between white and colored, but between Democrats and Republicans. No one
had been elected,--at least on the Republican side,--because he was a
white man or because he was a colored man, but because he was a
Republican. After a preliminary canvass the fact was developed that the
writer was not only the choice of the colored members for Speaker of the
House, but of a large majority of the white Republican members as well.
They believed,--and voted in accordance with that belief both in the
party caucus and in the House,--that the writer was the best-equipped
man for that responsible position. This fact had been demonstrated to
their satisfaction during the two sessions of the preceding Legislature.

The nomination of the writer by the House Republican caucus for Speaker
was a foregone conclusion several weeks before the convening of the
Legislature. With a full membership in attendance fifty-eight votes
would be necessary to perfect the organization. When the Republican
caucus convened sixty members were present and took part in the
deliberations thereof. Four of the Republicans-elect had not at that
time arrived at the seat of government. The two Independents from
Carroll refused to attend the caucus, but this did not necessarily mean
that they would not vote for the candidates thereof in the organization
of the House. But since we had sixty votes,--two more than were
necessary to elect our candidate,--we believed that the organization
would be easily perfected the next day, regardless of the action of the
members from Carroll County.

In this, however, we were sadly disappointed. The result of the first
vote for Speaker of the House was as follows:

Lynch, Republican caucus nominee 55
Streeter, Democratic nominee 47