The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-03
The LEADER.
SELECTED TO SUCCEED BAILEY nv
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
An Animated Canvass ana SIX Ballots
Required before Selection Was
SIade-He In Second Oldest Demo-
cratic Member In Point Of Service

WASHINGTON, Dec, 1.-The Democrats
caucus held in the house today selected
James d. Richardson. of Tennessee. as
their candidate for speaker, after a spirit
ed contest. which lasted through elk bal
lctslots. This carried with 1t the Demo-
cratic leadership on the floor. Mr.. Rich
ardson has served fourteen years in the
house, and is the Oldest Democratic MEM
Der in point of service, except Mr.. Me-
Rae, of Arkansas. The candidates against
Mr.. Richardson were Representatives
Dearmond, of Missouri; Bankhead. OF Ala
bama, and Suizer, of New York. Repre-
sentative Hay. of Virginia, was elected
chairman of the caucus by vote of n
to 81 cast for McRae, OF Arkansas.
1t has been customary for the Oldest
member In point of service to preside over
the caucus. and the selection OF Mr.. Hay.
who has served one term, was an unusual
honor. The name OF Mr. Horton, of Ohio.
was also presented for presiding officer,
but was withdrawn. Representative Cum
mings, OF New York, and Robertson, OF
Louisiana, were elected secretaries. Mr..
Richardson was placed In nomination by
Mr.. Benton, of Missouri. Mr.. Bankhead
was nominated by Mr. Ball, Of Texas, ana
Mr.. Sulxer was nominated by Mr.. Cum
mings. Of New York.
Dearmond. 3d. Bankhead, "a, and Sulzer.
rs. The four following ballots showed lit
tie change At the end OF the fifth Mr.
Underwood, of Alabama, withdrew Mr..
Bankhead's name, and on the first roll
call Of the sixth ballot about two-thlrds
OF Mr.. Bankhead's supporters went to
Richardson. At the end of this ballot Mr.
Richardson had Go; Dearmond. As. and Sui
ger, 20. Before the second roll call began
- Gssln 49, ALL a.. NiAs. Ia
to vote for Richardson.
There was a general stampede to. the
Tennesseean, and he was nominated on
the sixth ballot-90 votes against AZ for
Dearmoud and two for Sulzer. The NOM
nation was then made unanimous.
Mr.. Richardson, who was in the ways
and means committee room, was escorted
to the hall by Messrs. Ball of Texas,
Carmack of Tennessee and Sulzer of New
York, and made felicitious speech,
thanking his colleagues for the honor
they had conferred upon him. Owing
to the lateness Of the hour he said he
would not do more than return his pro-
found thanks, trusting that he had q
proper appreciation of the great response
the. caucus: His highest ambition. he
said. would be to NEE; these RESPONSE
bilities and discharge them SO as to meet
a OF e M 81 ne
regret he declared. was that the result
of his victory would bring disappoint-
ment which he hoped would be only tenn
porary, to other gentlemen aspiring to
the trying position to which he had been
chosen He said he could hope for sue
cess only with the cordial and hearty CO.
operation Of each member. In conclud-
ing, he said he hoped that the members
would be ready to give him the cooper
alton he would have been glad to give
to another had the result of the caucus
been different.
The following candidates for house off,
GERS were then selected: Clerk, James
Kerr, Pennsylvania; sergeant-at-arms,
ex-Representative Bruokshire, of Indi-
ana; doorkeeper, Henry Moler of Illinois;
and postmaster, George l.. Browning, of
Virginia. The caucus also selected the
following Democrats to fill the four spe-
cial positions allowed the minority party
in the house: Special employee, Isaac r.
Hill, of Ohio; special messengers Ewing
T. Bland, of Missouri, son of the late
Representative Bland, of Missouri, and
FELTON, B. Knight, Of Georgia: special
page. James English, Of California.
A resolution was adopted. on motion of
Mr.. Bailey. Of Texas, instructing Mr..
Richardson to confer with Speaker Hen
derson and request larger Democratic
representation in committees. In the
last congress the minority were allowed
six men on each committee.
Mr.. Roberts, of Utah. was present and
participated in the caucus. He voted for
Mr.. Richardson for speaker.