Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-01
The Senate Caucus.

| that ne acted as chairman by reasC~
OF having been chairman OF the last
Senate caucus.
Mr.. McIlwaine. OF Petersburg. noml.
| mated Mr.. George w. Morris. who was
| unanimously elected chairman.
Mr. William II. Barksdale. of Halifax
was nominated for secretary, and elected
without opposition.
The Chair then announced that the next
business in order was the election OF q
President pro TEN.
Mr.. Sands presented the name Of Mr.
Wickham. OF Hanover. in few we'll
chosen words, and he was elected by ac-
clamation.
For Clerk Mr. McIlwaine presented the
name OF Mr.. Joseph Button for re-elec-
ton, commending in highest terms the
efficiency with which Mr. Button had dis
charged the duties Of his office. The
nomination was seconded by MIR. Mum
iord, OF Richmond, urging that a man
who had labored so earnestly and zeal
ously for the party should be rewarded
by the party. Mr. Button was elected
without opposition.
Mr. Eggleston, Of Charlotte, submitted
the name Of Mr.. f. i. Watkins. of Char
lotte, as candidate for the Office of
Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr.. Watkins's cleo
tion was unanimous and by acclamation.
NAME A NEW DOORKEEPER.
Mr.. LeCato. Of Accomac, presented the
name of Mr. l.. J. Gunter, OF Accomac,
for reelection to the Office of Doorkeeper
Of the Senate. Mr.. Barnes, of New Kent
nominated DR.. w. G. Num- Of King and
Queen, i'm a forclble and impassioned
speech, dwelling at length on the splendid
war record Of Or. Num-.
Mr.. S. II. Letcher, of Rockbridge, nomi-
mated Captain J. w. Taney, Of Buena
Vista, and Mr.. II. ID. Flood. seconded the
nomination of Captain Talley.
The vote on the first ballot resulted
GunteT, 10; Mum. 10; Talley g.
on the second ballot. Talley's name hav-
ing been dropped, the vote stood: Gunter,
l6; Num-, II.
There was dissatisfaction as TO the
result, and a verihcation of the vote was
had, without change Of result. DR.. Num-
was declared the. nominee.
SELECTION OF COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Keezel Of Rockingham, submitted
n resolution providing for a committee or
ten senators. one from each of the con-
gressional districts, to recommend the
assignment of members to the various
committees.
Speaking TO his motion, Mr.. keezel
said his purpose in offering such a reso-
luton was TO have every section of the
State represented on the great working
committees of the Senate.
Mr.. Flood offered as a substitute tnaJ
the Chair appoint a committee Of five to
arrange the standing committees, and re-
port the appointments back to a future
caucus.
Mr.. Flood argued against Mr. Keezers
motion, for the reason that it was con-
trary TO long-established custom and pro-
vided for too cumbersome a method. Tnis
was the chief basis OF very strong
speeches against the resolution Of Mr..
Keezen, indicating the tenacity with
which the Senate still clings to and
cherishes tradition and precedent.
The vote on the adoption of Mr. FLOODS
substitute resulted-ayes, q; noes, 8; ana
the committees will be selected by the
Chair.
SELECTION OF PAGES.
The following pages were selected:
Harry jefferson Durrett, Albemare; Rus
sell Foster. Richmond; Curtis Quarlcs,
Bedford: Willie NJ. Andrews. Portsmouth.
At $50 tho caucus adjourned. subject 10
the call of the President
No Changes in the House.
The caucus was called to order by Mr.
Pitcher, who said that, being one of the
oldest members of the body Qn point OF
service) he had been requested to pc
form that duty. The first business IN
order. he stated, was the election of a
permanent chairman. Mr.. Parks then
put in nomination for that position the
name Of Mr. Merritt Cooke of Norfolk. Mr..
Newberne seconded the nomination "in
the name Of every man, woman, and child
in Norfolk" No other names being pre-
sented, the nominations were declared
closed. and Mr.. Cooke was unanimously
elected.
Mr.. Cooke I'm accepting, said: Gentle
men of the Caucus,-It is a sincere plea
sure and honor TO be elected the chair
man of the largest Democratic caucus
that has ever assembled in this hall since
the war l trust and believe that our
Legislature during the present session
will be for the welfare of this grand old
Commonwealth of Virginia. If that is so
there is no danger but what the great
Democratic party will still control the
State of Virginia. l again thank you
for the honor, and the Chair is rea ly
for work"
OTHER CAUCUS OFFICERS.
The next business before the body was |
the election of a secretary. Mr. New |
berne Of Norfolk, placed in nomination |
Mr.. William Henry Mann, Of Petersburg. |
No other name was presented, and the |
delegate was elected by ac- |
clamation.
The nomination of a sergeant-at-arms |
being in order, Mr.. Diggs, of King Will |
lam, arose and in a most serious manner |
placed I'm nomination for that position |
he former senator from Gloucester, Hon |
J. n. Stubbs. Mr. Snead. also a member |
IF the last Senate, seconded this nomina-
ton. No other name being presented, |
MIR. Cooke put the vote, and the eX-Sena-
or was declared elected TO the position |
IF Sergeant-at-Arms.
Mr.. Diggs then placed i'm nomination
Mr.. Snead for the position of Doorkeeper.
rhe later delegate, i'm retaliation, named
he King William delegate for the next
position In order-that of second Door
leeper MI Diggs WIS elected TO that
,osition. In accepting the Office the dele
,ate from King William thanked his fell
and said that he would
.ather be doOrkeeper in the House Of
Delegates than dwell in the Senate for
.ver.
Mr.. Snead. the ex-senator from Nor
ok and Princess Anne. Immediately
rose TO his feet, and addressing the body,
aid: ''Mr. Chairman, the gentleman
.peaks Of things he knows not Of This
mick retort caused considerable merri-
nent. When il had subsided. Mr.. Pitcher,
4 Fauquier. made a motion, which was
dopted. providing that the rules of the
louise Of Delegates control the proceed
ngs OF the caucus. The Sergeant-at-
rms and Doorkeepers were then in
tructed to take their respective positions
"a o,tar unon the discharge of their |