Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-03-20
HORTON EXCELLENT i,
PRESIDING OFFICER
Lieutenant Governor Efti-
cient but Without Cherry's
Notoriety
Daily Dispatch Bureau,
In the Sir Walter Hotel.
Bv HENRY AVERILL..

Raleigh, March 2O-Speaker Gregg
Cherry has gained much notorlety at
the current session by his constant
stream of wisecracks while acting as
one of the States most dictatorlal
presiding officers but over in the Sen
ate the work of handling legislative
business has been directed in even
more efficient, though not such spec
tacular, fashion by Lieutenant Cover
nor Wilkins Perryman Horton, of
Chatham county.
While Mr.. Cherry has played the
Simon Legree role to the entertain
ment of news gatherers and galleries,
and often to the irritation and vexa-
ton of House members who felt his
verbal lash, the lieutenant governor
has gone quietly and calmly along,
lever deviating from his even course;
nd has secured equally good results
'ithout the attendant unfavOrable
reaction.
While the House speaker has fire.
uently allowed his personal opinion
show all too clearly, the Senate's
'oss has never showed the slightest
las one way or another on any ques-
ton.
While Mr.. Cherry has made certain
Individual members repeated victims
his singing "asides," the lieuten-
mt governor has never, by word or
eed, indicated that he entertained
}ersonal animosity for any member of
he Senate.
Both presiding officers have secur-
d results. Both have kept their re-
hro ~ 1aa
usiness at hand. Of course the lieu
enant governor has not had quite as
lnruly a body to deal with, as his
mailer group has been easier to keep
IN a steady track. Too, the Senate
ontains much smaller proportion of
nti-administration members, with re-
ultant diminution of discord and dis
order.
The consensus Of legislative observ-
rs is that this session has put on
isplay two of the most competent
residing officers in history.
Lieutenant Governor Horton is a
enate veteran, with four terms of
ervice Gin 1919, 1927, 1881 and 1880
his credit before his election as the
'tates second citizen last fall He
7as born in Kansas City, Kansas, in
889, but was educated in the public
chools of Chatham county and the
University of North Carolina. He is a
awyer by profession.
From 1916 to 1919 and again from
1924 to 1880 he served as county at
orney. In 1880 he was secretary of
he State Democratic Executive Com
nittee
Last spring he made the race for
Aeutenant governor in the Democratic
primaries, finishing second to former
State Senator Paul Grady in a three
;ornered first ballot, and winning out
n the second.
Speaker Cherry is likewise a House
veteran, with three previous terms to
his credit 1881, 1888 and 1880. Like
the lieutenant governor he is not
native North Carolinian, as he was
'orn in York county, South Carolina,
in 1891.
He made an outstanding war record
IS Captain of Company "A", Machine
run Battalion, Both Division, and in
-91O-21 held the rank of major in the
North Carolina National Guard. He
las taken an active and prominent
part in American Legion affairs and
was State commander of the veterans
organization in 1928-29. He was vice
president of the State Bar Association
IN 1934-35.