Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-01
At Frankfort, KY, Tonight
Will Be Interesting.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE SENATORIAL CONTEST
CHANGE THE SITUATION.
The Haldeman Candidate for Speaker
ing Goes to the Blackburn Man.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

LEXINGTON, KY, January 1.-The DEM
ocratio caucus at Frankfort tonight
promises to be one of the most interesting
events of the legislative session. the con-
tending factions working with every posi-
BILE energy to control in the interest of the
respective candidates for the United States
senatorshp
The past forty-eight hours has brought
forth some of the most important develop
ments of the contest SO far. Representa-
tive Thomas Drewry of Louisville, the
Haldeman candidate for speaker, has with
drawn from the race and announced his
intention of voting for Richard W. Miller
the Blackburn candidate. Drewry's an
nouncement has been followed by like
statements from the remaining members
Of the Louisville delegation seven repre-
sentafives and three senators. who pledge
themselves to vote for Miller for speaker
and TO help control the organization of the
senate.
The PayT%ter managers do not admit
tion between Blackburn and Haldeman for
the purpose of organizing the two houses
IL not presagtng the ultimate election of
BLACKBURN with the same votes.
Tine Paynter managerS do not admit
that the action of the Louisville members
istration candidate for speaker, but claim
mat ne will be elected in spite of the action
OF the Haideman element
More Announcements for Miller.
Following closely the action of the Louis
vile members is the announcement inst
made public that eight members Of the
house who have heretofore been clatn,sd
by the opposition have notified Miller that
they would support him for speaker. These
members are W. D. CIaybrook of Washing
ton county, W. Reed Embry OF Boyle.
KIRBY Bourne Of Henry. Virgil Mcknight
OF mason, j. t. Royalty of Mercer w r
0sporhe or Nicholas. and Robertson and
Sosepn Jackson of Fulton. This would
seem TO foreshadow the election of Miller
as speaker without the possibility OF a
doubt. He has made the race as q Black
Durn adherent from the start but 1t is
knoWn mat few Of the votes he will poll
VIII never go to Blackburn.
In the Joint senatorial caucus a deadloc1r
IS generally predicted, unless It develops
that the Haldeman-B Blackburn coalition also
ex,enos 70 the final vote in the senatorial
hgnt, ana That Haldeman will throw his
entire strength to Blackburn, which would
insure the latter's nomination by two or
three majority according to the present
lineup.
The action of the Louisville delegation IS
decidedly the biggest surprise of the cam
palsn, and behind 1t all is told a tale that
proves the old political adage that poll
tics makes strange bedfelows.'
Thomas Drewry's Ambition
The trend of politics In Kentucky for the
past eight years would have indicated that
Blackburn could never have secured any
support from Louisville the principal rea-
son being that he has been at cross pur-
poses with the city on financial matters.
The explanation of the present complica-
tons by which Blackburn is made to profit
hes in the ambition of Thomas Drewrv to
be speaker of the lower house
Drewry has always trained with the
Beckham-P aynter element and fully ex-
pected to be their choice for speaker, but
for some unexplained reason was side
tracked for Lawrence of Trjgg county
Drewry Immediately got busy and brought
out Haldeman as a senatorial candidate and
succeeded in lining up the Louisville dele
cation in a solid body for him. This was
body blow to the Paynter interests and has
proven to be the only possible move that
could have prevented Paynter from being
elected on the first ballot.
The administration forces are badly
frightened at the turn affairs have taken in
the last day or two, and considerable pres
sure is being brought to bear on Gov Beck
ham to save the day by allowing his name
TO be substituted for that Paynter. Beck
ham discourages this talk, however and
processes to believe that Paynter will win
The Ecton Episode.
Senator Ecton of Clark county is response
much resembles a three-act drama He
was elected on a platform advocating
Blackburn for senator, the two having
fought together for the lost cause Stories
reached him recently, however, indicating
that the Blackburn people had played both
ends against the middle in this particular
race by supplying his opponent in the prl-
mary with funds to make the contest with
the idea being TO catch vote either COM
ing or going.
Acting on this advice Ecton issued a state
ment declaring his intention to vote for
Paynter, and making public the charges
mentioned. This yeritable bomb
shell in the Blackburn camp and efforts
were Immediately put forth to straighten
out the tangle. with the result that Black
burn has convinced his old comrade in arms
that the story was made out of the whole
cloth. Ecton has now issued another state
ment. again pledging his vote to Blackburn
Another interesting development Is the
arrival in Frankfort of Walking Num-"
representative-elect from Hopkins county,
who has walked all the way from his home
to Frankfort Munnen Wilson is the COR
rect name of this eccentric character, he
having acquired the title of Walking
Num- because he will not ride on trains
or other artificial means of locomotion.
Wilson found to his establishment on ar
rival that he had already been pledged
in both the speakership and sena torial
races, but denies that the man making the
pledge for him had any authority to do so,
and declares that he will make his own
selections Both sides are laying siege to
him.
Dave Smith May Be a Factor.
Representative Dave Smith has arrived
In Frankfort from Washington having
ceived urgent calls to allow his name to be
used in connection with the senatorship.
The entire delegation from his COMPRESSION
al district, the fourth, have assured him of
their united support, embracing sixteen
votes, II he will get into the fight. He has
issued statement in reply saying that he
will not permit his name to be considered
as long as Blackburn has q chance to win,
and that he expects to do all he can for
him. In event of a deadlock 1t Is almost
certain that Smith will 80 before the eau
Gus and will prove an important factor.
Thirteen contests are to be tried which
may upset the calculations of some of the
managers. Two of these are In the senate
and the remainder in the house. OF the
thirteen contests seven are from Jefferson
county and are being made by candidates
of the fusion party. Four democrats have