The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-14
Richmond Has Speaker
ship for First Time
in Century.
HOUSTON HEADS
PARTY CAUCUS
Meetze, of Prince William, Gets
Only Two Votes After Fail
ing to Find Any One to
Place His Name Before
Caucus-Ready for
Work To Day.

Preliminary organization Of tho
House OF Delegates was effected last
night by the nomination OF Edwin p.
Cox, OF Richmond. as Democratic can
didate for Speaker. and Harry r. Hous-
ton. of Hampton, caucus chairman.
Tho expected sensation failed to de-
vclop. tho caucus being place Of ora
tory and good fellowship. in which pre-,
dictions were made for an aggressive
session. AS leader OF the Democrats.
who number ninety-two out of 100
members, Mr. Houston. asserted the
party's unwlllingness Ito continue In a
rut OF ultra conservatism. or. on the
other hand, 10 be thrust in the wild
hallucinations OF socialism"
The two houses of the General As
seinbly will hold their first formal SEES
sions to-day at noon. Speaker Elect
Cox was uncertain last night whether
he could have his committee assign
ments ready TO announce to-day;
though nc worked on the lists until late
in the night. In accepting his nomina-
tion mt the hands of the caucus, Mr.
Cox came out strongly for open ses-
sions of all committees. and for divt-
sion OF the work Of the Finance Com
mittee having new Finance Commit
tee. concerned with problems OF taxa
tion and the raising OF the revenue. and
an Appropriations Committee having
supervision Of the outgo
Mcetnc ConErntu'ntes Winner:
6. j. Mcetzc. OF Prince William Coun-
IT, held on as "a candidate for the
speakership until the last. the roll call
between himself and Mr.. Cox being
81 10 .. after which Mr. Meetze con-
graduated the winner and brought him
into the hall OF the House on his arm.
The House caucus was called TO or
member in point OF continuous service.
Flowers decorated the desks OF tho va
and "a giant bunch the speakers chair.
Captain Baker referred TO the loss the
body has sustained since the last ses-
Tempieton. OF Augusta: Colonel s. NJ
Bowman Of Roanoke. aud Colonel John
5; iiarwood. Of Richmond. all members
Mr.. Mlstead. OF Newport News. Of
fcrcd the name Of Harry T. Houston.
or tho Democratic caucus OF the House:
:,s a successful business man OF broad
mind. loved by the people he repre-
sents. and who had served in the House
for ten years without opposition The
nomination was seconded By Mr.:
Weaver. Mr., Ghalkley: Mr.; Bcriey ,ht ,a,1, and
inee was man OF fairness and impar-
,iality. who could he counted ON 10
vas elected unanimously. and WAS
brought into the hall by Mcssrs. Mil
stead. Weaver, Barley Brewer
For Conservative ProErcssiveDcss.
After expressing his thanks TO the
members and a welcome on the part or
the House TO the new members. Nr.
Houston took MP the 'riumphs OF the
Democratic party in the nitlon. as Wei!
this country. attributing its victory in
national affairs to the arrogance and
unfaithfulness OF the Republicans,
drunk with power" Tracing the prog
ress OF Democracy in Virginia since
/ $50, when the party was restored to
power. he called attention to the re-
party to lead Virginia Into the front
rank In those matters in which she
now iags, far In the rear; Every mo
Iucut OF the sixty day session, he urged,
should be devoted to the important
measures which must he passed upon.
Leaving to later time a more intimate
discussion Of these problems, he re-
Iuinded the members that old customs
give place TO new. inapplicablc prin.
away before the pressure OF new ideas.
and i'm this VARYING activity this every
varying point of view, he found the
Vital principle OF growth.
Responsibility of Party.
What l have described he said. ''is
what I would term conservative pro-
Eressiveness. i stand here tonight on
Behalf of the Democracy of Virginia to
state It's unwilIingness TO continue IN
rmt OF ultra conservativatism, or, on
tho other hand. to be thrust into the
wild hallucinations OF socialism.
firmly believe that recogizing your
great responsibility as the representa-
You are now ready and willing TO launch
and effectively prosecute a conscrva-
lively progressive program"
Mr.. Brewer, of Nanscrnond. offered
the name OF John w. Williams for clerk
OF the caucus, but was told that the
position must be filed by member of
the House. Without losing his poise,
Mr.. Brewer nominated Berkeley D.
Adams. OF Charlotte. who was elected.
after some laughter over the frank
admission of the speaker that he had
been misinforned as to who was slated
for the position.
Cox Nominated for Speaker.
For Democratic candidate for SDeak-
or of the House. Hill Montague. of
Richmond, presented the name of his
colleague. Mr.. Cox. Recognizing that
five counties had brought forward can
ddates for the, speakershiip. Mr.; Monta--
it was Richmond's turn. Major j. N.
Stubbs seconded MIR. CoN's nomination,
saying that Richmond had not had a
speaker of the House since Andrew
After century Richmond had present
ed her claims and he hoped that he
would be elected unanimously. In his
varied service since 1859 he said there
had been many notable men in the
speakers chair, but the name of Cox
them.
Mr.. oliver, of Fairfax. spoke OF Mr..
Cox as an able parliamentarian and
presiding officer Of dignity and fair
the University OF Virginia. Hugh A. 1
White. OF Rockbr!dgc. went further
back. and claimed Mr. Cox as col
lege-mate at Hampden- Sidney. and
predicted that with the gavel welded
by Cox. there would always he fairness
and justice as he secs ii.
Martin Williams. OF Giles, fell In limo
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