The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-03

w dSnluStOQs Lee -.-lne OelliOSi q -
of the house OF representatives, at their
caucus held in the house today. select
ed James D. Richardson of Tennessee
as their candidate for speaker, after a
spirited contest. which lasted through
six ballots. This carries with it the
Democratic leadership on the floor. Mr..
Richardson has served fourteen Years
in the house, and Is the oldest Demo-
crat in point of service except Mr.. Nc
Rae of Arkansas.
The candidates against Mr.. Richard
son were Representatives De Almond
of Missouri; Bankhead of Alabama. and
Sulzer of New York. Representative
! Hay of Virginia was elected chairman
of the caucus by vote of Il 10 62, cast
for McRae of Arkansas. 1t has heen
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 un-
usual honor. The name of Mr. Nor
ton of Ohio was also presented for pre-
siding officer. but was withdrawn Rep
resentatiyes Cummings O. New York
and Robertson of Louisiana were elect
ed secretaries Mr.. Richardson was
placed in nomination by Mr.. Benton of
Missouri. Mr.. Bankhead was nominaI-
ed by Mr.. Ball of Texas, and Mr.. Sulzer
was nominated by Mr.. Cummings of
New York.
Results of the Ballots.
The first ballot resulted: Richardson.
43: De Almond. SO; Bankhead, "a, and
Sulzer, % The four following ballots
showed little change. AT the end of
the fifth ballot Mr.. Underwood of Ala
banta Withdrew Mr.. Bankheaf5 name,
n
ballot about two-thirdS of Mr.. Bank
heads supporters went to Richardson.
At the end of this ballot Mr.. Richardson
had 65, De Almond 45, and Sulzer 20.
Before the second rollcall 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 bali
lot. 80 votes against AZ for De Almond
and for SulZer. The nomination was
then made unanimous.
Mr.. Richardson, who was in the ways
and means committee room, was es-
corted to the hall by Messrs. Ball OF
Texas, Carmack of Tennessee and Sui
zer of New York. and made a felicitous
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
had proper appreciation for the great
responsibilities placed upon him by the
action os the caucus.
Asks For Cooperation.
His highest ambition, he said. would
be to meet these responsibilities and
discharge them so as to meet the ap-
probation of the Democrats of the
house and of the country. His great
est regret, he declared, was that the
result of his victory would bring dis
appointment, which, he hoped, would
be only temporary. to other gentlemen
aspiring to the trying position to which
he had been chosen. He said he could
hope for success only with the cordial
and hearty cooperation of each MEM
ber. In concluding, he said he hoped
that the members would be ready to
give him the cooperation he would
have been glad to give to another had
the result of the caucus been different.
The following candidates for house
officers were then selected: Clerk,
James Kerr, Pennsylvania; sergeant
alarms, ex-Representative Brookshire
of Indiana; doorkeeper, Henry Moler of
and postmaster. George L.
Browning of Virginia.
Other Offices Filled.
The caucus also selected the sollow-
ing Democrats to fill the four special
positions allowed the minority party
in the house: Special employee. Colonel
Isaac r. Hill of Ohio; special messen-
gers. Ewing T. Bland of Missouri. a
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. instructive Mr..
to confer with Speaker
Henderson and request a larger Demo-
cratic representation in committees. In
the last congress the minority were al |
lowed six men on each committee
Mr.. Roberts of Utah was present and |
in the caucus. He voted |
for Mr.. Richardson for speaker.