The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-16
MR.. MENDEL L. SMITH
ELECTED SPEAKER.
RECEIVED AN ALMOST UNANIMOUS
VOTE MONDAY.
Organization Of Lower House There was
no Other Business Attended to, the
House AdjOurning Out Of Re-
Spect to Judge McIyer.
The State, 18th. I

The house Of Representatives was
called to order at noon yesterday by
Col. Tom O. Hamer, clerk of the last
house Of representatives. Hon. Alta
mount Moses was chosen temporary
chairman Of the representatives elect.
Mr.. Moses was temporary chairman
of the organization two years ago
and is very fine presiding officer.
He has had a longer and more varied
Legislative experience than any other
member of the house of representa-
tives.
The members elect presented them
selves before the speakers desk and
were sworn in. The roll of counties
was called and the members elect
presented themselves by counties
and laying their hands upon the
house Bible took the oath of Office
They then subscribed to the roll Of
the house and were duly qualified
representatives Of the State of South
Carolina.
Nominations for speaker being in
order, Mr.. B. A. Morgan Of Green
Vile, secured the floor and nominated
Hon. M. l.. Smith Of Kershaw county.
This was seconde by Mr.. Whaley of
Charleston, Mr.. Efrd of Lexington,
MIR. Lancaster of Spartanburg, Mr..
Richards of Kershaw and others.
Mr.. CASTOR of Chester, put in
nomination the name of Hon. r.
Yancy Williams of Lancaster. This
was seconded by Mr.. Halle of York,
Dorroh of Greenville, Mr.. Moses of
Orangeburg and several others.
There were 118 votes cast, of which
Mr.. Smith received 81 and Mr.. Will.
liams 81.
Mr.. Smith was escorted to the
chair by Messrs. Morgan, Patterson
and Efrd and after taking the oath
of speaker, addressed the house.
SPEAKER SMITHS REMARKS.
Gentlemen Of the House of Repre-
sentatives:
would be unmindful, indeed, of
the promptings of truly Thankful.
heart, should fail to make my first
s3utterance in the position to which
8you have so kindly elevated me, an
expression Of deep and lasting graft
$tude for that most highly distin
&guished honor.
aS5 aS5 Human life and conduct have al
ways been, and will ever continue to
#be, influenced and controlled by many
motives and ambitions. In an at
tempt to serve ones State and people,
an obligation from which the hum
biest citizen cannot escape, however
rude, imperfect or unsatisfactory the
attempt may be, there is no motive
, or ambition more commendable, more
fundamentally right, or more pro
ductive Of Legitimate rights than that
which strives to win their respect,
esteem and confidence, save that,
perhaps, which, in broad spirit of
appreciation, and the answering
devotion and unselfshness which 1t
begets, seeks, by all honorable means,
to retain them.
If L am justified in entertaining the
belief that the kindness Of your par.
tiality which has so signally honored
noe, is to some extent, at least, an
evidence of the former, then before l
shall attempt to discharge the i'm
portant duties which it imposes, the
hope must be indulged and will be
continually cherished, that by a
faithful and consistent effort, | may
be permitted to carry with me
through life the consciousness Of hav.
ing enjoyed the latter.
Yes, gentlemen of the house oi
representatives, to preside over the
deliberations of this hody-the
chosen, trusted, and commissioned
representatives Of truly grea
people-great in character, great il
achievement, great in tradition, anc
far greater yet in history--is NJ
mean homo" to seek and the delega
ton of that right no Indifferent trns
i to repose.
When | reflect upon the brilan
attainment aud distinguished servic