The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-09
ASKED TO CALL
SPECIAL SESSION
Continual From First Parn)

CONTINUED From First Page)
provide the machinery for special
election to choose new Senator to
serve for the term beginning March
! 4. 1915
II was agreed by the administration
leaders that Senator Kern. the ma
Jority leader, and Senator simmons
chairman of the Finance Committee.
would join in telegram to Governor
IONeal. following Senator Johnston's
funeral In Birmingham Sunday. urging
him to call special session of the Ala :
Daina Legislature TO act and To urge
upon the Legislature a grant Of au-
. thority for immediate appointment OF
Senator ad interim
Senator Bankhead. OF Alabama now
is in birmingham, and VIII be Joined
there by Representative Underwo God.
majority leader OF the House who will
call on Governor ONeal and suppiemen
inc Geographic message of Senators
Kern and Simmons with personal an
peals for early action.
Candidates for senate.
Several candidates for the appoint-
ment. If such course is decided upon
rather than an immediate election.
We're suggested here to-day among
them Congressman Richmond p Hob
son, Henry D. Clayton and Oscar w.
Underwood. Mr.. Underwood recently
said. however. that he did not wish TO
give up the House leadership for a seat
in the Senate.
Senator Johnston had been in moor
health and had not attended sessions
OF the Senate for week. He had been
cohhned TO his apartment most of the
time, but his trouble was not diagnosed
as pneumonia until few days ago.
Although the Scna tors son, Fornev
johnston. had been summoned from
birmingham, it was believed last night
! that the Senator was not in any imme-
diatc danger
Senator Johnston was seventy years
old. had served through the War Be
tween the States in the Confederate
army. was Governor of Alabama for
two terms, and had been member OF
the senate since 1907. He was unani-
mously elected to succeed the late
senator PettuS and reelected in 1909
Tribute To Johnston.
The Senate paid tribute TO Senator
Johnstons memory through resolu-
tions OF respect and an immediate adj
journmcnt OF to-day's session. Ills
colleague. Senator Bankhead was not
present. being in Alabama. and Sena-
tor Overman offered the resolutions
upon Senator Johnson's death He
addressed the Senate briefly, having
tribute to the Alabama member The
resolutions provided that committee
OF seventeen should represent the
Senate at the funeral. and should ac-
company the body to Birmingham,
Ala
Vice President Marshall appointed
the following committee:
Senator'S Bankhcad. Bacon Overman.
Chamberlain. Hitchcock. Clarke, OF
Arkansas; Nardaman. johnson. or
Maine; Swanson. Smith, of South Caro-
INA; Thornton, Gallingcr Warren
Bristow. Catron. Brady and KENYON
Members of senator Johnston's fam
lily asked that there be no public
funeral from the Senate chamber
Governor O'Neal reiterated tonight
his present determination to call spe-
cial election to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of Senator Johnston. He
is basins authority for this action on
the telegram Of Attorney General Nc
Reynolds. in which it is held the Gov
ernor is clearly within his rights in
ordering such an election, and upon
high legal advice within the state
The Governor also stated that he would
call special session Of the Lcgisla-
ture to ask for authority to make a
temporary appointment If it develops
that the needs of the party in Washing
ton are such that this action is neccs-
sary. Should the Legislature be called
In special session, the cost TO the state
is estimated at about $4,000 and the
session would be called specifically and
solely FOR the purpose Of providing for
the hlling of the senatorial vacancy.
Governor O'Neal issued the following
statement tonight:
Il expect to order n special election
at once to I'LL the vacancy in the United
States Senate caused by the death Of
Senator Joseph +. johnston of Ala
bama. Willie this is my present inten-
Ton. conditions at Washington might
make II necessary to call AN extra scs-
sion of the Legislature to III the va
cancy at once. ] am not inclined. how
ever. to think that an extra session
would be moro expeditions than Il spe-
a.i.1l al L., =