Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-01-29
OREGON LEGISLATURE.


Two O'Clock Thursday of last week
the Benson men succeeded in organiz-
ing the lower house Of the legislature
with majority numbering thirty-one.
There was a large crowd of spectators
present, as it had been announced in
the morning session of the house that
organization would be attempted in the
afternoon. A collision of the factions
was expected, but nothing of the kind
occurred.
At o'clock, when Temporary
Speaker Davis mounted the rostrum
and called the members to order, an
audible rustic of expectancy passed
around the house. The speaker direct
ed Clerk Moody to call the roll and the
following answered to their names:
Benson, Bridges, Brown, Chapman,
Conn, Crawford, David, Davis of Una
tilla, Gratke, Gurdane, Hogue, Hope,
Hudson, Huntington, Jennings, Lake.
Langell, Marsh, Merrill, Misener,
Mitchell, Nosler, Palm, Riddle, Rigby,
Simth Of Marion, Somers, Stanley,
Thomas, Thompson, Vaughan, Ven
ness, Wagner.
The first formal move of the Benson
men was made by Brown. He left his
desk and came forward to position
just in front of the speakers rostrum.
Brown addressed Speaker Davis, and,
being recognized, began speech. He
said:
"We have sat here for ten days in
our effort to organize this house. But
the rulings of the temporary speaker
have at all times been adverse to the
possibility of organization. If he has
been conscientious in his ruling, l re-
spect him.
Brown then went on to recite the his
tory of the failure to organize and, con-
cluding with the statement that it was
now our earnest purpose and steadfast
resolution" to proceed with the bust
ness, offered formal resolution, as fol-
lows:
Resolved, That the present tenn
porary speaker, E. J. Davis, be, and he
is hereby removed, and that DR.. J. N.
Smith be, and he is hereby elected
speaker pro tenn. in his stead. That
E. r. Lake and f. S. Stanley be and
they hereby are appointed committee
to escort DR.. J. N. Smith to the speak
er's chair
The reading OF the resolution was
greeted with great cheers by the lobby.
Brown raised his hand in protest, and
appealed to the spectators to keep
silent.
I'VE have serious business to do"
he said. "Mr. Speaker interrupted
Riddle of Douglas, addressing Davis,
II desire to enter an emphatic protest
against this proceeding. am against
this resolution. We have heard some
opinions read on this floor from Sena-
tor Hoar of Massachusetts,, and from
Senator Thurston of Nebraska. / take
it as piece of impertinence on the |
part OF the senator from Nebraska to |
offer unsolicited advice as to what we
should do in Oregon, and our answer
should be in the language of the great
and only Pennoyer, You attend to |
your business and we'll attend to ours
Il will ask the speaker to put the
question:" said Brown, although / /
sealize it is delicate matter for him" "
This whole proceeding is out of or
der, I replied Davis, coolly, ''and de-
cline to put the question"
u will then put the question, con-
tinued Brown. All who favor the
resolution will say, aye" There was
loud chorus of ayes. "Those opposed,
no." Several yells Of mo- came
from the lobby.
s'Carried, cried Brown.
Speaker Davis calmly watched the
progress of events and said nothing.
Smith was marched up beside Davis be-
tween Lake and Stanley. When he
was opposite the speaker, Smith, who
is very small man, extended his hand
to Davis, who is quite TALL and there
was an awkward handshake. The
crowd breathed sigh of relief and
smiled. There was to be no tragedy.
It was just plain comedy. Smith
asked the pleasure Of the house, and
Somers promptly got on his feet and,
read printed resolution removing
Temporary Chief Clerk Moody and
r. r. Hays, the Benson
caucus nominee. Smith put the mo-
ton and it was declared carried, and
Hays took place beside Clerk Moody.
Chief Justice Moore was waited upon
by committee, and he swore in the
Conn then offered resolu-
ton to proceed to permanent organiza-
ton, and it carried. II. L. Benson, of
was placed in nomination
for speaker. The roll of the members
sworn in was called by Hays. Benson
got twenty-eight votes, Benson, Gratke
and Misener voting blank.
A committee was appointed to escort
Benson to the chair. Chief Justice
Moore swore him in, and he made a
hort speech of thanks.
The following officers were then
elected:
Assistant chief clerk, H. s. Jordan;
eading clerk, Frank Motter; calendar
Jerk, E, w. Bartlett; sergeant-at-arms.
/ W. Murphy; doorkeeper, s. W.
White (colored.)
These were the Benson caucus nomi- (
ices. They were sworn in by Justice
doore- Bridges presented resolution !
empowering the speaker to appoint !
L.