The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-07
EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE
SPEAKER.
by Una ni;aOus Vote Resolutions Pay
ing Tribute tn Smith Are Adopted

Ing If1Dutc tn Smith Are Adopted
Columbia, Nov. AT tonights ses-
sion Mr.. w. +. Stevenson, who was OUT
OF the house during the morning
moved that the house express it's en-.
tire confidence in Speaker Smith and
its entire confidence in his fairness.
Mr.. Cecil Wyche paid high tribute
to the presiding officer sand showed
how the house would still have been
voting had Speaker Smith not sug-
gested that he would rule dilatory
tactics out of order.
Mr.. Sapp thought further notice did
the criticism too much honor by SC
much attention. He resented any
criticism Of Speaker Smith, and ar
gued that but for the speakers rul-
ing the Act would never have been
ratified
Mr.. Epps thought it wrong to hurl
epithets at the writer Of the article
complained of. He would commend
the speaker for his fairness and i'm
partially, but he would not express
indignation Of any writer of criti-
cisms. The speaker was absolutely
fair in his rulings during the filibus-
ter. but he would not denounce criti-
cism or belittling anyone. He did
not commend the writer Of the
CRITICISM.
Mr.. Todd, Mr.. Warner and others
seconded the Stevenson resolutions.
Resolutions offered by Mr.. McMas-
ter were not pressed, as they went too
far.
Mr.. Kirk agreed with Mr.. Epps in
seconding the Stevenson resolution,
but had no idea of censuring any
one.
Mr.. Stevenson made plea for
peace and harmony, and offered the
following resolution:
THAT this house regrets that there
has been criticism Of the speaker of
the house as to his rulings in the late
filibuster and reaffirms it's entire con-
hdence in his fairness and ability"
Mr.. Wyche, Of Newberry, speaker
pro tempore, was presiding.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted by rising vote.
Mr.. Gray offered resolution look
ing to the appointment Of commit
tee to go to Washington to see why
Senator Ellison d. Smith had not car
r!ed out his campaign promises as to
the price cotton would bring and re-
lief to the farmers. He argued that it
was not joking resolution. The res
olutiOn was ruled out of order.
Speaker NJ. L. Smith today from the
speakers stano vigorously denounced
what he regretted as an unwarranted
attack on his impartiality and fair
ness made in a published card in a
newspaper. The article he thought
accused him Of being party to "hOld
up" methods and joining in the eff
forts at filibuster. He denounced the
suggestion as being unwaranted and
unworthy and if any of the members
believed he had at any time been un-
fair or had joined in a filibuster he
would resign his high Office. He at all
times undertook to enforce the rules
as he found them and invited an ex-
preston from the house as to what it
thought Of the charges.
Upon motion Of Mr.. Welch the
house by a rising vote unanimously
resolved that the speaker was at all
times fair and impartial in his rulings
and exonerated him from any impu-
tation of being party to the filibuster
on the cotton bond bill.
Mr.. John j. McMahan asked the re-
porters in case they made any pub
lication Of the incident to give space
to the following from him:
Speaker Smith secured his 'vindi-
cation by a shrewd parliamentary
trick. Although he said If there was
a member of the house who thought
he had taken part in the filibuster he
would resign at once. yet he did not
put that question, nor did he offer his
resignation or retire from the chair
awaiting action by the house. He pro-
ceeded to say that he asked vote of
confidence and he himself put the
question whether the house had conf
dcncc i'm his fairness rs Il presiding