The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-05
pemocratio Leadera.

| Nearly ive.hour session and six
roll calls were required by the Drmo-
critic minority Of the Flfty-sixth Con-
gress to choose leader, and nsme
minority ticket for the House officers
last Saturday. James d. Richardson,
who has represented the Fifth District
of that State during seven Congresses.
and the oldest Democratic member In
point Of service except McRae, Of Ar
kansas, was nominated for Speaker on
tho sixth ballot. The nomination was
made unanimous, with considerable en-
thusiasm. This nomination confers
upon Mr.. Richardson the tttular lead.
ership Of the minority. and no doubt
will give him leading membership |
upon the committees on Rules and |
Ways aud Means. Il was also reported |
after the caucus adj iurned that the |
leader Of the minority would have more |
courtesy shown him in the matter Of |
committee assignments than had been
allowed to his predecessors that Speaker |
Henderson would make all minority as
siguments to committees uIon tie
rec mmendatlon Of the Democratic |
caucus nominee for Speaker
CANDIDATES PLACED IN NOMTFATIoN |
Mr. Richardson as chairman Of the |
Democratic caucus. called the meeting |
10 order. and the roll ell showed the
presence q 1873 members The vorrg |
subse quently showed on the first bollot |
l4l present preventative Hay. e
| Virginia, was el~cfed chairman Of The |
caucus by a vote Of II u 81 cast for
Mr. McRie. Of Arkansas IL has been |
customary for the Oldest member In |
int Of service To preside over the eau
Gus. and the selection Of Mr. H,y, who |
has served only one term, was an un-
usual honor
Mr.. Sulzar, Of New York. was placed !
in nomination by Representative Amos
Cummings, BankheAd, # Alabama, by |
| Representative BAL. Of Texas, aud De !
Almond. by representative Benton.
OF Missouri.
RICHARDSON'S ELECTION MADE UNAN'
IMOUS.
The first ballot resulted: Richardson.
43 d. Almond 80 Bankhead. 81, and
oulzer 25 The Jur flowing ballots
showed little change Al the end II the !
fifth ballot Representative Underwood.
4 Alabama. Withdrew Mr. Biukhead's |
name. md on the first roll call Of the
| fnsl ballot about two-thlrds OF Bank |
heads Supporters went 90 Richardson
At the end q the first call the vote |
stood Richardson, G5 De Almond, |
45. and Sulzer. 90 Before the second |
roll call began Sulzer withdrew and |
asked his friends to vote for Richard
son There was a general stampede TO
the Tennessee anG he was nominated |
on .ht sixth ballot, receiving 81 votes.
against A for De Almond. and for
Sulzar
SIX membeas Of the Virginia delega.
tior-Jones. Young. Lamb. Fps,
Rixey and Qnarles-voted for De Ar
mond from first to last. Ofthe remain
ing four. Otey voted all through for
Richardson Hay. Swanson and Rhea
voting for Bankhead until the last. Cr
sixth ballot. when the latter withdrew.
and they voted with the majority for
Richardson, the nominee
BROWNING FOR POSTMASTER.
Mr. George NJ Browning. Of Madi.
son, Va who has been an attaohe OF
the House during the last session Of
Congress. WAS the selection OF the
caucus as the party candidate
f1r the office Of postmaster OF
the House OF course, the honor Is
Just now an empty one. but If the
Democrats shoulL win in 1900 and
elect a Democratic House. Mr. Brown
inR's chances for a denomination and
eleotion as postmaster OF the lower
branch of Congress would be superior
20 those of any other man.
DE ARMoND ACCEPTS DEFEAT GRACE
FULLY.
Represent ,tive De Almonds follow
ing was sraunch to the last. Starting
out with 80 votes. he never had l-ss,
and on the third ballot had 40 and at
the end A. Mr. De Armond made
throughout a modest canvass being In
fact only receptive candidate for the
honor, holding and stating to his
friends that personal ambition in such
a matter should be subordinated to party
welfare
Judge De Almond accepts gracefully
the ominsiion of Richardson, and az
tor the result. was announced was one
of the first to extend congratulations
60 the Tennesseean and assured him Of
his hearty cooperation and support
upon the floor.
A resolution was adopted on motion
OF Mr.. Bailey. Of Texas, instructing
Mr. Richardson to confer with Speaker
Henderson and request larger Demo-
cratic representation on committees In
the last Congress the minority were
allowed six men on each committee.
They now desire seven.
Representatives. Roberts, OF Utah.
was present and participated in the
caucus without any question being
raised. He voted for Mr.. Richardson