Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-03
SENATOR HOWELL
TRIES TO BREAK
Slate OF DEMOS
Three Other Democrats Vote
With Douglas County
Member in Attempt to
Upset Things.
MR.. JACKSON IS SPEAKER
Nuckolls County Man Will Pre-
side Over House and G. w.
Potts is Chief Clerk.
WALRATH SENATE SEC'Y

(From Staff Corrcspondent)
Lincoln, Ncb., Jan. Especial
Telegram )-Charging that his four
colleagues from Douglas county in the
senate were representatives of the
gang of thugs and buccaneers which
infest Douglas county and that he was
the only candidate elected from that
county in the senate who was opposed
by the railroads, electric light COM
pany and other corporations, Senator
Z. f. Howell of Omaha fought for
the interests of the minority Of the
democratic caucus this afternoon
when an attempt was made to select
committees contrary to Mr., Howclrs
ideas of procedure.
Mr.. Howell was backed up by Beal
of Custer and Oberlies and Sawyer
of Lancaster county, the former, in
an explanation of his vote, charging
that "the man whom the liquor in
tcrests had selected as president pro
TEN was at the last session repre-
sentative of those interests, and that
he (BeaD was aware that the edict
had gone out that he was not to re-
ceive consideration of any kind at
this session." i0N
In the roll call John Mates, the
caucus nominee, received the full
democratic vote with the exception
of the four mentioned above.
Keith Neville, governor-elect, will
be inaugurated. Thurs lay.
Henry Starts Fight.
The senate fight began early, for
hardly had the senators been sworn
in and subscribed to the oath as adj
ministered by Chief Justice Morrissey,
when Senator Henry OF Colfax arose
and moved that the names of those
selected by the caucus last night as
members of the committee on commit
tees, Kohl, chairman; Mates, Tanner,
Wilson of Frontier, Wilson of Dodge,
Bea of Custer and Buhrman of Ho-
ward be made the choice of the senate.
Howell objected on the ground that
the senate should proceed to the reg
ular organization before it could select
committees, but after much sparring
the. chair ruled that Howell was
wrong and vote was taken, resulting
in the selection of the committee as
the caucus decreed.
The committee on employees consist
ing of Moriarity of Douglas, Robert
son of Holt and Adams of Dawes were
also selected and then Howell went
to the mat with his colleagues in an
effort to prevent the selection OF the
caucus nominee, Senator John Mates
for president pro tenn.
The selection of the other officers
as made by the caucus went through
without a hitch as follows:
secretary-E. A, Walrath of osceoia.
Assistants-George Dole of Frontier and
Paul Young Of otoe.
Sergeant at-Arms---To Costello of Grand
Island.
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms-w. G. Nc
Aulley Of Columbus.
Chaplain--Rev. James Huff OF Omaha.
Postmaster-James Crocker OF Scribner.
Committee on Committees-Phil Kohl.
chairman; Mates of Otoe, Tanner OF Doug
las Wallace Wilson Of Frontier. Willie Will
son Of Dodge, Buhrman OF Howard and Beal
of Custer.
Committee on Employcs-Moriarity of
Douglas. Robertson Of Holt Adams OF
Dawes
Beal Enters Protest.
Beal of Custer in explanation Of
his vote charged that at has been de-
creed by the powers that be that |
shall hold no responsible position in
this senate, and the order has gone
out that this senate shall be Or
ganized as it is being organized"
Howell said that if it Mad got to
come down to scrap the matter
might just as we'll be fought out
right now and in explanation OF his
vote said: He
Il deem it advisable, at this time,
to take the members of this senate
into my confidence and explain to
them the necessity for the action
am about to take. When !, was a
candidate in the primaries of Douglas
county, the allied interests, consist
ing of the brewers, railways, electric
light company, gas and other public
utility corporations, opposed me with
! all the bitterness and vindictiveness
of which they are capable. for the rea-
son that they knew they could not
control my independence of action.
II am the only senator from Doug
las county who was nominated and
elected against the will of the ma
chine. In the primary slate was
made for all legislative offices for
both the republican and democratic,
parties, and by strange coincidence,
the slate appeared simultaneously
to both parties and from the same
origin. The Budweiser saloon, which
is known as the political hangout for