The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-16
STRENUOUS TIMES
FOR LAWMAKERS
Members OF New Legislature
Will Travel Over Thorny
Paths.
IMPORTANT MATTERS UP
First Battle in Senate Over Or
ganization and Situation
Doubtful.

Strenuous times, Indications of
which are already coming to the sur
face. will distinguish the coming ses-
sion of the General Assembly, and 80
yexod will be some of the questions
arising, that many of those who are
thus entering public life for The first
time are likely to discover that Bob
Taylor, the idol of the Tennessee
Democracy, was not far wrong when
lie said. The path that leads to public
duty brstles here and there With
tliorns..
on the Senate side particularly,
majority OF the members VIII be in
position to learn this lesson. Out
of total membership of forty, thirty
five Democratic nominations have been
made for the upper branch. Twenty of
these thirty-five are new men. In four
of the other districts Gall doubtfuD
new men will be put up. This leaves
but one district unaccounted for--that
composed OF the county of Halifax,
and no nomination. will be made. The
incumbent, Senator Kerns. and a new
man. Major Henry a. Edmondson. are
running, and the contest Will be de-
cided at the general electioI There
fore In any View of the case. the
Senate will be composed of a majority
of new men.
REORGANIZATION of Senate.
The all absorbing topic concerning
the Senate at this time is it's organi-
| zation, or rather its "reorganizatlon,
and much doubt seems to surround
the sltuation: for. though the new
| men will be in charge, numerically
speaking. the lines are not drawn this
way with reference to what wing of
the party shall control the policy of
the body.
Some new men are said to favor
Judge Mann's reelection as caucus
chairman, while on the other hand a
member of incumbents are opposing
him vigorously. Senator George b.
keezell Is mentioned as his opponent,
and UP to few days ago no other
name had been heard in this connec-
ton.
Now some are saying that Senator G..
Harding Walker. of northumberland.
would be strong candidate, and 1T
| looks as If there is about to be an
effort to get him into the race.
The Opening Fight.
There is a popular belief here ana
elsewhere in the State that Judge
Mann is the choice of what is known
/ as the Organization" or machine"
forces for Governor and that even now
some of the big leaders are bringing
powerful pressure to bear to have him
!
lin other words. for his old place as
head of the Senate organization would
ibe regarded as a distinct blow to his
jgubernatorial boom. and those who are
interested in the latter are not losing
any time in trying to land him votes
for the first-named position. But. how
ever the matter may turn out. and
whoever the candidates. this is going
to be the basis of the first scramble
lon the Senate side, and from that time
5until the body adjourns. "scrambles"
are promised daX and night over all
manner of important questions.
Situation In House.
The House will be easily controlled
4by men who are now members Eighty
Ieight of the one hundred Democratic
nominations have been made. and of
these fifty-one are incumbents and
Iithirty-seven new men,
i 1t looks ass II the Republicans will
have about twenty members on joint
ballot. II may be fifteen; 1T may be
twenty-five but the number will be
ialong in this neighborhood
The first fight in the House caucus
Twill be over the speakershfp.
! The friends OF Byrd and Withers
are making claims and counter claims
as to their respective strength, though
lit seems that the supporters of the
VALLEY candidate are the more confi-
imam. of Augusta. long a member of the
House. is making a quiet canvass for
1.-The honor. and though he is giving out
mo specific claims. his friends are hone
s'ful that lie will win In the final "shatc
i UP" between the other two aspirants.
Whatever big questions affecting legis-
llation come up In one branch will, of
ilcourse, bear more or less upon the
|other, and political wiseacres are say
ling that the outlook was never brighter
for n turbulent session from start to
finish.
Already Named.
| n Inlnina ions made. by the Democrats