The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-02
IT MAY BE HELD TONIGHT.
falk Of In Early Caucus 10 kakt the
Nominations.
THREE VERY EXCITING CONTESTS.
The FIGHTS over the ofices of the super
fntendent ofPubiic Instruction, super
intendcns Of the Penitentiary and the
Register Of Land once iuteresting'

II Is likely that the Democratic mem
sers Of theivo branches Of the
General Assembly VIII meet in Joint
caucus tonight 10 nominate candidates
for The various State Offices.
This caucus. or conference. as those
who are 10 participate in 81 prefer 20 cal
4. viii be called by Hon. Merritt T.
Cooke, OF Norfolk, who was the chairman
u the Democratic conference two years
Hgo. A petition was IA circulation last
night which had been signed by many
members asking Mt. Cooke 10 call the
caucus for tonight Mr. Cooke SAID ne
would do 80 II the usual number 81 sis
natures were attached 20 the paper. ~
j. almost certain. therefore ihat the'
caucus viii be held tonight and, u SO
Z Will be announced 10 the DemoeIetic
members of each body a the close oi To-
davis session of the Senate ana House.
THREE GREAT CONTESTS
The three contests in which interest ls
rcutered are those over the offices OF sn-
periufendent Of che Penitcntary super
lntendent Of Public instruction ana reg
ister of the Land once.
There Is no question rs 10 the iac-
that there is an exceedingly not n2n.
over the position now filed by Major b-
". Lynn. The Major. no doubt, recos-
uizee the fact that he has no waik-OFer.
But he saws DE Will win Last night he
told "a Times reporter that he was con
fdent be had enough votes 10 nominate
hlin. Major Lynn has friends who are
sticking closely to him. Iney are not
letting The grass grow under their feet.
On the other hand the opposition 90 Ma
5or Lynn is active and working day and
night Mr. Helms. OF Franklin. is the
only man in the race against the Major
and Congressman swanson. Mr. Maupin
ana others who arc hehung COR him say
Dee will wir easily and have votes 10
spare
MASSEY AND Anti MASSEY
should Sir Massey Jose 30 will not De
h.s fault nor -he fault Of the score or
more friends who are working for him.
The Superintendent has interviewed the
members Of the General Assembly in per-
son and be thinks De- will win. Hon John
b Moon Hon. John w tishburne and
other prominent Albcmarlc gentlemen are
here putting in good icks for the super
lrtendent Mr. Masseys supporters say
hc cannot he defeated hut his opponents
claim that he is defeated. Dr. Southan.
Professor Bader. 0f Staunton Mr r. T.
Brent OF Acc0mac. Mr. W. ~ Peyton
- Henry and w. y Mcdonald. oi
clark and Mr. r. IT, Craighin. OF Lynch
burg are in the field asaist Mr. Massey.
Mr. sulTcy. of Rock.nPham. has with
drawn aud 10 is said his following will
80 to Professor Badcr.
SO one can safely predict what tho re-
salt of tho first ballot viii Dc. IL IS aN
chiefly c-ess-Work. There may De sur
urises end there may d. none. Professor
Baders supporters were greatly pleased
yesterday when they learned that Gene
raj G. IS. g.. Lee. former president OF
Washington and I co University bad writ
Ten letter here endorsing him in hand
some terms Tor this position
THE OTHER CONTESTS.
The situation. as Gar as 80 applies 20 the
position Of Register NJ the Land Office
ls stli clouded. Colonel Richardson's
supporters are hustllng Tor him, but the
hackers of Mr Ufumm0nd and Mr.. Looka-
ban are exceedingly active, and apparent
ly very hopeful These are the three
strongest men 800 the race. Nr. John
Jackson has friends who win stick 10 him,
ard in the event OF q long hsht he may
show up strong.
There is no doubt. i' seems. about the
denomination of the other State officers.
l-. Cooke VIII De- chosen as chairman of
fhe caucus. and Delegate Mann OF Pc
tershurg. viii probably De- made secretary.
SENATE AND HOUSE CLERKS.
colonel John Bell Bigger yesterday af-
tlrnoon made the following appointments
~ clerks who viii sssisi him in the duties
of Dds Office during the present session.
2'r sam W. RiCerr OF Richmond. as
distant eierk. Nr. ~. $. GO0ch, Of Louisa.
enrolling clerk and Messrs. John T. Low
i-- 80 Pulaski. John Us. Nilliams. Of
GNf-. j. 1loee Tyler Jr.. II Montgomery;
T. e. Brerulman % shenandoah, and
George Lindsay % Norfolk, committee
CLERKS.
clerk Button. ~ the senate. has ap-
pointed the following Mcssrs. Hudson
Martin. of Nelson first assistant; T. A.
r.vrch. Of farewell second ASSISTANT r.
T. Hunter ~ King George; n. ". Beam,
- Rockingham. 5. ". Nicmeyer or
Portsmouth, T.. s. A'arFe ~ Lynchourc'
and C p. Marcrn. of Richmond, commit
zee clerks.
a NEW DEPARTURE.
Yesterday session rf fhc House oi Del
rrates WAS quite 81 new departure from me /
~asf Heretofore when the lawmakers !
rn+heref nf trf beginning of the session /
In tho lower House. thcr would not ue /
together long f0r the first week or two. or |
perhaps for even LONGER time ncsleF-
aax however they sat for fully three |
hours and iUiulrcd in good deal oi ora !
.oric efforts which. however. brought |
about the expected result an amendment
80 thc rules of tho House, which for time !
irnrramcrlal had been handed down from |
oae session 20 another as an heir-ioom oi
when Rev Dr Hoes opened Tho session |
-,,lfh "a fcrVonf prayer. he asked Cod tnat
re close of the session De not crowded
v7ifh hastv legislation. because fhe trst
Gevs had been wasted ln idle discussion. |
This rragCr must have made "a cffn I'M
rreseior uncn the members ~ the House,
fo- N was repeatedly alluded 10 during the
~. complcNlon az the House ~ Dele
rsfee has never been better ono than
re- orc that gathered Yesterday az the (
ferfrnfrE % the session of l>l1-'a> \
more intelligent and diguifed looking body |
- a hundred gentlemen from an over the
state has hardly ever met in the same
place.
The nrst nrctrard was thrown into the
camp fy sfr r W. Saunders. of Frank
lin who offered an amendment 20 the |
rules IN order 20 cmancipate the body as
far as possible from tae two-thirds rGle.
wherever fNfs can hn a0re without any /
detrirncnt 90 the state In former sessions |
the wheels OF legislation have often been
Clogret hy the requirement ~ 2 two
thirds majority where majority might
have been Just as successful Bills have |
been Smoihcred iu committees al |
ways without mrTIt-slmply because II |
20 have the committee discharged from |
the further consideration % such a meas |
ure
Meritorious bills might have been taken |
up out of their regular order and advanc- |
~ over other measures. had u no; been I
for the tNo-fhifds Vote. Again. the rules 4
might have been amended in order 10 ex- /
ptdite legislation. hut there again the two |
thirds rule ordered a halt.