The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-12-09

Washington, Dec. 5.-The Ill Of
the house Republicans which assem-
bled in the hall of the house Of repre-
sentatives Saturday night was both in
teresting and important. The selection
Of the candidate for speaker and other
house officers was 4 cut-and-dried af-
fair. Before the adjournment of the
caucus, after a discussion lasting al
most two hours, the Republican men,
bers. without a dissenting vote, de-
cided to %re-enact the Reed rules.
The selection of a candidate for
speaker by the party in power is usu-
ally very animated; but months ago
all the other candidates who entered
the field after the retirement of Speak
err Reed abandoned the contest, leaving
Gen. David B. Henderson of Iowa the
unopposed candidate. His nomination
was therefore a foregone conclusion,
and he was nominated by reclamation.
The officers of the last house, except
Col. Russell, the sergeant-at-arms,
were renominated without opposition,
as follows: Clerk, Alexander Mellow
ell Of Pennsylvania; doorkeeper. w. J.
Glenn of New York; postmaster, j. G.
McElroy Of Ohio, and chaplain. Rev.
Henry Couden of Michigan. Col. Rus
sell vas O a candidate for reelection
and Col. Henry A. Casson of Wiscon-
sin was nominated in his stead. The
caucus was presided over by Gen.
Grosvenor of Ohio, who was reelected
chairman Of the caucus. Mr.. Loudon-
Slayer Of New oYrk was reelected sec.
rotary.
Gen. Henderson's name was present
ed by Mr.. Payne of New York and
seconded by Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois,
both Of whom had been candidates
originally. The roll was not called.
The nomination was made by acclama-
ton. Gen. Henderson came to the
capitol and remained in the speakers
room in the real of the house lobby
until after the house officers had been
selected. He was escorted to the ros-
trum Of the house by Messrs. Hopkins
of Illinois. Payne of New York and
Sherman of New York. Gen. Hender-
son made a brief speech acknowledge
ing the honor. He dwelt upon the re-
sponsibilities Of the party, whose mar
row majority, he said. required every
man to keep at his post.
The Democratic Leader.
The Democrats of the house Of rep
r~esentatives at their caucu Saturday
afternoon selected Representative J.
D. Richardson of Tennessee as their
candidate for speaker after a spirited
contest which lasted through six bal
lots. This carries with it the Demo-
cratic leadership on the floor. The cal
didates against Mr.. Richardson were
Representatives De Almond of Mis-
souri,. Pankhead of Alabama and Sulz-
er of New York. Representative Hay
of Virginia was elected chairman Of
the caucus by a vote of "a to 62 cast
for Mr.. McRae Of Arkansas.
The first ballot for speaker resulted:
Richardson, 43; De Almond, 80; Bank
head, 81; Sulzer, %. The four follow
ing ballots showed little change. At
the end Of the fifth ballot Mr.. Under
wood of Alabama withdrew Mr.. Bank
heads name, and on the first roll call
of the sixth ballot about two-thirds of
Mr.. Bankhead's supporters went to
Richardson. At the end Of the first
roll call the vote stood: Richardson,
IS; De Almond, As; Sulzer, 20. Before
the second roll call began Mr.. Sulzer
withdrew and asked his friends to
vote for Richardson. There was a
general stampede to the Tennesseean
and he was nominated on the sixth
ballot, receiving 90 votes against Al for
De Almond and 2 for Sulzer. The
nomination was then made unanimous.
Mr.. Richardson was escorted to the
hall and made a felicitous speech,
thanking his colleagues for the honor
they had conferred unOn him,