Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-24


porter was not satisfied but indi-
Gated that he wanted some reminis-
cences with relation to early political
days, and by way Of a starter re-
minded him that he was at one time
president of the Oregon state senate
and suggested that there might be
something in connection with that in
which the people of Salem, and Ore
gon in general would be interested
in.
yes" he said, 81 was president
of the Oregon state senate during
the session of 1882 when we had
that prolonged contest over the cleo
tion of Senator Dolph.
Il was a member of the session
two years before. Sol Hirsch was
then president, and l in common
with a large majority of the mem
bers of both houses believed he
would be reelected as he had made
an excellent presiding officer. But
there were three senator's, two of
whom were from Marion county who
announced after the caucas was
organized that they would support
any republican senator for presiding
officer, except Hirsch. Upon this
announcement Hirsch arose and
placed my name in nomination, and
l do not think it was to exceed five
minutes from the time we entered
the presidents room at the capitol
until l was in the midst of a parli-
amentary fight which really con-
tinued through the session and made
it necessary for me to make an
ardent study of parliamentary law.
Origin of Speaker Reeds Ruling.
"Out of the education / received
at this session came the most i'm
portant parliamentary decision ever
made since parliamentary bodies
were organized-a decision which
gave Speaker Reed a national repu-
tation. After the adjournment of
the legislature in 1882 l removed
with my family to Idaho, and par
ticipated in the framing of the con-
stitution for that state which was
adopted a few weeks after the con-
veption adjourned The question as
to whether Idaho would be admitted
as a state was rather doubtful owing
to the small number of her citizens
as we'll as the uncertainty of the
states political complexion. AS will
be remembered the states of Mon
tana and Wyoming were admitted
just previous to Idaho, and we were
anxious that their senators should
be elected and take their seats as
being western states like ours, they
would undoubtedly support our ad-
mission.
The Deadlock in Montana.
"The Wyoming legislature organ
lied promptly and elected to the
senate two republicans but the re-
suit of the election in Montana was
that the democrats controlled the
house, but the republican majority
in the house was sufficient to over
come the democratic majority in the
senate so that if the bodies organ
ized and assembled in joint conven-
ton they would probably elect d
republican to the United States
senate.
knowing this to be the fact the
democrats concluded not to organize.
Richards, who was afterwards gov
ernor of the state, was then lieuten-
ant governor. The minority would
meet from day to day, and the demo-
Gratis while generally there would
not respond to roll call and thus for
81 days matters stood. The house
of representatives was passing bills
but there was no senate to send
them to, and there they were at a
deadlock.
Spring Surprise on Democrats.
"At the end of the 27 days /
boarded a train for Helena, the
capital, and Sunday evening had al
conference with President Richards.
He declined to discuss organization
with me until the republican SEN
ators had been brought into the
committee room. told him how
thought they could organize and he
replied that the best legal minds
differed with me. l told him that
was evident from the fact that they
had not organized. 1t was too late
to do any business that night, but it
was arranged that should meet the
republicans of both houses and de-
bate the question with them. After
the debate ] went to the hotel and
that night President Rickhard came
to my room and aroused me out of
bed and wanted me to give my
argument over again to him.
Il told him that there were doubt