests Of the Democratic party
upon all occasions. and is known from
one end Of Charlotte county To The
other. as a staunch Democrat.