The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-06

ing appointed the following pages and
Iaborers for the Senate branch of the
General Assembly, on the recommen-
dation of the various Senator's:
Chief page. Harry S. Fenner, of
Halifax.
Mailing clerk, c. r. Wharton, OF
Guilford
Pages: Robt. f. Lumiey, of Dur
, BAN; Fab. ]. Hunnicutt. of Raleigh;
Rufus Pratt, of Rockingham; Skinner
Chalk, of Edenton; r. E. Fentress or
f. AIbea. Of Winston; Paul E. Jones.
of Pitt; NJ. Johnson, of Iredell.
Laborers: c. A. Pegram. Raleigh;
]. z. Straughan. Raleigh: A. J. Bush.
of Randolph; D. Med. Buie, of Fay
etteville: John w. Ward, of Dare:
| Frank Reid, of Anson; Barnes. of
Nash, Mckenzie, Of Maxton.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE.
| Principal Clerk Frank D. Hackett
called the House to order at noon ond
requested Rev. r. T. Bumpass. Of Ed
ienton street Methodist church, to offer
1.-THE opening prayer.
! It was then announced that Chief
Justice Walter Clark would administer
ithe oaths Of office to the members. The
Halter, as is the custom came forward
/ to the desk in patches, and were sworn.
t'There were very few spectators in the
galleries but the lobbies were well fill
led. The hall never before presented so
neat and attractive an appearance. 1t
lpaint, Hnoleum floor covering, border ed
with shining brass and with aisies
freshly carpeted.
| Only fourteen familiar faces were
seen among the members. the House
lbeing almost entirely new body. Jno.
is. Cunningham Of Person occupies q
seat to the left, the one he occupied
tduring the session OF 1897, and later on.
1.-THE most prominent double seat to the
front on the right. as for several terms
in the past were occupied by the two
members from Edgecomb, but the ia
miMar faces of Daughteridge and Shcl-
ton were succeeded by two other good
looking and businesslike faces, DR..
Pitt Of Sparta and Vestal of Rocky
Mount
Looking as natural as life and as if
he had just stepped from the frame Of
a picture Of we old timey gentleman"
lis Walter Peter Murphy, of Rowan, in
the same seat he so often arose from
in the stormy prohibition scenes of two
Iyears ago.
Only three are noted who have serv-
led continuously for three terms. These
Ibe those excellent representatives
Granville; Robinson, of Guilford; and
lDaniel, of Warren.
| The swearing HI of members and the
subscribing to the House roll was a tc-
idious process, consuming an hour and
Ia half of time. and when this fornality
Twas concluded, ,on motion of Represen-
Itative Woodard of Wilson, seven MEN,
Ibers who had left their certificates Of
lelection at home, were allowed to b.
Isworn in. Prominent in this group was
Iex-Member of Congress w. A. B.
Branch, of Bea ufort.
At 1:30 O'Clock Chief Clerk Hackett
lannounced that everv member of the
House of representatives was present
land duly qualified. and the next busi-
lness would be the election of a speaker.
Speaker Pro Tenn. w. A. Graham an
lnouncing that the nomination of a
lspeaker was in order, Mitchell, of Ber-
lite, placed in nomination O. H. Guion
lof Craven. Cunningham. Of Person.
Iseconded the nomination. Butler, Gf
lSampson presented the name of J. A.
ICrisp, of Caldwell, as the Republican
Inominee for speaker. AS to all Othe"
positions, Butler said the minority had
been treated fairly by the majority and
would have no candidates. Rector Of
Henderson, seconded Crisp'S nO1ninI T.
ton.
Woodard, of Wilson in neat speech
presented the name of O. H. Gui0n
Among many other compliments say
ing he was one CT the finest products
iof the east.
Winborn, of Hertford. said that as 4
candidate himself for the high honor,
Iwisely last night in the selection OF
lGuion, paying him a high tribute.
Other speeches seconding the nomi-
nation of GuiOn were made by Warren,
of Jones, and Robinson, of Guilford.
The vote. on roll call, being the first
of the session, was: Guion, 95; Crisp,
o.
Upon the announcement of the cleo
ton, Speaker Pro Tenn. Graham named
Winborn, of Hertford, and Cunning
lham, of Person, to escort the speaker
to the chair. Chief Justice Walter
Clark administered the oath of Of
fee and when the honorable speaker
elect stood facing the House members
joined in a spontaneous tribute of ap-
lplause.
Speaker Guion occupied but a few
minutes in his inaugural saying that
the standard which had been placed
for him was, he feared, a higher one
than he could reach, but that he
COISCtCHliOuSly tluSdfol "
charge the duties of the Office for the
good of the state and to the satisfac-
ton of all members. He said he felt
fearfully this responsible honor OF pre-
siding over one of the best bodies of
representatives ever assembled in North
Carolina.
He referred gracefully to the action
of his rivals, Wood, Winborne and
Graham, in so courteously withdraw
ing in his favor and their cordial sup
port He said he had in this short
time found the labors of the position
much greater than he had expected,
referring to the arduous task of Sc
lecting the various chairmen and mem
bers of committees.
Outlining some of the responsible
tasks before this Legislature, he named
those relating to the liquor question
and proyififnp for arrangements or dis