The Tupelo journal., 1904-01-15
TUESDAY, 5.
The House Organizes.

The House Organizes.
Mississippi's new million-dollar cap
ltol building was occupied for the first
time by the lawmakers of the State,
when the two houses Of the legislature
convened in ouadrennial regular ses-
sion at noon Tuesday, January 5. The
regular session of the house of rep
resentatives was called to order at IL
M. by Secretary of State Power, as re-
CURED by the constitution. who opened
b session with a neat aad appropri-
ate address, pertinent to the occasion.
The roll of members was then read
as follows:
Observation-Disclosures of Franklin, Eth
ridge of Kemper, Hight of Winston,
C%aruthers of Yazoo, Hicks of Jeffer-
son and Claiborne.
Mr.. Patty of Noxubee placed S. B.
Watts of Lauderdale county in nomi-
nation for temporary chairman. There
being no other nominations Mr.. Watts
was unanimously chosen.
L. Pink Smith and w. A. Dixon were
chosen as temporary clerks of the
house until permanent organization.
Mr.. Geor-e of Yazoo moved that the
house take a recess; upo1 a call of the
yeas and nays the motion was lost by
a vote of 80 to 26.
The feature of the opening session
of the house was the election of Hon.
e. N. Thomas OF Washington as speak
er of the lower house. Mr.. Thomas
was chosen by reclamation, his, most
formidable opponent, Hon. S. M.
Smith of Holmes. withdrawing just
before the vote was taken, his friends
realizing that they could not hope to
command a majority. The five other
candidates, Messrs. Hoyle, Barber,
Brown, Milsaps and Kyle withdrew
before the session was convened.
Some of these gentlemen will receive
important committee assignments.
The house chamber was crowded to
overfiowing during the session, the gal
leries being too small to hold the as
sembly. Many ladies', including wives
of members, who will remain during
the session, were present.
The New Speaker.
Emmett Nicholson Thomas is a Ia
tive Of Gonzales, Tex, having been
born there on June 10, 1855. His an
cestors came to this country from
Scotland. During the Cos his father
was a probate judge of Texas. Mr..
Thomas attended the public schools,
afterward entering Mississippi College
and graduating in the class Of 1876.
He read law and was admitted to the
bar in 1880; was elected to the house
or representatives from Washington
county in 1899 and reelected in 1895,
1899 and 1903; is a Democrat, a Pres
byterian, Grand Master OF Masons,
knight Templar, a1d is married and
has three children. Mr.. Thomas is
what is known as an old member"
of the legislature. He was chairman
of the ways n means committee OF
the last house and is thoroughly ia
miliar with the needs of the State in
regard to legislation, and is regarded
as a ma who will make a fine pre-
siding officer.
AS ready debater, close and logical
reasoner ald skillful parliamentarian,
Mr.. Thomas has few equals and no SUI
perior in Mississippi and his career
as speaker of the house will be watch
ed with added interest. He is not
without experience in the office, hav-
ing frequently presided over the de-
alterations at the last session during
the absence of Speaker Russell.
PInk Srntth Elected clerk.
The expected happened in the cleo
tioa of Hon. l.. Pink Smith, of Wash
ington, as clerk of the house. He has
held the office for two terms OF four
years each, and his opponent realized
before the session convened that he
had no hope of election.
After the election of the clerk the
house adjourned for the day.
Organization of Senate.
The organization of the senate occu-
pied but a few moments. Hon. e. H.
Moore, state senator from Bolivar, had
no opposition for the office of presi-
dent pro tempore, and was elected by
reclamation shortly after the after
noon session was raped to order by
Lieut.-Gov. Harrison.
Edward Harris Moore was born in
Huntsville, Ala, November 8, 1851.
He was educated at the Huntsville
schools and at the Virginia Military
Institute at Lexington, Va. He re-
moved to Bolivar county, Mississippi,
in 1873, and was admitted to the prac-
tice of law during the same year, hav-
ing previously prepared himself for
that profession in Alabama. In 1876
he located at Rosedale, Miss, II has
since continuously practiced his pro-
fession at that place. He is the SEN
ior member of the firm of Moore &
Clark, with offices at Rosedale and
Cleveland, which firm does a large
and lucrative practice AID is reeog-
nized as one OF the leading firms of
the profession throughout the State.
The senate proceeded with the dis
posal of the minor offices within it's
gift, Immediately after the opening.
The entire session was consumed with
the contest for sergeaat-at-arms, which
resulted on the twelfth ballot in the
election of Mr.. P. M. 3. Selph of Tate
county, when an adjournment for din
mel was taken.
The senate did not until
q O'Clock. Senator Clinton of Adams
in the chair. Five ballots were taken
for d~oorkeeper, resulting in the cleo
ton of j. H. Thorn OF Lee.
Adjourned for the day.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6.