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


session of the General Assembly of
South Carolina in the twentieth cen
tury was opened today. 1t was al
auspicious and happy opening. The
day was superb; the sky was clear
and bright, and every one WAS in a
good humor.
The members no doubt reuIize
their responsibilities and opportuni-
ties, and do not care to make light of
them.
A visitor to the hall Of the House
Of Representatives today, if familiar
with the makeup of previous Houses,
would have been struck with the
great number of new and young
faces, and the few grey heads that
were>in tho gathering. True there
are some mon in the House who are
old and tried in their service to their
State, such men as Tom Austin, Capt
j. Ham Brooks, Geo. w. Croft, Peter
Hollis, Altamont Moses, Col. Robin
son, Capt. Dean, Capt. r.. A. Thomp-
son, Capt. All, Capt. j. Harvey Viii
son, end Messrs. Lockwood and COL
cock, of Beaufort. But cast your
eyes about and here and there are
seen the sons Of mon who bnt gen
GRAFTON ago served their State in
these very halls, in tho battlefield or
in her days Of political revolution.
- There are in the ranks Of the
young members the'sens of former
servants Of the State - McIver, Bos-
tic, Boutwell,, Butler, j. r.. Cogge-
shall, Robt. Hunter, Robt. Lide, A.
M. Lever, p. B. Mayson, Fitz Nc
Master, Geo. II. Moffett, Adam H.
Moss, M. w. Pyatt, Hugh Sinkler,
W. Fl. Wells, Yancey Williams, W.
Turner Logan, Robt. Webb and e. J.
Dennis, Jr. Then there is the great
middle stratum in political life, such
men as Capt. Theus, Mr.. Tatum,
Capt. Saunders and the host of 9th
ers.
1t was gathering such rs any
South Carolinian would have been
proud of, that Of the first session of
the new century. 1t was a body Of
men all Of whom could hold up their
heads in a spirit Of proud indepen-
dence and proclaim that they owed
neither subservierce nor obedience
to any man. They come here I'M
trammelled and unfetterpd to do
their duty to their people, and hgp-
PLY left sectional and factional foel-
ings out in the cold.
There were several spirited cleo
tions, but they were all good, natured
and made unanimous.
The House could not do moro than
organize up to the time Of adjourn
ing, nearly 8 o'clock. The elections
were stopped just as the chaplain
wac reached.
Mr.. Stevenson was elected Speak
or, Mr.. Hamer was re- elected clerk.
MIR. j. Z. Wilson, of Lancaster, was,
on the third ballot, elected sergeant :
at arms, and Mr.. j. S. Withers, of
Chester, had merry walk-over for
reading clerk, being elected without
any opposition, as he ought to have
been
TO the oldest member, in lei 9Th of
continuous service--not age--was
given the honor of organizing the
House Of Representatives. This
honor was conferred on the Hon
Altamont Moses, Of Sumter County.
When Clerk Thomas @. Hamer
raped for order everyone was on
the qui vive for the mandate for
work to begin. AS soon as the
House was ready MIR. j. o. Patterson,
Of Barnwell, moved that Mr. Alta
mont Moses be solicited as temporary
Speaker. .>
Mr.. Bacot put the motion and
d, without further ado Mr.. Moses was
elected and promptly took the o,th
OF office--it being administered by
Clerk Hamer.
The members had taken their seats
promiscuously throughout the House