Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-31
COLUMBUS.
The Speakership Fight Still Pro-
crossing Holly.
Hodge Leading the Race-Minof Offices
Candidates More Numerous thanMem-
bers-The Belmont County Seat
Lost Their Organ.
GENERAL NEWS NOTES AND GOSSIP
sOeesa, Correspondence of the Register.

| Special Correspondence OF the he0laT.
COLUMBUS ONO, December 29-The Re-
publican members of the incoming House
of Representatives are nearly all in the
city. Those who are still absent are ex-
pected in tonight, and tomorrow forenoon.
But few of the Democratic members Of
either House are here yet They will AR
rive between now and Saturday night
Republican Senators are later coming than
Republican Representatives. This for the
reason that the contests for places in the
Senate are comparatively quiet. and unin-
tercsting.
DIR. Scott
has been here for several days, working up
his boom for the Speakership of the House,
and he seems to have made good progress
General Jones came down from Delaware
yesterday, to look after his side of the fight
and late last night Mr.. Hodge put in an ap-
pearance. The principal candidates
for this office are now on the
ground, and they all have headquarters
at the American Hotel; Their strikers are
both numerous and aggressive. 1t looks at
this writing as if
Hodge was in the Lead,
but he has not vet secured votes enough to
nominate him. Skillful management on
the part of the other candidates and their
strikers may defeat him. There is very
kindly feeling toward DR.. Scott. He has
been member of the House altogether
nearly twenty years, and knows more
about legislation and the laws and usases
of deliberative bodies than any member OF
either House. He would make an excel
lent Speaker.
Hodge has had some experience as a pre-
siding officer. Jones was chairman OF the
Judiciary Committee OF the last House,
and has served one term in the House OF
Congress. He is man OF considerable
ability.
other Positions.
Up to this time, the opposition to the re
election of Edwards to the Chief ClcrkShlp
of the House has made but poor Roadway.
| think he will be reelected without much
trouble For the subordinate offices, there
are more candidates here than members.
1t is useless TO predict result amid this
hurly-burly scramble for the various posi-
tions, especially in view Of the fact that
Saturday night will settle the whole bust
ness.
Hon. David WAGNER,
the Representative from Belmont county,
reached the city late this afternoon, and is
Quartered at the ST. Charles Hotel. He was
elected to look after the removal of the
county seat of his county, from st. Glars
Vile to Rellaire, and that will be his chief
mission in the incoming General Assembly.
The Sale
of the Ohio State journal, which has just
been concluded, seems to bewilder good
many of the machine Republicans in this
State. 1t has been sold to a company of
railroad men, who are represented by Hen
~ Monet, Assistant General Ticket Agent
Of the Panhandle lines; and it is an
nounced that the paper will be made in
dependent, with Republican procliyitles.
1t will ha an.nr',1','oT,1ou 1'0r'sieiein5.
Those Alleged Discussions.
Somebody is writing letters from this
CITY to the New York Times, concerning
alleged dissenSions in the Democratic party
of Ohio. The writer of the letters seems
to be trying to create dissenslonS IN the
party, but he won't succeed. Most OF ms
letters are fiction, and the few grains OF
truth scattered through them, at long IN
tervals, are difficult to detect
General Gossip.
It is reported that a case of smallpox has
been found on Front street, near the center
of this city.
A man named William FriStOe, of this
citv. undertook to commit suicide, last
evening, by taking Paris green, and later
by hanging himself. He was saved from
both attempts. He had been on spree,
and had expended sum of money that he
had collected for his employer. y.
The next term of the Supreme Court OF
Ohio will begin next Tuesday, in this city;
The Board of Public Works has figured
the loss of the State hy forgery on the part
of Fred w. Newburgh, up as high as Sl''-
426:2S 1t may go much higher. Inc ~
yestigation is Still in progress, and far
from being concluded. ALiYN