The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-12-04
WILLIAMS STILL LEADS.
MISSISSIPPI STATESMAN UNANI.
NOUS CHOICE OF DEMOCRATS.

Party Caucus Agrees on John Sharpe
Williams as Candidate for Speaker.
He Had no Opposition.
Washington. Nov. s0.-By agreeing
to place In nomination for speaker,
Hon. John Sharp williams, OF Missis-
s.ppi. the Democratic members of the
house today in effect determined to
continue him In thes esposition OF min
ority leader OF the Sixtieth congress.
The nomination of 1r. williams was
agreed to In caucus Of the Demo-
cratic members held In the hall Of the
house Of Representatives beginning at
. o'clock today. Representative Henry
CLAYTON. OF Alabama. presided and
Representative Ryan. OF Buffalo. N.
T.. district was chosen secretary.
Immediately after the organization
Of the caucus had been completed
Representative Thomas Of North Car
dains, was recognised and he proceed
ea at once to place Mr. williams In
'nomination. There was no opposition
and Mr.. Williams was selected by &C.
clamation. In presenting Mr.. Will
lhsms' name Mr.. Thomas said in part:
I 'Reelscf him moaoriv leader. fell
low Democrats. and from whatever
part OF the union Of states you come,
whatever your personal Views as to
Democratic policies. you will find him
fAir to all. aggressive yet conservative.
the best type Of southern statesman
ship. Of Democracy which believes
with Jefferson, In equal rights to all
and special privileges to none: which
opposes monopoly. which stands for
strict construction and stands always
for the rishts Of the people and the
states. xcS. <a
N For fou1 years he has led the
Democratic hosts upon this door. AL.
ways at his post Of duty and in the
forefront and thickest of the fight, he
has been able. adroit. skilful. honest,
courageous and successful. His tact
and energy, power Of Organization
and ability as debater have been
unsurpassed BY any leader OF the
minority without exception. in my
opinion. - "t2>.
He served In the ranks under both
his predecessor. Mr.. Bailey and Mr..
Richardson, and with the highest re-
spect for the intellectual ability and
parliamentary skill Of both. those of
Us who know John Sharp williams
best and love him most regard him
as the peer Of either and the sperior
In many respects Of any man who has
ever been chosen the leader of the
Democracy
I'VE have followed him here with
implicit confidence even as the Hu-
yuenots followed the white plume Of
Henry Of Navarro. He is today the
ablest debater in either branch Of
congress; the most tactful. skillful,
resourceful leader Democracy has
ever had. and hope to see him con-
TIME to lead the minority until he
takes his place as senator from Mis-
sissipps The son Of father, a
martyr to. the Lost Cause who died
at the head OF his regiment, the
Twenty-seventh Tennessee, at Shiloh.
the whole south claims him. for he
was baptized in the sacred blood OF
one OF her heroes. BY study aud train
Ing and Inheritance disciple of
Thomas Jefferson. saturated with JEFF
fersonian Democracy, the whole
Democratic party claims him.
From the time he entered the
Fifty-third congress to this good hour
he has never made a fight, where VIC
tory was possible in Mississippi or
here which he did not win. He has
held his party upon the committees
md united as far as In the power Of
mortal man the Democratic minor.
ity"
Mr.. Thomas speech was received
by the caucus with signs of lively ap-
probation and their approval Of its
subject was expressed in loud ap-
plause.
MIR. Williams was absent from the
chamber when his election took place
but he was soon afterward escorted
to the floor by a committee appointed
for that purpose and after the cessa-
ton OF the applause he spoke at some
length, thanking his fellow members
for the confidence repOsed In him and
promising to serve them to the best
of his ability. He especially urged
them to stand together in the support
OF party principles. saying it was most
important at this time that the DEM