The log cabin Democrat., 1913-01-14
SENATE FAILS
TO ORGANIZE
OPEN CAUCUS DEFEATED
V.-ELECT ROBINSON FAILED
TO LAND FIRST FALL IN YES
TERDAY'S SESSION.

Governor-elect Joe T. Robinson, aspi-
rant for senatorial honors, failed to
land the first fall in the Arkansas
senate yesterday, the day passing
without an organization in that body.
This means that it will be two weeks
before the senate or the joint assem-
bly, can elect a United States senator,
and this will give the people chance
to be heard from. If the senate had
been organized, the selection of a SEN
ator could have been entered into to-
day.
The members of the senate had a
caucus in the morning and threshed
out the real organization, as the body
expected to see carried out in the aft
ernoon. w. R. Phillips of Carroll
county acted as chairman, with Ira d.
Oglesby, Jr., Of Fort Smith and Jesse
M. Martin, president of the last SEN
ate, as secretaries; Guy B. Tucker as
sergeant-at-arms, and j. R. Woods
and Harry Harris, both senator's, as
Itellers.
Senator w. C. Rodgers, who has the
honor of being acting governor, favor
ed an open caucus, by which every
senator would speak his choice right
out in meeting. Senator w. R. Mar
tin opposed this. The motion for an
open ballot carried, 20 to Is.
Senator Raney then asked that the
rules of the 38th general assembly
govern the caucus and this motion was
defeated
Senator Owens made a motion that
Senator Oldham be the unanimous
choice of the caucus for the presidency
of the senate, and this was carried
without opposition
Senator Wood placed T. J. Terrell
in nomination for secretary of the
senate. Senator Going nominated T.
B. Steele of Harrisburg. Senator
Martin nominated George Trevathan
of Batesville, who had served three
terms as secretary. The choice fell
on the first ballot. Terrell received IS
votes, Trevathan 13 and Steele 4.
For sergeant-at-arms 7. B. Tucker
received 19 votes, j. H. Black Is and
! V. B. lizard, Fred G. West, J. B. Arm
strong and w. S. Allen the balance.
j. B. Searcy, last chaplain of the
house, received 23 votes for chaplain
of the senate on the first ballot. The
other contestants were Sidney S. Key,
N. c. benson and R. S. Cole.
Conrad Hoffman took 10 votes for
journal clerg of the senate on the first
ballot, Garner Hodges and T. J. Wes-
son being his opponents.
Fred Baker received % votes for
assistant journal clerk on the first bal
lot, with Jack Hudgins, Ray Burns
and T. j. Wesson as opponents.
This much-ef the organization hav-
ing been perfected, the members OF
the senate adjourned to the Capitol
where it was agreed that the real busi-
ness of the 39th senate would be COM
menced.
AS soon as President Oldham was
sworn to the office and other state
officials had received the oath, Sena-
tor Going raised the question of ad-
journment in an effort to defeat the
election of a senator for two weeks
He did not succeed in an adjournment
for the day, but put the matter off un-
til afternoon.
Senator Raney opened the guns for
the postponement of the selection of a
senator, in the afternoon, and some
boomshells he did explode. Senator
Jacobson took the opposite side and
forced Senator Raney to admit the pc
titions he had received were in favor
of Stephen Brundidge for the senate
Senator Hughes followed with a
strong speech in favor of organization,
which meant he favored the selection
of Governor elect Robinson for sena-
tor. He stated that the people would
disapprove of dilatory tactics on the
part of the senate. Senator Martin
also spoke forcibly on the question,
making a strong argument on the
Robinson side. Senator Lundy took
the opposite view and could not rea-
son out where there was haste to Sc
lect a senator. Senator Miles was
called to the floor and President Old
ham delivered a most forcible argu-
ment in favor of immediate organiza-