The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-03
To HAVE CORDIAL SUPPORT
Bankhead, of Alabama, Withdrew
on Fifth Ballot.
EXPRESSED PROFOUND THANKS
Resolution Was Adopted BY the Caucus
Instructing the New Leader to
Ask For More Representa-
ton on Committee

of the house of representatives, at their
caucus held in the hall of the house of rep
representatives. this afternoon, selected Rep
resentative Charles D. Richardson of Ten
nessee as their candidate for speaker after
a spirited contest which lasted through six
ballots. This carries with 1t the democratic
leadership on the floor.
Mr.. Richardson has served fourteen years
in the house, and is the Oldest democratic
member in point of service. except McRae
of Arkansas.
The candidates against Mr.. Richardson
Were Representatives DeArmond of Mis-
souri,, Bankhead of Alabama and Sulzer
of New York.
Representative Hay of Virginia was
elected chairman of the caucus by a vote
of n to g. cast for McRae of Arkansas
It has been customary for the Oldest men,
ber in point of service to preside over the
caucus, and the selection of Mr.. Hay, VINO
has served only one term, was an unusual
honor. Representatives Cummings of New
York and Robertson OF Louisiana were
elected secretaries. Mr.. Richardson was
placed in nomination by Mr. Carmack of
Tennessee Mr.. DeArmond was nomi-
mated by Mr.. Benton of Missouri
Bankhead was nominated by Mr.. Ball
of Texas, and Mr.. sulzer was nominated
by Mr.. Cummings of New York.
The first ballot resulted: Richardson, 43;
DeArmond, 80; Bankhead, "a; and Sulzer,
%. The four following votes showed little
p change. At the end of the fifth ballot Mr..
Underwood of Alabama withdrew Mr..
Bankhead's name, and on the first roll call
OF the sixth ballot about two-thirds of Mr..
Bankhead's supporters went to Richard
son.
AT The end of the first roll call the vote
stood: Richardson, 65; DeArmond, 45; and
Sulzer, 20. Before the second roll call be-
gan Mr.. Sulzer withdrew and asked his
friends to vote for Richardson
There was a general stampede to the
Tennessean and he was nominated ON the
sixth ballot, receiving 80 votes against Al
for DeArmond and for Sulzer. The nomi-
nation was then made unanimous.
Richardson is Confident
Mr.. Richardson, who was in the ways
and means committee room, was then es-
corted to the hall by Messrs Ball of Tex
as, Carmack of Tennessee and Sulzer of
New York, and made a feicitous 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 profound thanks,
trusting that he had a proper appreciation
of the great responsibilities placed upon
him by the action of the caucus. His high
est ambition, he said, would be to meet
these responsibilities and discharge them
so as to meet the appreciation of the DEM
ocrats Of the house and country.
His chief regret, he declared, was that
the result of his victory would bring dis
appointment, which he hoped would be only
temporary, to the old gentleman aspiring
to the trying position to which he had been
I.
only with the cordial support and hearty
co-opera tion of each member. In conclud-
ing he said he hoped each member would
be ready to give him the cooperation he
would have been glad to give to another
had the result of the caucus been differ
ent.
The following candidates for house Of
ficerS were then selected:
Clerk, James Kerr, Pennsylvania SER
geant-at-arms, Ex-Representative Brook
shire of Indiana; doorkeeper, Henry Moler,
of Illinois; postmaster George L. Brown
ang, of Virginia.
The caucus also selected the following
democrats to fill the four special positions
allowed the minority in the house,:
Special employe, Colonel Isaac r. Hill, of
Ohio; special messengers, Ewing T. Bland,
of Missouri, son of the late Representa-
tive Bland of Missouri, and FELTON, B.
Knight, of Georgia; special page, James
English, of California.
A resolution was adopted motion of
Mr. Bailey, of Kentucky. instructing Mr..
Richardson to confer with Speaker Hen
derson and request a larger democratic
representation on the committees. In the
last congress the minority were allowed
six men on each committee. They now de-
sire seven. Mr.. Roberts, of Utah, was
present, and participated in the caucus.
He voted for Mr.. Richardson for speaker.
No Ill Feeling
Neither Mr.. Bankhead, nor Mr.. Under
wood, show the slightest resentment over
the election of Mr. Richardson to the post
of honor for which the former was a candi-
date. ''Mr Bankhead has every reason to J
be gratified with the race he made which,
was unusual when the conditions arising
out of the fight become known" said Mr.
Underwood tonight Mr. Bankhead was
among the first to tender his congratula-
tions to the Tennessean today, and told him
frankly that he would not only give him his
loyalty and support, but all assistance in
his power
The open hostility of Mr.. DeArmond's and
Mr.. Bailey's friends made 1t evident early
this morning that Mr. Bankhead could not
win as he was given to understand that he
could not draw from Mr.. Dearmend forces
even when 1t was shown that DeArmond