The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-08
HOUSE CHOSE DAVIDSON
FOR TEMPORARY SPEAKER.
Crisp and Selph Contribute to HUI
morous Incidcnt-JudEe Robin.
son Administered the Oath.
REPTELIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Jefferson City. Jan. THE usual formau-
ties attending the opening of the session OF
the House Of Representatives were observed
shortly after noon to-day. and the lower
branch of the Forty-second Assembly be-
came a legally accredited body of Missouri
lawmakers. The oath not to accept money
or anything Of value in exchange for their
vote was taken and the preliminary organ
iEation effected.
A resolution introduced by ]. H. White
cotton OF Monroe County, rendering the
sympathy of the House TO Governor Dock
ery because Of his recent bereavement, was
adopted unanimously Then after the an
nouncements that the Republicans would
caucus at o'clock in the evening in the
same time in the House chamber. the first
sitting was adjourned until tomorrow
morning al 10 O'Clock.
Tomorrow the election Of permanent Of
ficers will take place. This will consume
an hour. or, possibly. two, and when this
business is concluded the House probably
will adjourn until Monday.
No break In the quiet and continuity OF
to-days proceedings occurred save one. in
which Colonel John T. Crisp contributed
to the amusement of the members, assisted
L. B. Williams of Scott County placed j.
F. Davidson Of Marion County in nomina-
tion for temporary speaker; and was sec
onded by Louis J. Tickacek of st. Louis.
Seiph then moved to close nominations
Crisp's bulky frame loomed into promi-
nence at once, and all the old members
merced. He wanted to know why in the
name of common sense the honorable House
of Representative We're always closing
he demanded. "Is somebody getting scared ?
If anybody wants to nominate anybody else,
let him go on. Are you going to start out
with your obstruction 81! tactics at the very
Il nominate Mr.. Crisp Of Independence for
Temporary n!po Speaker" sIt, cried Mr.. selpti.
capable OF carrying the dignity. He. had no
personal ambition in his talk Of giving the
other fellows chance; 1t was an unselfish
move on his part. He was too big physical
ly, but did not think himself big enough
mentally to sit upon the elevation. Ac-
cordingly he refused the nomination.
the Republican nomination-Carter of Grun-
dy County. The vote. by count Of heads
siianding siat~ fs showed eighty for Davidson and
corted to the Speakers chair and succeeded
Secretary of State Sam B. Cook. upon
Y Mhom rails by law the duty Of calling the
The members began to assemble before
!. y ociocA. put were not all on hand at the
hour preseribed-noon. Some confusion en-
sued In seating the Representatives, but
soon all found their places. and Secretary
looks savei sounded the first note of the
ferty-second Assembly. The Reverend Doc
copai Church pronounced the blessing upon
the Assembly, all members standing heads
bowed in reverence '
The first business was the temporary or
ganization. After Davidson's election he
took the chair. Representative II. j. Sim
Bride Of Jasper County for Temporary sec
retary. He was chosen without opposition
from the Republican side. John Green. for
temporary sergeaEt-at-arms. also was
chosen without dissenting voice.
Justice Waltour NJ. Robinson, Republican
ministered the oath OF Office The Repre-
sentatives were called forward in groups of
twenty the maximum allowed by law The
path was read as the members stood with
right hand upraised. and signified their ac-
ceptance OF the charge placed upon them.
distributed. and these will be returned with
signatures to the secretary
Mr. WhitecottOn then rose to offer the
of confidence. 1t read: where
as. The Supreme Ruler Of all men has re-
moved from the mansion of our Governor to
ernor's beloved wife; be It
Resolved. That this. the Forty-second
Assembly. tender our condolences to the
Honorable A. NJ. Dockery, our Governor
ind express our sympathy at this untoward
went which has cast gloom over our en-
The resolution was hardly read before its
ldoption was moved, seconded and carried.
Then the announcement of the caucuses
we're made. There seemed some hestancy
- to the time that the Democratic caucus
will take place. No move was made to call
were made. Then r. 3,
Oliver Of Cape Gfrardeau County rose to re-
luest some action on the matter. II Waa
moved to. h0ld the caucus In the evening.