Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-15
BernaIiIIo County Man Gets 81
Votes to 10 Cast for Major
LIeweIIyn His Chief 0ppon-
ent for Place.
BARNES HAS HONOR OF
BEING FLOOR LEADER
Republicans Choose Albuquer-
que Lawyer as Their Whip
Senate Meets and Ratifies
List Of Employees,
(By Staff Correspondent.)

Santa Fe, Jan. 14.-With Antonio
"A. Sedillo Of Rernalilio county in the
speakers chair in the house of rep
resentatives, the New Mexico legisla-
ture was formally convened at noon
today. Before the election OF speaker
the house was called to order by Sec
rotary of state Manuel Martinez. Mon
sgnor Antonio Tourcheque, vicar gen.
cral of the diocese of Santa Fe, made
the opening prayer.
The election of Sedillo as speaker
of the house was the outstanding fea-
tufe of the. first days session. Oh
course the formal election by the en-
tire house was a formality only. his
selection by the republican caucus
earlier in the day making his election
certain, but it marked the end OF
one of the hardest and closest fights
for the speakership yet made in the
state.
The fight was always between Major
I4lewellyn and Sedillo and until the
caucus convened this morning was On
,lonlihi. The selection Of SnaillN canic
quickly, The I.leweliyn men counted
noses and when the caucus assem-
bled they knew they did not have
gracefully. Sedllo was placed in
nomination by Judge Barnes of Albu-
uuerque and was seconded in a pleas
ing speech by Llewellyn.
1t had been predicted that the fight
would be a long -drawn-out affair he
fore the caucus that Sedillo did not
have enough votes to grab the place
on the first ballot and that the friends
e., nil L
Sedillo's game and eventually win
when the votes began to shift. This
WIS probably the plan of campaign
when the caucus was postponed last
night on account of the absence of
Valentine DArmond OF Valencia coun-
ty. though it was rumored that ID Ar
mond did not intend to attend the
caucus. Sedillo wished the caucus held
and did not seease his protests until
the last moment, when 1t was found
that technically the advantage was
with those wishing postponement
on account of the absent member.
Partisan workers Idle.
Early this morning it was observed
that partisans who had been laboring
hard in the interest of the candidates
were idle. 1t was then known that
talking and the outcome was not
known until the news trickled through
the closed doors of the supreme court
room, where the caucus was held.
There was a stiff fight in the eau
Gus on the selection of chief clerk with
several candidates. After three ballots
Lorenzo Delgado was elected. NO
other nominations were made. The
.Nf mt at q
employees was left to committee
composed of one member from eaeh
republican county, which will make
nominations on the floor of the house,
The democratic members did not
lose the speakers seat without a fight.
They held caucus early in the morn
ing and nominated T. j. Robertson OF
Union county for speaker, Fred Vese-
ly of Grant county floor leader and
Don Lusk of silver City chief clerk,
Mr.. Robertson and Mr.. Lusk were
placed in nomination and re-
ceived the vote of the entire demo-
cratic delegation.
''Not chance in the world" re-
marked one democratic member, but
we did. not wish to follow the exam
pie Of the Ge rman fleet and surren-
der without at least firing one broad
side"
The democratic members have been
interested witnesses of the fight for
speakership but held aloof from
any hint of wishing TO participate
If any offers of & coalition were made
they did not get far and were without
official backing. Anyway. it was well
understood from the beginning that the
republicans were firmly united and
intended to settle every question with
in their own ranks. Republican unity
if nothing else forced a watchful wait
(Continued on Pare Two.)