The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-19
Mr.. DeArmond for Leader.

Representative John Sharp Williams
rs leader OF the minority OF that body
have at last found a candidate TO OPP
pose him. Representative David a.
DeArmond. OF Missouri, said to-day
he WAS q candidate for the honor. 81
am not the candidate Of any faction
Mr. De Armand enters the contest only
after the most earnest solicitations He
and Mir Williams are entirely friendly.
although they have not always agree.
on questions OF policy. Those opposed to
Mr.. Williams tried to induce Champ
Clark, OF Missouri to say he would ac-
ccpt the honor and acting upon the
presumption that lie would do so, they
hustled around and got votes for him
until they hud. they claimed. Il clear
majority Of OYER thirty in the caucus.
sThen Mr.. Clark came outain a statement
declaring he would not be a candidate.
The opposition to Mr. Williams then
Sci out 10 lind another candidate. deter.
mined that they would not make q pre-
limnary fight for any man who had not
said he would accept. Mr.. DE Almond.
after mature deliberation. gave his prom
isc he would not withdraw from the race,
and his friends went to work. One of
the first things they did. after securing
the consent and promise OF Dir. De Ar
,nond. WAS to secure the allegiance Of
Mr.. Clark, who would not run against
Mr.. Williams. but who Will vote for his
colleague. Mr.. De Almond.
one Of the De Almond supporters
taid to-day that they were cerlal1: III
having the support OF all tho West
Tern Democrats and OF enough of the
Southern members 70 make the cleo
tion Of their man assured.
In the sixteen years Mr., De Almond
las been. in Congress. lie has estab-
fisher n reputation as deaater eqGat
to that of any man on either side.
OF the House, and Is probably ti,se
-rost skilled pariamcntorian on the
Democratic side. at least. He is not
man OF great personal magnetism,
but those best acquainted With him
are friends whom nothing could alien
ate. which is q pretty conclusive test
OF character. That he would make
good party leader Is admitted by those
who wish to see Mr. Williams retained
in that position.
Not Repeal the Tax.
The bill to repeal the siS-cent tax
on the sale OF leaf tobacco will not
1t got through the House last session
without opposition. Senator Aldrch
said o-day that the bill could not
get through this year.
lie Is chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee, to which the bill was referred
when 1t came from the llOuSe, ana u
also chairman of the subcommittee con-
sidering the bill. The subcommittee heard
several advocates OF the bill this morn
ing, including representatives of the
growers of dark tobacco in Virginia, Ten
ressee and Kentucky. At the conclusion
OF the hearing Senator McCreury, Of Ken
lucky, said several other persons wished
to DO heard in advocacy Of the repeal
bill, but MI .Aldrich said they could not
be heard before next Monday. as several
manufacturers wished to have nearing
in opposition to the bill.
This elected the opinion from Sena-
tor Daniel, one Of the subcommittee ana
the Senate advocate of the Dill that no
regarded the measure as dead. senator
.Aldrich said the bill could not be passed
this session. but when Senator Daniel
took exceptions to this remark the Rhode
Island Senator withdrew ii. However, he
had expressed his opinion, and Frobably
nobody will dispute its soundness,
Stock Held by Trust.
After the hearing to-day. and prior
to the dispersal of,thoso in attendance,
Representative Ollie James. Of ken-
lucky, charged that the stock OF many
OF the so-cnlled independent concerns
which were opposing the bill was held
by the trust. The represen tatives Of
the INDEPENDENTS present did not make
reply which Mr. James said he rc-
gardcd as slgnlcant
Prior to the hearing this morning,