2031 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Apr. 2

sincere and fair in his rulings, and has tried to do his
duty by the members, one and all.

If there has been a time since I sat in this chair when
I have not acted conscientiously and for what I believe
was right I do not know of that moment. The gentle-
man from Washington speaks of honest differences of
opinion, and I am glad, indeed, that the presiding officer
is given credit for honesty and sincerity.

The gift you have given me is a beautiful one, and I
accept it with the full consciousness, I believe, of the
esteem of the members of this House. I will treasure it
and it will always bring to my mind pleasant memories
of the session of 1900. I thank you for it individually
and as a body. I will keep it to the last day of my life
and trust that my children will treasure it as I shall,
after I have gone.

During a recess in the House shortly before midnight,
the Republican members retired to the library annex,
where a handsomely engraved gold watch was presented
to Mr. Walbach, the House minority leader.

Mr. Wolfinger, of Washington county, made the pre-
sentation speech, in the course of which he said: Had I
the gift of eloquence that other members of this body
possess, I might prove worthy of this occasion. I hope,
however, that what I may lack in language and beauty of
speech may be made up in the fullness and earnestness
of my feelings. Let me simply ask of you to accept this
little token, this watch, as the tribute of friendship and
respect tendered you by the minority members of this
body. The love that it bears with it is beyond any lan-
guage I can express. May it never record for you one
unhappy moment.

Mr. Walbach said:

MY FRIENDS AND PARTY ASSOCIATES: —In accepting
this beautiful gift as an evidence of your approval and
appreciation of my conduct in the official position to
which you had chosen me, I can scarcely find words suf-
ficient to convey to you my deep and heartfelt gratitude.
I thank you sincerely for your gift. I thank you more,
however, for the noble" front you have presented in the
. House of Delegates against the House of Delegates. It