The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-10
HOUSE OF REPREsEN rATTvFs.

Promptly on the stroke of II o'clock
the House of Representatives was called
to order by Chief Clerk Brevard Nixon.
The opening prayer was offered by Rev.
DIR. j. 7. Bagwell, who has recently NOV
cd To Raleigh from Williamson. In beau
tiful language he prayed for Divine guild
ance in the duty of legislating to the
best interests of the commonwealth
The Chief Clerk then called Judge H.
G. Connor, OF Wilson, to the chair. The
first order was the roll call by counties,
and swearing in of Representatives The
oath was administered by Judge Walter
Clark TO the members in groups of ten or
twelve each. Several members had neg
leeted to bring their certificates, and were
sworn in afterwards on special motion.
The Chairman then announced that the
House was ready to proceed to organiZa-
ton, and ordered the election of Speaker.
Frank Winston, OF BERTHE. was recognized,
and placed in nomination the unanimous
choice of the Democratic party, Walter
Evans Moore, of Jackson county. He
gave the outlines of his life, 'one that
has been both useful and honorable Born
Al years ago in Buncombe, at an early
age the care of a mother and sisters de-
volved upon him. and he met the duty
bravely. At little more than 21 years
of age, he laid down the tools of car
penter. and came before the bar of the
State to practice law. His experience in
the Legislature amply qualities him for
the position, as well as the fact that for
two years he was Grand Master of Ma
sons in North Carolina, ruling without a
single complaint" Mr. Winston con-
cluded with a glowing tribute to the nom
inee as lawyer and as man.
Locke Craig, of Buncombe seconded the
nomination IN brief, but eloquent
speech, IN which he thanked the Repre-
sentative from BERTHE for placing the
name of Mr.. Moore before the House as
the next Speaker. and went on to speak
of the nominees sterling Democracy and
the part his ancestors had taken in de-
veloping the transmontane country. I'm
the critical times of 1898 and 1900, he
said, there was no man who came nearer
doing his full duty than Walter f.
Moore He said Jackson county was
casting one of the greatest of her men
into the breach, when she sent Walter
E. Moore to stand for the Constitutional
Amendment from the West. Just as the
Romans of old were compelled to cast
the noblest of their men into the chasm
that yawned in the Forum, before they
could close 1t.
II. w. Stubbs, of Martin, for the ex-
treme Eastern part of the State, then
presented the hearty endorsement of that
section for the nominee.
o. v. +. Blythe of Henderson, then
placed in nomination in behalf of the Re-
publcans Isaac Newton Ebbs, of Madison,
7. B. Benbow. of Yadkin. seconded the
nomination.
This ended the nominations. When the
vote was being taken, w. T. Duncan and
+. B. Owen, the Populist members, both
of Sampson, asked to be excused from vot-
ing, as they had no candidate. The num-
Der OF votes cast was 112, of which Moore
received SO and Ellis 16. Accordingly Mr..
Moore was announced the duly elected
Speaker OF the House, and Messrs., Locke /
Craig. OF Bnncombe and s. NJ. Gattis, of
orange, were appointed a committee to
inform him of his election and conduct
MN to the chair. The new Speaker made /
short address accepting the honor, as /
follows:
SPEAKER MOORE's ADDRESS.
To be elected the presiding officer of
SO distinguished body is well worthy Of
the ambition of any gentleman of North
Carolina, and say to you that / receive
it with the profoundest gratitude We
are reminded that we meet at the begin
ming OF new century, and / trust that
the work of this body will rebound TO the