The Harrison times., 1911-06-10
The Arkansas Legislature.
(By Clio Harper

LITTLE Rock, ARK, June 6, 1911.
This week will undoubtedly see
the end of the extra session of the
3Sth General Assembly probably
the most ill-advised and least bene-
fetal session of any Legislature ever
held in the state.
Beginning at the very outset with
bitter antagonism between Gov.
Donaghev and President Toney'S 5
dominent party in the Senate, it
was seen very early that nothing
would be done, and the result has
been little more than nothing
The fractional difference culminat-
ed last week in a short-hved revolu-
tion of those who condemned the
course pursued by President Toney.
This insurgent move was organized
bv fifteen men who put Senator
Jacobson in the chair and recalled
from the House an objcctional ad-
iournment resolution. The follow
ing day the Insurgents met and by
a vote of 13 to . ouSted Senator
Toney as president of the Senate,
and declared Senator W. ( Rod
gers, who had been elected president
pro tenn at the close Of the regular
session, was the legally constituted
presiding officer. Bitter speeches
were made condemning Senator
Toney for his arbitrary and unjust
rulings, and the Green resolution
recited that the action was taken
for his frequent arbitrary gag-ruI-
ings.
There were nineteen present, one
more than aconstitutionalmaj jorlty,
but Senator Rodgers of Howard
said he doubted the legality of, the
session, as he believed the Senate
had adjourned until 11:45 a. m, Sat
urday, instead of to 10 o'clock, as
claimed by the Insurgents, Sena-
tors Raney and Watson were also
present but as it developed later
they could not properly be counted
in the lnsurgent camp. - III
Saturday morning when the test
of strength was TO come up, the feel,
ing was tense and serious trouble
was expected All were so interest,
ed that the House could not get a
quorum. Oldham, who sat Friday
as the IiHurgent President, and
Friedell, who was designated by
Rodgers to occupy the chair Satur'
day struggled for possession OF the
gavcl at 10 o'clock, and Oldham
the younger and more active man
wrested it from his possession anc
called the Senate to order. Friedel
then presented credentials signed by
both Toney aud Rodgers, and Old
ham surrendered the chair
Senator Keel having raised the
point of order that the Senate wa,
not legally in session, the hour tC
which they had adjourned not hav
ing arrived, there seemed for a few
moments a chance for serious trou
bic Senator's Turner, Carl Lee
Holt and others, leading the lnsur
gents, were demanding the roll-call
while the leaders Of the Regulars
were equally bent upon taking every
advantage to secure the contro
which had almost slipped away
from them.
Senator Friedcll, anxious to avert
an actual physical clash between the
contending factions, met the situa
tion unexpectedly. Standing in his
desk, with watch in hand, he held on
grimly. and at 1915 by every 9th I
watch in the house, announced that
according to his watch the hour OF
l1:45 had arrived, and he called the
session regularly to order. Even
the Insurgents did not greatly de-
muir to this arbitrary statement OF
the time, for it relieved a tense sit
uation that might easily have set
off a powder mine.
The real test Of strength between
the contending factions came upon
the approval of Thursdays journal.
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