The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-05
TUESDAY CAUCUS
Democrats Choose @. H.
Guion Speaker,
Principal Clerk Frank D. Hackett
Reading Clerk F. 3. Arende'I, En-
crossing Clerk NJ. D. KinsIaud
and Door-keeper John P. Kerr.

and Door-keeper John P. Kerr.
The organization of the House OF
Representative as determined at last
nights caucus, is as follows:
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE.
SpeakeI-O. H. Guion, of New Bern
Principal Clerl1-Frank d. Hackett
/ of WilkesbOro.
Reading Clerk-F. 3. Arendell, OF
Raleigh.
EngrossiIg ClerlS-M. d. Kinsland
| of HAYWOOD
neutrality-suspicious. P. Kerr, OF
! CaSwell.
Assistant Door-keeper-David James
| of Pitt.
The nomination of Mr.. Guion came
| after hard fight on the part of the
| friends of Judge Graham and Colonel
| Wood, but when the caucus met his
| nomination was conceded by all sides
| No other candidate was named for
! the chief office of the house and his
| election was unanimous and by ac-
| clamation. He was placed in nomi-
| nation by his opponent, Colonel Wood
| and Judge Graham spoke as a sec
! ond.
Judge Winborne had withdrawn
! from the race earlier in the day, and
| 1t was understood that he would
| throw his strength to Mr.. Guion.
| After this became known Mr.. Guion' S
| nomination was practically conceded.
AT the conclusion of the nominal
| tons for the other elective offices of
| the house, Mr.. Guion was waited upon
by a committee and escorted to the
chair. when he made a brief and
| most tastefully expressed speech of
thanks for the honor. after which
t. l., i
chair at the caucus, expressed his APP
probation CT Mr. Guion as a friend
and gentleman and briefly but warmly
expressed his belief in the wisdom OF
the choice and his confidence in the
manner in which the new Speaker
would guide the affairs of the House.
The Caucus in Detail.
Owing to the severe Legislative
weather." which blew Il gale full of
! wet and sticky snow across cleaning
| and slippery pavements, the members
were slow III arriving at the hall and
although the caucus was called for
eight o'clock, it was half-past when
it was called to order by Col. John S.
Cunningham. of Person.
In calling Hon. 3. b. WinbOrne. OF
Hartford to the chair. Colonel Cum
ingham said that he was glad to greet
a body of men who were best repre-
sentative of the highest things in the
State, from the Piedmont section and
from the mountains to the sea. He
congratulated the members of the
caucus in belonging to a body Of rep
resentatives which had been perhaps
more carefully selected than any
previous House Of Representatives. lie
was proud of the State, for the great
men il had produced in times of peace
and of war, and for the quality OF
ha N1r},n +,
to represent it's people. He intro
duced Judge Winborne as a gentle
man who would preside with credit to
himself and honor to the caucus.
On taking the chair. Mr.. Winborne
said briefly: Fellow Democrats, you
have met in caucus to perform such
duties as may properly come before
you as Democratic members of the
Legislature. The first duty is the Sc
lection of a Secretary.
The secretary, who was elected by
reclamation, was Mr.. j. A. Lockhart
Jr., of Arson, the youngest member
of the House, young man with
strong face a fresh pink skin, and
sun-lit gold hair parted on the left
and flowing smoothly over a high
white brow.
Mr.. Murphy, of Rowan, raised a
breeze at the start by Offering
resolution that all persons not Dem
ocratic members of the Legislature
be excluded from the caucus.
AIr. S. A. Woodland, of Wilson, Of
fered as Il substitute that all Demo
Gratis in good standing might remain
in the hall with the exception of the
candidates for the various offices.
This was opposed vigorously by
Judge A. W. Graham. who declared
that all Democrats had right to at
tend the caucus, and that the reSo-
I,Hff frr1 to In
in which the caucus was held, Mr..
Murphy interfering that a committee
on credentials would in that case be
necessary to examine into the politics
of those who were present. Col. W.
p Wood, of Randolph, also opposed
both resolutions, declaring that no one
was afraid Of any good Democrat,
and that he did not see what harm
could be done by the presence of the
candidates during the proceedings
Mr.. Woodlands motion prevailed, how
ever and the candidates, TO the num-
Der of fourteen or fifteen filed out OF
the door into the lobby, after which
Col. w. =. wood made and put Il
motion that the temporary organiza-
ton of the caucus be made perma-
nent.
On motion of Mr. G. w Mitchell.
of BERTHE. the caucus then proceeded
to the nomination of Speaker.
Guion by Acclamation.
Mr. Guion's nomination had at that
time been conceded by the friends of
all the candidates. and it was there
fore no surprise when Colonel Wood.
OF Randolph, arose and nominated
him for the Office.
Ia making the nomination, Colonel
Wood spoke humorously Of having
left his home with a beautifully pre-
pared speech of acceptance of the
honor, which he was then proposing
for another IN vi, but that MS the
train got nearea to Raleigh, his salts
faction with the speech had grown
less and less complete until he had
entirely given ID the idea of making
it. He Their gracefully nominated
Mr.. Guion u G "a man who had been
we'll tried, " ue had proven his ability
who was 80 hole and of the proper
temperamf ,ledging that he would
serve as - or with the greatest
satisfact nat he would be IAN
honor .n& a credit TO himself"
At IT, "A T.. fusion OF Col Woods
remarks Hu A. w. Graham arose
TO seco,Y Guion's nomination.
and was IL ed with an ovation. tnsH
members 4 auding so long and 50