The Goodland republic., 1907-01-11
SIKMsHS GETS sPEAKERSHIP
DIGHTON NAN WON on FIRST
BALLOT.
Other Candidates IN the Race We're
c. A. stannard and Cyrus Le-
Iand-Us New Speaker.


on the first ballot The vote was
Simmons, As; c. A stannard OF Lyon,
%. and Cyrus Leland Of Doniphan. II.
There were no nominating speeches.
The candidates were placed in nomi-
nation without any remarks. Sim
mons victory was made possible to-
night at Z O'Clock when J. ". Creech
Of Dickinson county announced in the
lobby OF the Copeland hotel that he
had withdrawn from the speakership
contest Mr. Creech had been III for
two days and as a Consequence he had
not had time or inclinatiOn to attend
to his speakership campaign
The surprise OF the ballot was the
vote cast by Stannard for Simmons. 1t
has generally been supposed that Stan
nard and Leland were working to-
gether and that, in ths event OF the
failure Of Simmons 70 be elected on
the first ballot, the Stannard vote
would 90 to Leland or vice versa
A Statement by Simmons.
1t has been well known from the
beginning OF the fight that the new
speaker, Mr.. Simmons, was for Bris-
tow for senator. immediately after
ton he gave out this statement:
'I believe the principal duties OF the
Office OF speaker are to so organize the
legislature and direct its duties as to
get the very best possible expenditure
OF time and this VIII be my first aim.
''In line with this. I feel that it is
not the duty Of the speaker nor his
privilege to appoint committees to
promote or prejudice any particular
measure. When he does he substitutes
his judgment for that of the house.
will endeayor to make up each COM
mittee OF men who are best qualified
to handle the questions coming before
that committee and who will be fair
and get the matters before the house
promptly and in the best shape for
fair consideration.
st trust that no effort viii be made
to attach any senatorial significance
to my election and when my support
from the friends OF nearly every sena-
tOriaI candidate is considered this can
not consistently be done
Morgan and AIbaugh Helped.
The Simmons victory was due pri-
marily 70 the splendid Organization OF
the Seventh district crowd, headed
by W Y Morgan, and Mort" Al
baugh. These natural born" politi-
clans worked night and day. Last
night they spread the report, after
caucus in their headquarters, that
Simmons had enough votes pledged
to elect him on the first ballot The
opposition scoffed at this statement,
saying that it was = "bluh" often
practiced when q side was a few votes
short, to frighten weak kneed mem
bers into the band wagon Whether
this move had any effect OF not is not
known, but it is apparent that the
statement at that time was incorrect
for Creech then had eight votes and
there was no knowledge that he in
tended TO withdraw.
It IS rather q noticeable fact that
the vote OF Stannard elected Simmons
IL It can be said that the vote OF any
one member did that The Simmons
vote was fOrty-six, or exactly enough
to elect While this vote OF Stanuard
was a surprise to many, the real in
siders in the Simmons camp say they
had positive knowledge that the Stan
nard strength would go to Simmons
rather than to Leland
". z. Morgan, one OF the managers
Of the Simmons campaign, and after
the caucus:
'I believe Mr.. Simmons will be such
a speaker that the men who voted
against him viii be well satisfied with
his work It was not a victory for any
crowd or candidate, but the honest
opinion OF a majority that Simmons is
efficient and fair and that personally
preferred that he preside, over the
house There viii be important meas
ures before the legislature and I am
sure John Simmons viii give every
member and every proposition absO-
lutte fair play"
Members Prompt In Arriving.
The memberes were rather prompt
in arriving. By 7:45 o'clock the house
was comfortably filed. AS the mem
/ bers came into the hall they naturally
/ drifted to their old seats OF two years
| ago, although the regular assignment
| OF places has not been made yet.
/ Shortly before 8 o'clock the gallery
/ door was thrown open and the gal
lery members crowded in there Sew
eral women went to the gallery, al
though the men were in an over
| whelming majority. The large va
| cant floor spaces on either side OF the
/ speakers desk were filed with chairs
/ which were only sparcely filed
| cloud Of smoke hung like a tent tor
over the gathering, showing that the
senator and speaker campaign cigars
were still very much in odorous evi.
dence-
/ The caucus was called to order by
Robert Stone OF Shawnee. Steve
Brandon Of Butler nominated J. "
Cunningham OF Cowley for chairman
". z. Morgan seconded the nomina,
ton and Mr. Cunningham was choser
by exclamation. The chairman wal
escorted to the chair BY Mr.. Brandon
and Mr.. Morgan
Mr. Cunningham thanked the eau
Gus and said that he was not surprised
as he had been privately informet
before that the slate was fixed On Z
motion by Mr.. Stone each candidate
was instructed TO name q secretary
/ lEr. Leland named James N Rhode.
OF Marshall, Simmons selected ID. J
A 1Gilligan OF Anderson and Stannarl
chose = W Bergman Of Clark OF
motion BY ". Y Morgan the orde
Of business was made as follows
Speaker, speaker pro en-, CHIEF clerk
sergeant-at-arms, doorkeeper. post
master As soon as this motion wa
adopted Ar. Morgan moved that nomi
mating speeches be dispensed with an,
the names Cf candidates were present
Cd simply by some friend OF the candE
date w 3. Ham OF Rcoks nominate.
G. A Stannard, e A Enrfght o
I FTrrrr cite ~0-nfurfcT rsr-rur w.era-r