The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-01-08
HOUSE CAUCUS.
On Test Vote Patterson Forces Win
BY Three Majority.

Special to The Herald.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Jan. An a
test vote in the House Democratic
caucus this morning the Patterson
forces drew the first blood, winning
by a vote of thirty to thirty-three. The
vote was close and the result came by
the very narrowest of margins, but it
is sufficient to indicate that the ad-
ministration will have the votes neces-
sary to dictate the nomination of a
Speaker.
Immediately after the election of
Chairman the House caucus adjourned
until 3 o'clock this afternoon. In the
meantime the leaders on both sides
are very active and determined, but
there seems little doubt that Currie
Dixon or Dave Puryear, both Patter-
sonites, will be named for Speaker of
the House. The House convened at
noon and the members took the oath
required by the constitution and then
adjourned until tomorrow morning.
When the Democratic caucus of the
House of Representatives was called
to order this morning in the Hall OF
the House the Prohibition forces NOM
mated for Chairman Hillman Taylor,
of Gibson county, son-in-law OF Sen
ator Robert l.. Taylor. The machine
people nominated Hoyte Stewart OF
Cannon, who, although elected as
Prohibition advocate, belongs to Pat
terson. The vote between them was
regarded as test between the ad-
ministration and the people. Stewart
was elected thirty-three to thirty and
the announcement of the vote was
greeted with great enthusiasm by the
machine cohorts.
The caucus then adjourned to meet
at three o'clock this afternoon, when
the Speaker and other officials will be
named.
Hon. John f. Hall, of Lexington,
called the caucus to order promptly at
10 O'Clock and the two calls for
caucus, one by the State-widers Dem
ocrats and the other by the local OPP
tionists were read by Acting Sect'y. j..
I F. Cole of Henry county.
Chairman Hall then declared noml-
nations for temporary chairman In
order Hon. H. F. Stewart OF Cannon
county and Hon nj. H. Taylor, OF
Gibson county, were nominated. Mr.
Cleage, Of Hamilton, moved that in the
vote for Chairman any contests which
might develop be passed until per-
manent organization be effected. The
motion carried.
The chair ruled that the motion ap-
piled only to Independents. Under
this ruling representatives VIM Bergs-
CHECKER, Leo Goodman, w. d. Horn
and Hunt Phelan, all of Shelby county,
were not allowed to vote.
The first ballot resulted Stewart 81;
Taylor 80; and the chair announced
the election of Mr. Stewart He BRIEF
lv thanked the caucus for the honor
done him and promised fairness and
Justice Hon. A. w. Ketchum, OF
shelby, and ]. F. Cole, of Henry coun-
ty. were elected temporary secretaries.
On motion of Mr.. Cleage, OF Hamllton
! county, the temporary organization
was made permanent. The caucus
then adjourned until 3 o'clock
I The election was in measure hrst
blood for the local optionists, but the
lines we're not clearly drawn on the
issue. Personal feelings cut some
figure in the result and again num-
Der of known State-widers were in
cluded in the list not voting. lnde-
pendents too were not allowed to vote
in the organization of the caucus
Secretaries were elected, Hons. A. W.
Ketchum of Shelby and ]. e. Cole OF
Henry county, being elected without
opposition.
An adjournment was then taken IN
til o'clock.