The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-01-11

the delegations sworn in groups O
two couuties at time. Acting Ser
geaut at Arms Stansell of1iciated il
tho swearing in of the members
Speaker Moses read the oath of Office
and it was repeated by the members
rs they came up.
All Of the members except Messrs
e. b. Ragsdale, of Fairfield, and H
II. Woodward, of Horny, we're pre-
sent and sworn in. This is a re-
m"rkable showing in the tho proper
ton of those present on the opening
day of the session. Mr.. Ragsdale il
quite sick and is not likely to be
present during tho session.
AS soon as the members were sworn
in Speaker Moses announced that &
quorum Of the House was present
and the first business was the election
Of Speaker, and he would receive
nominations.
MIR. Il. Yancey Williams, OF Ian.
caster, nominated Mr.. w. f. Steven
son, of Chesterfield.
Mr.. John McMaster, of Richland,
| placed the name of the Hon Francis
II. Weston before the House as can
didate for Speaker.
Mr. e. Marion Rucker, of Ander-
SOD, nominated his colleague, Mr..
George e. Prince, for Speaker.
Speaker Moses announced the vote
to be: Total vote cast l16-Ste-
venson 73, Weston II, Prince 2G.
Mr. Rucker moved that MIR. Ste
venson's election be made unani.
nous, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Stevenson, besides being an
active and most useful member, is
decidedly popular. He has many
warm admirers among the members
and Columbians, because they ap-
preciate good, hard, active and ener-
getic work. MIR. Stevenson's elec-
ton was no surprise Whatever, in fact
the surprise would have been had he
not been elected.
Mr. Stevenson, before taking the
chair, took the oath Of office, ad-
ministered by Mr.. Moses.
The election for Speaker excited
decided interest and the liveliest
kind of work was in progress for Il
couple of days
SPEAKER sTEvENsoN's SPEECH.
Mr. Stevenson, in taking the chair,
made an admirable and forcible
speech. He spoke briefly, but to
the point, and there WAS meaning in
all he said, which, in brief, was that
we were at the beginning of new
epoch in the history of South Caro-
lima and the body here assembled
would be called upon to write the
introduction to that history; that he
was satisfied that it would be his
tory of progress without radical fea-
lures, and conservatism without old
fogyism; that an era of prosperity
was now dawning that should
not be damaged by injudicious legis-
latIon. The question of first import
ance probably will he the regulation
Of cotton mill labor. This should be
done, but done in 80 conservative a
way as to leave the present amicable
relations between our mills and the
operators undisturbed and foster this
great industry which has added &C
much to our material prosperity
Our free schools must be improved
our railroads kept properly regulated
and all of our interdependent indus.
tries guarded with jealous care.
| El'ECIloN OF CLERK.
Speaker Stevenson promptly called
for nominations for the position oi
clerk to the House. The incumbent
Mr.. Thomas @. Hamer, of Marlboro
and former clerk, Col. j. Waite,
Gray, of Greenyille, we're placed ir
nomination. The vote stood: Hamer
78; Gray, al. Mr.. Hamer was de
clared elected and on motion of Mr.
Morgan, his election was made nnan
imous.
VOTE FOR SERGEANT AT. ARMS.
Then came the election Of sergeant
at arms. Former Sergeant. at-Arms
Stansell was not a candidate for re
election.
Mr.. Wilson, of Lancaster, wa.
elected.