The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-07
Rival Candidates for the Speaker
ship of the House All
Withdraw.
CLEAR FIELD FOR THE OFFICE.
Race for the Chief Clerkship Is
Led by Joseph Tall-Mcm-
bers to BE Sworn In
To-Day.
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT,

BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Jefferson City, Mo, Jan. 6,-The Missouri
House OF Representatives will be called to
order at noon tomorrow by Secretary of
State Sam 8. Cook. Then a short PRAYER
will be said by a minister Of jefferson city
and the members will then ho sworn in.
1t is customary for the Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court TO administer the oath.
At present this is Walteur NJ, Robinson. a
Republican.
The Representatives will be called forward
alphabetically in groups of six or eight.
and will take the oath of Office. the law
allowing as many. as twenty to be sworn in
ut once. Then a temporary chairman Will
he elected, and the caucuses called. The
caucus on organization Will take place to-
morrow evening.
HAS NO OPPOSITION.
4 The situation with regard 10 the races COR
the various House positions was changed
materially tonight. J. H Whitecotton Of
Monroe County is now without opposition
for the speakership. His opponents, C. D.
Stewart Of Knox County and r. B. Oliver
of Cape Girardeau County, have announced
their withdrawal.
The latter came in to-day on the noon
train from st. Louis. After looking over the
entire field. he decided not to allow his
name to go before the caucus. He stated
d that he wished TO see the Assembly organ
= lied without friction within party ranks,
and that he subordinated his ambition for
the good OF the party. He expressed the
hope that his friends in various parts of
the State would approve his action.
MI. Stewart said that he had realized that
he could not so into the caucus with 4
majority and that. accordingly he withdrew.
1t is said that he was greatly disappointed
by the action OF the ST. Louis and Kansas
City delegations. and had not expected that
they would support Whitecotton. The action
of the city delegations, it is freely depicted.
was the result directly Of administration in
fiuerce. which selects Whitecotton as the
candidate.
A move is on foot to combat the plan
to restrict the House c!erkships as during
the last session. Whitecotton Will COM
bat this as. in a district caucus to-day, he
declared that he intended to head an eco
nomical session. His name is freely mem
toned as a future candidate for Governor
and he may be expected to hold the clerk
ships down to the minimum limit, one to
each Democrat and to frown on the system
which prevailed before The last session. OF
Shav1ng three or four to a delegate.
CLERKNIIP RACE.
/, The race for the chief clerkship is, still
lead by Joe Tall. with the possibility that
one of his opponents, ]. T. Berne or c. C.
Thompson. may not enter the caucus, but
will withdraw in the others favor. Tall
still maintains that he is absolutely safe.
but Byrne and Thompson claim that they
can muster sixty out of a possible eighty
two.
A. B. Duncan continues to lead for Speak
er pro tenn. E.. Doris remains IN the race,
with J. L. Davidson a possibility. though it
IS likely that neither will enter the caucus.
r. V. Cooper OF st. Louis leads 70. enroll
ing clerk. with A. ID. Gresham of Platte
opposed to him. l.. II. Musgrave. accord
ing to all indications. will be engrossing
clerk. though Alfred H. Mansfield of
Wright County is against him. Edward J.
Maloney of Kansas City ~ without oppo-
sition for. sergeant-at-armS.
The Reverend T. G. Poole of Moberly,
Mo-, has withdrawn. his candidacy for
chaplain, which improves the chances of the
Reverend J. A. Russell of Yatesville. j. u.
Dale is unoppoacd for official recorder.
HASTINGS MacADAM.