The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-01-18
Observation-Disclosures CLASH.
Joseph y. Rice Qualities - Railroad
Commits slouer.

I JtUcTSpn WY. hus, JunudfN IL
Joseph =. Rice Of Mobcrly, to-day
qualified IA Railroad Commissions
cr and entered upon the discharge
Of his duties. Secretary Of state
I Lcsucur issued his commission.
Joseph Flory removed his effects
from the olicc, hut claims his right
to hold the onicc until he tenders
his resignation. This, Ia UNDER
stood, he will do Monday, after
Governor elect Duckcry's inaugu-
ration. I'hcrcnpun the new Cow
crnor will probably appoint Maj.
Tom Parks, now chief clerk Ia
Secretary oi State Lcsucur's onlcr.
to- succeed Mr.. Flnry. Contest proc
cccdingS will tncn br instituted ~
Dust Mr. Rice. ON the ground that
his appointment il invalid because
made before there was vacancy
IN the office.
II H. the opinion uf Hon. fr, Il
W. Lehman, who has been re-
tanned 10y Mr.. flory, ald who wa
at the capital today, claims Mr.flp
rvs term does not expire until hi-
successor is elected and qualities.
The late Joe ilcrrington, th, dcm-
ocrntic nominee, was elected, but
died before he could qualify, in
Mr.. Lchmann's opinion. Governor
stephens has In his possession doe
licrrington'- signature tu what the
Governor calls hi- qualification pa
papers, dated November %, inpO.
Mr.. Flory'- counsel take. tn" view
that Mr.. Harrington could not quail
ify until Mr.. Flory's term expired
and therefore the qualification pa
pcrs held by Gov. stephens are
not valid.
There is no longer any doubt ~
to the schism in the Missouri de-
mocracy. with Gov. elect Dock"ry
and his supporters on the one side
and Gov. Stephens aud his adhcr-
cnts ON the other. Gub.rnstorial
appointments have been tn. issue.
Gov. stephens threw down the
gauntlet and Mr. Dockery prompt-
ly accepted the challenge. The
fight will be what sports call "to a
finish" On the Dockcry side are
arraycd such men as Sam. II. Cook
the new Secretary Of State; former
United States Marshall Crcnshaw,
Representative Hamilton of Da-
virss, Mr.. Dockcry's county; Col.
Bob" williams the State Treas
urer elect; Hon. +. w. Lehman,
Of st. Louis; Chief Ju-tic. CAN'T,
Of the Supreme court, and innu-
merable lesser lights In the Demo-
cratic party.
Gov. Stephens has behind him
Col. William II. Phelps. Attorney
General Grow, Ed. Orear, State In
aurance Commissioner; Col. Jack
Starls, warden of the penitcntiary,
and others among his appointtecs
whom Mr.. Dockcry is not likely to
retain, James N. Scibcrt, chair
man OF the state committee, has
adroitly endeavored to maintain q
neutral position between the Dock
cry and Stephens forces. 1t In
known, however, from a careful
analysis OF the several ballots for
Speaker, that Mr.. Seibcrt'H inilu-
cnce was thrown In Whitccotton's n
behalf against Mr.. Dockery's in
terest. The roll-calls for Speaker
shows that almost without exccp-
ton ovcry Representative elected
from a close county voted for
Whitccotten for Speaker. Mr.. Sci
bert personally distributed the
state campaign fund and thereby
placed the democratic candidates
for the Legislature under personal
obligations. Mr.. Seibert's influ-
ence was thrown to the lobby two
years ago, whom Ward Of Stoddard
was elected Speaker. Ostensibly
Ward wan Seibcrt's candidate and
Col. Phelps and John Carroll each
had his favorite, but when Ward
was elected 1t was noticed that
Phelps and Carroll named his COM
committees.
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