Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-03
THEY ARE COMING In.
Activity Among Candidates and Law.
Makers in the Exchange Lobby.
THE FIGHT FOR SENATE CLERK
Lively Contest Between DIR. Pcndie-
ton and Mr. Button-Scrambles for
otbcr ptaccs--yie,ys of Members
Touching the walton Law.

i
Fifty or more members Of the Legisia-
ture were in the lobby shaking hands
with each other and with their friends
and the omnipresent offce-seeker hitted
in and out among them, and sought their
kind offices.
All of the State ofiicers-those who have
opposition and those who have none
were in evidence, and, though not In any
organized manner. they constituted them
selves a reception committee, and as each
member put in his appearance bis mana
was grasped by one or more Of the ofi-
clals. and he was given assurance OF
| hearty welcome.
THE SENATE CLERkSHlP
Among the senators the fight for the
clerkship OF that branch was the all
absorbing topic, and considerable can
yassing was done by both DR.. Pendie'oh'
| the incumbent and Mr. Button, MS op-
| ponent. and their respective friends
Dr. Pendleton did not move mucn
among the senators. but occupied seat
| in the vriting-room, from which point ne
! conducted his canvass When seen ABOUT
10 O'Clock by Dispatch man ne sal"
that he had large number OF the sena-
/ tors committed to him, ana thousne hi'
| chances of reelection were excellehl
Mr.. Button was very active in getting
his fences i'm order. and moved aDou. az
| most necessarily among the Soions, w nen
/ asked as TO his chances by the Dlspa'ch
man he said he didn't think there was
a doubt but that he would be CHOSEN Cle,A
| of the Senate. He asserted That ne
! had a majority of the senators pledged 10
hin, and that he would undoubtedly go
| in on the first ballot
Very little attention is being paid by
/ the senators as yet TO the contest Ior
the position of Sergeant-at-Arms. MT,
Frank B. Watkins, OF Charlotte ana
/ Thomas b. Warlng. Esq, OF King VIII
liam. were letting their friends know
that they would be willing TO Ill thiS
office. ,
] Mr. L. T. Kindred. of Roanoke, and
Mr. J. NJ. Johnson, of Rockbridge, who
are contesting for the position of Ser
/ geant-at-Arms OF the House, were poth
| ON hand. but neither appeared to be
making very aggressive fight. Mr.. j.
c. Carter who held the position last
year. was not I'm evidence.
I Mr. A. .. Sullivan. the veteran inside
| Doorkeeper. who has with his one leg
stood for so many sessions just within
the portal of the House. came In late
| last night, and at once began looking
around for some who might be opposing
| him. After thorough canvass Of all
the members he was unable TO find any
body. though he had gone around like
Paddy at Donnybrooke Fair and he gave
up in disgust. saying that 1t was hard
/ matter that he couldn't even get a fight.
Mr.. p. Il. Lpscomb the outer door
| keeper, Jared not so well. Opposition for
his position developed last night in the
person Of Mr.. w. n. Dawson, of Nelson
| who is endorsed by several Of the MEM
! bers for the office. Mr.. Lipscomb Is
! one-leeged Confederate soldier, and has
many friends among the old members,
and seems to have no fear of defeat.
LOVENsTEIN FOR PRESIDENT.
So far as can be ascertained from the
senator's on the field II Is more than
likely that Senator william Lovenstein
| will be made President pro TEN. by an
unanimous vote.
Mr. f. w. Saunders. Of Franklin, who
has been mentioned as a possible candi-
date for the House speakership has not
vet put In an appearance, and this would
indicate that he purposed leaving the neid
omen to Hon John f. Ryan, Of Loudoun'
who will probably receive the unanimous
vote of the caucus tonight Mr. Ryan
when seen last night said that he had no
doubt of his reelection to the speaker
shin He stated. when asked, that he
would not announce the House Commit
tees before Saturday. as before making
them up he wanted to see and know
all of the new members.
Colonel John Bell Bigger VIII, OF course
be reelected 10 the House clerkshlp' put
strange to relate. he was nowhere 10 pe
found around the Exchange last hish''
WHO HAVE OPPOSITION
The only state officers who have any
opposition are Secretary-o -of-the-C common
wealth Lawless. who Is opposed by Col
oneI " r. Robins. of this city; Super
intendent-of-the-P -Penitentiary Lynn, VINO
is onposed by Mr. G. NJ. Helms, OF Rocky
! Nfount. and Public-Printer o. Bannon, VINO
is opposed by Messrs. W. IL. Tomney
IAN ex-member of the House from WASH
inqton county,. and Mr.. A. W. Tyree, or
/ Richmond. -,
The incumbents were all at the hotel
and talked with the Solons who We're
nresent. and none of them seem 10 rear
| defeat. Practically no organized or de-
termined fight is being made for these
/ offices as yet, but the caucus for their
nomination will not be held for some days
vet and any active fight now would be
rather premature.
VIEWS ON THE WALTON LAW
The sentiment among a majority OF the
/ Democratic members Of the General AS
sembly who have arrived so TAR as could
| he ascertained last night, seems to be
against any very radical change In the
| Walton law, though II Is understood tnat
those from the Southwest favor some
/ rather material changes. All who have
arrived especially the leaders, are en-
phatically opposed to providing for two
| constables instead of one, but there Is
| annarentIy a strong sentiment In favor
| ~ changing the law I'm so far as II pro-
vides for the election OF constaDles by
| the local electoral boards, and to trans
fer the appointing power 10 the judges OF
the county and city courts. That the
law will come in for considerable discus
sion I'm caucus and in open session Is
! foregone conclusion, and IL Is generally
believed that it will be amended in some
particulars. especially as TO defects In
| phraseology.
/ General George j. Hundlev, of Amelia.
q uember OF the House. was asked as
10 his views on the Walton law. and
what he thought would be the action OF
this Legislature In regard TO II. In reply.
he said he thought there would be no
important changes in the Jaw; and that
an is essential features would tie al
lowed TO remain. 1T has been suggested
i'm some quarters" he said. that de-
sirable amendment would be one proyid-
ing that the constables. instead OF being
chosen by the local electoral board, be
appolnted by the county or corporation
Judges II this change Is made, con-
/ tinued General Hundley. 1T would not
howeyer. In any way affect the operations
I of the Aw. II Is almost the unanimous
sentiment OF the representatives Of the
black belt that the law has worked in
a perfectly satisfactory manner. A gem
tleman from that section last night
said the legislator, pointed out the fact