Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-08
ROSTER At CHARLESTON
NOW NEARLY COMPLETED.
THE WISE ONES AGREE THAT WILL
SON STILL LEADS THE SPEAK
ERSHP FIGHT.
A SMITH COMBINE TALKED OF.
JOHN T. HARRIS'S CAMP THROWN
INTO PANIC, BUT RECOV-
Erred QUICKLY.
Special to the Register.

0pSNidi " IL IlcSlSlcI.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, January Z.
Members are rapidly arriving and
the coming of the night trains will
probably complete the roster.
Contests for the various positions
are getting warmer with each succeed
ing hour, and some of them are as
Stunning most interesting proportions.
Wilson is still leading in the Speak
ership contest, according to the wise
ones, though Smith, Swisher, Martin
and the others all feel hat there is a
chance yet and that any one Of them
may be holder of the lucky number.
Wilson for Speaker, and Whitaker
for President of the Senate, is the tip,
though it is said there is a combina-
ton between Smith, of Ohio, for
Speaker, and Smith, of Richie, for
President, that may prove dangerous.
Senator Scott is here, but is saying
nothing about these contests, though
the Wilson+Whitaker combination is
said to have both his and Elkins's
support.
- aAa S9lAa LOA
clerk of the Senate has made appear
M in the person of E. H. Fitch, of
Cabell, who has strong backing in
some quarters, and whose cyclonic
methods of concentrating a campaign
seemed for a while to-day to throw
the John T. Harris camp into a state
closely bordering on panic.
Later, however, Harris and his
friends braced up, and the lines were
again gotten into fighting formation,
with the result that tonight it looks
as though Harris would be first and
the others nowhere.
Hood still has the clerkship of the
house cinched, and though Shaw, of
F%airmont. is making a desperate eff
fort to break the line there seems lit
tie chance that he will be able to do
so.
Late tonight the Kanawha delega-
ton is holding a caucus on Martins
candidacy for the Speakership. An en-
barrasSment has arisen with them over
the candidacy of Martin and Hood. who
wants to be clerk of the House. for
they feel they cannot hope to get both
men elected, and they are trying to de-
eide which m they shall support. It
is understood that Shaw, of Marion,
candidate for clerk, has some strength
that can be controlled in case there are
those who are ready to do business,
and if his friends and Martins can get
together they may make hard shedding
for all other w~ould-be clerks and
Speakers. Martin is standing out in
his demand for the hearty support of
his colleagues on the ground that he is
entitled to consideration on account Of
his long service both as a party man
and as a legislator. and also for the
reason that Charleston has some in
terests to subserve that would be help
ed by having the Speakership at home.
These are the appropriation to COM
plete the capitol annex in good style,
and the settlement of the capitol loca-
ton itself, should it become an issue.
For this latter reason. if for no other,
his claims are being seriously consid-
cred by the other Kanawha county
members.
As the night progresses the chances
of Fitch to beat Harris. for the Senate
clerkship, also grow brighter. ]. K.
Hall. and other of the boomers. have
taken up Fitch's fight, and are making
a warm campaign for the Cabell man.
ana it is hard guessing what the night
may bring forth.
senator Whitaker gave it out for the
first time. late tonight, hat he was
an o~ut-and-out candidate for the presi-
dency Of the Senate. and since that
time the matter has been regarded as
settled.
The Republicans will hold a caucus
tomorrow night TO nominate their can
didates, at which time all these fights
will be pulled off.
1t is not yet given out what the Dem
ocrats will do in the matter of passing
around their complimentary votes, as
there has been nothing said about a
caucus Of the members of that faitn,
nor is there as yet any talA as to the
person upon whom they will confer the
empty honor of a vote for the United
States Senate.