The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-11
HOUSE LISTENS TO
THE MESSAGE Of
GOVERNOR MANN
Organizes With Speaker Byrd
Again Chosen to Preside
Over Body
REPUBLICANS SECOND
HIS NOMINATION
Clerk Williams Again Elected.
Johnson is Sergeant-at-
Arms, NeWhouse
Doorkeeper

The first day of the session OF 1917
of the General Assembly of virginia
was as placid as one could well WISH.
Busted with the unaccustorneo
scenes Of gatherings In which tneS
sat for the first time. the najorftles
of the men In the Senate ana the
House turned their Thoughts away from
the fierce contests being waged for
office to more pleasant subjects.
The caucus nominations made by
both the Senate and House Democrats
went through without dissenting
voice or a. discofdaHt note.
In the House the BODY Was treated
TO a scene not often witnessed In pp-
ntical affairs. As each democratic
candidate WIS placed In nomination.,
and after one or two Democrats, had
added their mede OF praise 20 what
had been said In the form Of second
ing speeches, MIR. Wtssier, OF Smith.
Republican. would rise and commend
the nominee and secof,d the nonina-
ton This looked more like the lamb
and the hon lying down together than
many of the visitors had expected to
see. X
Gavsf Loses tie hsad.
Promptly at noon Clerk John W.
I Williams raped the House 70 onusT.
IN fact he rxpi,eds~sSith such energy
that at the first resoundins Trump
the head Ut the gAvel left the handle
and few over into a crowd OF dele
FEntes and newspaper men, making
quite q c1a&ter- aS 1t came into con-
1 tact with the head of the gentleman
lMho Wan .setting the meTnpers up
Ito ptltstF biennial treat in the form Of (.
! pocket hocAssrSh Aads pc<het- knAfe.
The U14xI, howsvfr. NaA tho ONLY
b11G aase its kaads - eaa 49,
I the handle and the first ssessiCh Of the
| House for gl12 vas begun
Join in Rsvsrsnt Prayer.
Mr.. Williams called upon Rev. Jas.
Y. Fair to lead in prayer, and that
good man sent UP an earnest supple
cation for the legislators that their
| acts might be those of wisdom ana
| their every step be guided by the Goo
| OF right. The minister closed his
| saeplication with the Lords prayer.
| and as nearly every man in the House
! teffed heartily In tho prayer feel
| ing was experienced that these were
men gathere together to do the, right
! as they had light to do it-old-fash-
| toned Virginia folk who had respect
for old fashion Virginia Christianity.
| gathered with little OF ostentation to
| legislate the principles of right into
| every policy of the State and its gov
| eminent.
| The roll call showed but few alb
! senteea and they soon came in, no
| vote being cast in the House for any
! OF the caucus nominees where less
| than e5 per cent. Of the member
ship were present and voting.
| Oaths Administered.
The oath Of Office was adminis-
| by Mr.. Williams. the entire member
| shin rising and swearing to support
| the laws and the constitution Of the
! State.
Mr.. Bell, OF Culpeper. then placed
| Speaker Byrd In nomination, and w.
w. Baker. Of Chesterfield, seconded
the nomination. Mr.. Rutherford. OF
/ Goochland. also made a short second
Ing speech. Mr.. Wissler. Republican.
won = hearty round OF applause BY
4 saying a good word for the Demo-
| cratic candidate. Every vote was for
| Byrd, and Clerk Williams declared
that Richard Evelyn Byrd was the
duly elected Speaker of the House
Of Delegates.
Mr. Byrd was escorted to the clerks
desk and the oath of Office admin
istered by Judge r. Carter Scott, OF
tho Circuit Court of the city OF Rich
mond.
ringing round OF applause went
up when Mr.. Williams conducted tho
Speaker to his lofty seat.
Then followed In quick succession
l the election. of. Clerk John W. VIII
iiams to succeed himself; the eiec-
ton Of Sergeant-at-Arms Johnston:
Doorkeeper 8. NJ. Newhouse, and
Second Doorkeeper Charles A. Truss
low.
The rules of the last House. with
slight amendment. were adopted.
At this stsge the Senate. having
already announced thut It was orr
ganized and ready for business. the
Speaker named seven members OK
aasAssesu 1ssnty Essmxssstxes NO. sset TIM
I Governor that the House was organ
ICED and prepared to receive his mes
sage.
Causes Laugh.
While awaiting the return nj thu
| COMMITTEES, Colonel HarW ood In
happy speech Invited the members or
the House to the banquet held last
| night. Mr.. Hill Montague suggested
that no one should hang hack for
lack of dress suit. Judge Williama
| created a laugh by suggesting that
Colonel Harwood. a giant of some 2AA
pounds or more, had arranged for .
dress suit by borrowing one fresi Mr..
Bell. Of Culpeper, who IL about one
half the size Of the big Richmond
legislator.
The merrtment was interrupted ~
the arrival of SECRETARY Ben r.
Owen with the Governors voluminouA
message prominently displayed. Mr.
Owen was escorted a short distances
down the aisle with becoming dixnity.
and page relieved the 0overnoxs9
4 representative Of the document
The reading Of the message wnM ~
once begun and It the conclu1tcn ~
the reading. ~ 1880 O'clock.
House adjourned until noon s1AAQS&
A-large number ~ bills wuRa
aladsaeA ~ i!