The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14

Just twenty years ago I was the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Hon. Rufus W. Cobb of Shelby was Governor, succeeded on December 1 by Governor O'Neal Col Robert Mckee of Selma was the Private Secretary.
 It is recalled that when I began my canvass for the Clerkship there was Q conflict between the late Hon. w. F. Fos- ter of Tuskegee and myself. He had been a member of the House for several terms, had been the Speaker pro tenn. of the House of 1SS0-S1 when Col. N. H. R. Dawson of Dallas was the Speaker and had presided over the deliberations of that body much of the time. He had shown his capacity for the position, con- trolling the House with an ease and grace that was very rare and being a parlia- mentarian of ability and tact. he was virtually awarded the place of Speaker of the succeeding House as a matter of right, as a reward for duty well perform ed and yet he was afraid that my being a candidate for Clerk would interfere with his candidacy for the Speakership. we being from the same County it might bring out other candidates and promote opposition to him. did not wish to con- iict with him, for we had always been personal and political friends, and recog- mixing his great ability and general worth, wanted him to be the Speaker. But I did not feel called upon to put aside by po- litfcal hopes and ambitions on his &C., count, because really I did not think it necessary, for could see very plainly that the Speakership was accorded to him with unanfmity that could not be shaken and I would not yield to his ur- gent Opportunities that I should not run.
 We referred the matter to friends and after numerous consultations there seem cd to be no reasonable chance for an ami cable settlement. At that time I was the editor of the only paper in Macon Coun- ay, and had taken an active part in party work and management, being a member of the County Committee and always an active party worker, I had a pretty strong influence in the party councils of the county, and suggested to my friends that I did not care for an agreement with MT. Foster on any other terms but that should be a candidate for Clerk and felt confident that could be elected. having been a candidate two years before, and having assurances of support for enough old members who expected to be returned to almost make my election sure, notwithstanding the fact that Fos- ter was to be Speaker. If it had to be done resolved to fight him. for the nom- 1nation for reelection and that might
 
 and really. I could have defeated his nomination.
 This put an entirely different phase on fhe situation with him and his friends and after looking over the field they be- came all at once very solicitous about making terms. I went right along and quietly arranged to put my candidate in the field and was preparing to give him the active support of my paper and to rally my friends to my aid all over the county. My friend Foster soon saw that had the advantage of him and he con- cluded that it was the wise thing to dc to make terms and he did.
 We agreed we would both go right along with our canvass, help each other if we could, but each tub was to stand on its own bottom and we were at lib- erty to do anything fair and honorable to s.get there," even if we had to do So al the sacrifice one of the other.
 The race was made and it is history that Foster was chosen Speaker without opposition and was elected Clerk with but little difhculty over strong and in. fiuential opposition. After my election Mr. Foster was really almost as glad ot my success as he was of his own and we got along swimmingly, although now and then there was uaale personal clash between the chair and the clerk 8 desk, which foated away like a passing cloud.
 He was a stickler for enforcing the rules and friend to the clerks. There was very little trouble to keep the rec ord while MT. Foster was in the chair He would allow no counting of quorums, no voting by. members in their absence and no tricks or legislative schemes of latter days were resorted to during his term as Speaker. He enforced the rules 9airly and impartially-upon all alike frequently saying that he was not re- @ponsible for the rules and if they work ed hardships and the members desired they could be replaced. but while they were the rules he was there to enforce them and he did it. He was honest and just and this being recognized, he was the most popular Speaker of his day and left record worthy the emulation of successors to that high and important po- sition.
 My opponents in the race for Clerk were Fillmore Garrett, B. H. Screws and w. l.. in. all of whom had experience in
 work and who were well and favor
 fly known. but my advantage of a de- keat two years before helped me and 0nally won the place.
 The work of this session was very pleasant and went along to the end with out a jar. had as Assistant Clerk, Hor- ace Hood, then of The Monroe Journal: William Wallace was Engrossing Clerk and Thomas J. Judge was Enrolling Clerk Robert Hanson was the doorkeep-