The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-03
Tennessee Democrats Cap- lure Senate But Not House
.F|L|BUs1ER IS STARTED
House Fails to Get n Quorum and Does Not Organize, the Regulars and the Fusionists Each Hoping
 to Win Out

Nashville, January 2.-(Special. )-Bott houses of the Tennessee legislature con. vened according to schedule yesterday at noon and according to schedule the senate was immediately captured by the regular democrats while the fusion ist interests had a clear apparent ma jority in the lower house.
 The senate proceeded to name Nat Bax- ter of this city as speaker, his oppo- nents being T. J. Hall, republican, who received seven votes, and W. I. McFar- land, independent" five; MT. Baxter re- cetved IS votes. The senate adjourned upon completing organization and select ing full quota of officers.
 While the action of the senate was peaceful and uneventful, the first sur prise of the session was sprung by the bulk of the regular democratic mem- bers of the lower house failing to be sworn, thus preventing business quo- rum. Temporary organization was per fected, however, Representative Swann of Sullivan county being named as tempor- ary chairman. This filibustering move
  ocrats means apparently a realization of the fact that the fusionist faction is dominant in the house at present. the action being in the hope doubtless of holding out in the effort to effect a coali- tion whereby some material advantage may be gained with possibly some start ling combination.
 nnn r,,r,, h fho ha ic ntar tained of winning enough republican votes to name some member of. that party as speaker instead of fusonist represen- tative, thus at the same time, if possi- ble, breaking the independent and fusion- ist combine and giving the independent democrats some of their own medicine. Many prominent regulars declare that the reason for remaining away was to prevent the threatened unseating of joint control and enable that element to name United States senator.
 Many regular democrats contend that the filibuster will continue until ."some- thing drops" while fusionists hold and some regulars are free to express them
 
 done to stay final results and that day longer at best will find the movement ended and the fusion interests in as full possession of the House as the regulars are of the Senate
 At noon, when the House was called to order by Chief Clerk Martin of the last House, only 59 members appeared to be sworn in. This was seven less than a quorum, but after some wrangling the fusionists proceeded with temporary or ganization by electiong J. Hairy Swan, Jr., temporary speaker, and Fred T. Will son clerk. The regulars floor leader, Mr. Puryear. objected to every move, on the ground that the proceedings were not in accordance with the constitution. His objections were overruled.
 At o'clock another session was held, this time with 62 members present, but on the motion to go into permanent or ganization the regulars refrained from voting. The fusionists. however. pro- ceeded to elect A. M. Leach permanent speaker, he receiving 5S votes and him. self voting for John F. Hall. The other members withheld their votes. Wilson was elected clerk and Charles Cason, as- sistant, by practically the same vote. The fusion forces expect that enough regulars will come over tomorrow to make quorum.
 This, however, is considered extremely doubtful
 Half dozen or more notices of con- tests were filed by fusionists in the house this afternoon and at least two senatorial seats will be contested. One of these latter is by republican and the other by regular democrat. As the fusion ists appear to have constitutional ma jcrity in the house they are in a posi- tion to seat the contestants and will probably do so unless the regulars join in the proceedings.
 The first balloting for United States senator may take place a week from to- morrow. The date hinges entirely upon the question whether or not the legisla- ture will be held to be permanently or ganiZed tomorrow.