The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-04-11
THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE
Drane Gets Presidency Of
Senate. Farris Elected
Speaker of the
House.

Promptly at o'clock Monday night
the legislative caucus was called to
order by ex-Chief Clerk John G.
Kellum who read the list of members
and announced the first business in
order was the selection of chlirman OF
caucaS.
Representative Knowles, of Monroe
county, placed in nomination as tenn
porary chairman the name of RepreSen-
tative w. A. MacWilliamS OF st. Johns
county. There was no other nomina.
ton and the selection was made by ac-
clamation. On taking the chair Repre-
sentative MacWilliamS in as few,SwordS
as possible cordially thanked his fellow
members, and at once proceeded 10
business.
In like manner ex. Chief Clerk of the
House ]. G. Kellum was selected as tenn
porary secretary On motion the tenn
porary organization of the caucus was
made permanent, and the real business
of the evening was taken up,> only about
ten minutes having been taken up in
effecting the organization.
Representative Turnbull, of Jefferson
county, Immediately took the floor and
placed in nomination for speaker of the
house the name of Hon. Ion l.. FarriS,
of Jacksonville. 1t was we'll known be-
forehand that no other nomination
would be made, but Mr.. Turnbull took
occasion to consume about ten minutes
time in which he reviewed briefly the
history and successes of the Demo
cratic party, and outlined the future
policy of the progressive Democracy OF
the state, which, he said, was now in
The saddle TO remain.
The nomination was seconded by
Hon. Edwin Spencer, of Marion, the
most youthful member OF the house.
He is only 23 years old but had mol been
on the floor more than two minutes
before he had established record as a
clear thinker and a vigorous speaker.
His voice trembled with emotion and
shook the uttermost receSSeS of the hall
as he dwelt upon the alleged calumnieS
which he said had only recently been
heaped upon Mr.. Farris, and he vehem.
emily called upon his colleagues to help
him efface this injustice BY reelecting
the gentleman from Duval as leader OF
the house of representatives. AS he
resumed his seat there was an outburSt
of handclapping and the house quickly
complied with his request.
| Otis r. Parker Immediately put in
nomination Mr.. Spencer OF Marion, the
gentleman who had just taken his seat,
as speaker pro tenn of the house. The
nomination was made by acclamation
amid great hand -clapping.
! Seconding the nomination of Mr.
Spencer, Harry Floyd OF Apalachicola
made one of his characteristic speeches,
entertaining those present for thirty
minutes with his inimitablc witticiSms
and satire.
1t was enjoyed, but as time pressed a
motion was passed limiting speeches to
five minutes. On motion of Repre-
sentative Adkins of Alachua, ex-Chief
Clerk John G. Kellum was nominated
by acclamation for reelection 10 that
position.
In the same manner II. ]. Gray was
nominated for assistant chief clerk.
The first contest of the evening came
for the position of bill clerk between ].
D. Cay and c. c. Epperson. The latter
received 40 and the former p votes, the
position going 10 the highest man.
The newly nominated speaker then
took the floor and put in nomination
for reading clerk Col. Nat. r. Walker
of Crawfordville, whom he designated
as the matchleSs leader of the progress
sive Democracy of WakulIa county.
Harry Floyd followed, seconding the
nomination with another OF his witty
speeches which, however, was kept
we'll within the time limit.
For engrossing clerk Eli Futch re-
ceived So votes and B. F. Kirk Is.
F. w. Clark, A. J. Angel and c. w.
Edwards contended for the position OF
enrolling clerk. The latter received Il
votes on the first ballot and was de-
clared the nominee. When the Selec
ton of recording clerk was reached one
of the members from GadSden county
created ripple of excitement by NOV.
ing the position be practically abolished
by refusing to select a candidate for it.
The affirmation of the question only
received a few half-hearted votes
while the negative received a much
larger and more vigorous vote. Den
ham Palmer, l.. H. Nelson and F. NJ
York were then put in nomination
The latter won the prize.
For the remaining positions there
were long lists of applicants and the
selections were made with wcari3om(
slowneSS.
J. NJ. Duncan of Hillsboro county
won over long list of opponents in ;
spirited contest for sergeant-at-arm
aud r. A. Green was the victor in
similar fight for messenger.
At about 3 O'Clock they adjournet
after selecting doorkeeper chaplain
janitor and four pages.
The Senate.
The organization of the senate, whiC'
up 10 late hour this afternoon, prom
hei to furnish the most exciting conles
at the beginning OF this session, deve
oped into a regular old time love feas
and was finished by the time the NOR
unwieldly house OF representatives ha
gotten we'll under way.
! Senator Adkins withdrawal from th