Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-29
HOLDER WINS FIGHT
FOR SPEAKERSHIP BY
VOTE Of 1O5 To 70
During Call of First Hundred
Names at Morning Session
of House Thursday CUIpep-
per Held Up Well

ed speaker Of the house of representa-
lives Thursday morning on the first bal
lot Of the day. when he defeated Nath F.
Culpepper. OF Meriwether. by a vote of
los to rs. ". H. BurweH. Of Hancock.
having withdrawn from the race We'd
nesday afternoon after four ballots had
been taken without an election.
The roll call Of members was more
than half complete before it could be
seen who was going 10 be the winner,
the vote being nip and tuck through the
call OF nearly a hundred membersnames
Representative Burweu voted for Gull
pepper and about twenty-five of those
who supported him in the voting We'd
nesday did likewise.
In taking the gavel Mr.. Holder ex-
pressed his thanks for the honor con-
ferred upon him and declared he had
gone through the race without any trace
Of animosity toward either Of his OPP
ponsnts or toward any Of their support
ers. He said that in the discharge of
his duties as speaker he would endeavOr
to be absolutely fair and impartial
Mr. Holder is no stranger to the pre-
=
speaker for two terms. through the
years OF IsOs-10-11-12.
After the election of the speaker. E.
Bismarck Moore. Of Atlanta, was re-
elected clerk Of the house He received
III votes as against IS cast for j. B.
Jackson. OF Jones county.
Following the elections Representative
BurweIl introduced a resolution extend
ing the privileges Of the floor TO Mrs.
walter R Mcdonald. wife Of the blind
member from Richmond county. The
resolution was unanimously passed and
Mrs. Mcdonald. who is her husbands
constant companion and assistant. VIII
have a seat on the floor beside him
Before the drawing for seats began
the usual resolution according Confed-
crate veteran members drst choice was
adouted. then another RESOLUTION was
passed permitting Representatives At
kinson. Of Fulton. Joe Hill Hall. OF Bib;
W h BurwelI. OF Hancock; " F. Gull
pspper, Of Meriwether. and Garland NJ
Jones. Of Coweta. 10 choose their seats.
REPRESENTATIVE Burwell took the seat
on the aisle 70 the right OF the speak
er's stand which for the past four years
had been occupied by Representative
Robert NJ. Blackburn, Of Fulton, who
was chairman OF the house rules COM
rnittee. Representative Culpepper chose
an aisle seat Just across from Mr.. Bur
we'll. Representatives Hall selected one
Just behind Mr.. Culpepper, while Rep
resentatiye Atkinson took one behind
Mr. Hall.
These special privileges were accorded
to the three recent candidates for speak
er. TO Mr.. Atkinson. former member OF
the state supreme court. and TO MI
Hall. a vteran legislator. as an appTp-
pirate courtesy
GRAND RUSH FOR SEATS
Such a hfrly-burly and confusion was
precIpitated in the house when the
drawing of seats began that II was
voted TO postpone the hour Of adjourn
ment. I O'Clock. until the house was
thoroughly organized
II has been the custom TO assign
seats. after Confederate veterans have
been given their choice, by putting the
names OF all members in a hat, having
them retire TO the ante-rooms, and
then. as name after name is drawn at
random and called out by the keeper OF
the door for the member chosen TO
enter and take his seat.
But the legislators Of 1917-1s could
not restrain their desire 10 get fayora-
be locations. They put their names
In the hat and left the house hall, but
instead OF waiting quietly outside, they
crowded by scores around the doors,
and before FIVE names had been called
they rushed in past the dOorkeepers
and spread themselves hither and yon.
One or two members got up and de-
nounced such tactics. Another retire
ment was taken. but again the crowd
gathered and again the doorkeepers
were moved down like wheat before the
storm. -Four times did the members
retire. and four times did they rush
the doors, as one member described it,
like children after stick candy"
At 1880, after noise and confusion
had deafened the walls for an hour and
II was evident that the hour Of ad-|
tou-nment would arrive before the dis
order was stilled. the house passed res
oIutious postpOning adjournment and
the drawing was renewed
At O'Clock the house completed the
drawing of seats. II was voted 10 set
IL a. m Friday as the hour for can
vassing the returns OF the general cleo
ton for governor and other state house
officials, and for declaring the result
thereof. and noon Friday as the hour
for hearing the farewell address OF Gov
ernor Harris
W. T. Morris. the one-legged Confed-
crate veteran. was reelected dOorkeeper
OF the house unanimously. He had no
opposition
J. B. D. PauIk. OF Ben Hill. was re-
elected messenger Of the house He got
100 votes. W. c. Davis, OF Fulton, got
az votes and ]. c. Morgan. OF Newton, Is
votes. Representative Beasley, of Tai
faferro. was unanimously elected speak
er pro tenn Rev H J. Ellis was re
elected chaplain This concluded organ
ization OF the house and adjournment
was taken until 10 o'clock Friday morn
ing.
SENATE WAITS on HOUSE.
After the introduction of a number
Of bills and resolutions Thursday morn
ing the senate adjourned TO await the
Joint session with the house for the pur-
pose OF hearing Governor Harris
At 1880 the senate recOnvened for a
few moments during which Senator
Hopkins, one Of the joint committee ap-I
pointed TO wait on the governor and
inform him OF the organization Of the
assembly. reported that the house was
not yet ready.
Upon motion OF Senator Andrews two
members Of the senate were appointed