The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-26
LEGISLATURE TO
CONVENE SHORTLY.
Some Interesting Contests on for
Important Po-
sitions.
--s--------.--------,
BYRD WILL WIN sPEAKERsHIP
Winchester Man Will Have More
Than Majority OF
Caucus.
BYRD WILL WIN sPEAKERsHIP

In less than two weeks tile Virginia
Legislature will meet here for busy
session of sixty days. and within the
next ten days members. lobbyists and
Office seekers will be pouring into the
City in great numbers.
Tho patronage to be distributed is
not so abundant as in former years
the new Constitution having placed
much of that hitherto in the hands of
The Legislature at the disposal of the
people at large, the executive and va
lIous boards, though there is quite
enough left to make the caucuses of
terest to those who keep an eye on
the trend of political affairs in the
State.
First of all, the separate caucuses
of the two branches will be held on
the evening of Tuesday. January 18th
10 nominate officers for the Senate and
House, respectively. On the Senate
side there Is but one sharp contest in
sight, and that is for clerk between
Messrs. Marshall r. Booker of Halifax
ana Thomas A. Lynch, OF Tazewel.
Judge William Hodges Mann's friends
have made a most effective canvass
In his interest for, .charman of the
caucus, and he" Will almost certainly
win Indeed, ii Is not known that any
pne will oppose him, though the name
Of Senator George b. kee2eli, of Rock
ihgham. has been suggested by his
friends. Former Lieutenant Governor
Edward Echols, of stanton, who is a
rnember of the Senate, and who has
served many years In the body, win
probably succeed Senator Wicitham as
president pro tempore, and 1t is said
that Senator kee2ell, who ranks for the
Finance Committee craftsmanship, Will
probably land that, and that Colonel w
~. Sale, OF Norfolk. is slated to sue
rs head of the Steering Committee.
Important Place
The craftsmanship OF the Steering
Committee generally carries with it the
Craftsmanship of the Committee or
privileges and Elections and the Demo
cratic floor leadership of the body
With Colonel Shackelford out AM
Judge Mann, the next member OF Priv
lcges and Elections made caucus chair
man, Sale will rank for the honor, n
lie stood third ON the old committee
sergeant-at-Arms Frank Is. Wat
kins, one OF the veteran officers of tn
General Assembly in point Of service
Will be reelected in whirl thong
Captain Andrew Jackson Taylor, q
F'luyanna. Will probably have his nam
presented to the caucus, Mr. Wal
kins has far more than enough Sena
tors pledged 10 him to put him "out {
the woods and he viii win in
walk MIR. $. NJ Donald, of August
Will have no opposition for door
keeper. shortly after the Senate ca,
Gus is organized the real scrap" b,
tween Booker and Lynch will be d,
termined, ana AT this time the frienc
OF both aspirants are claiming victor
though not with absolute coafdenc
If pinvad down they VIII admit tn;
II is a close fight and still each sid
viii wind up with a prediction of VII
Tory This is by common consent, ii
prettiest and most evenly balance
fight before the caucus of elth
House, and it looks as If ii V!
definite information as to the Veto
Both the candidates Will arrive on Il
ground next week end they and She
friends viii keep the battle up llnt
The caucus Is over,
40 Close Fights.
There win be no very close hath
On the House side. according 10 pre-
snt Indications. IT seems pretty ge
.rsllY understood that Hon Rlcha
Evelyn Byrd, Of Winchester, will
speaker His friends claim ffty-h
to sixty out of the eighty-slN Dem
srats inthe House, and il seems pref
pan out or not, that lie VIII ha
enough votes To nominate him cas-!
on the first ballot
Enough conscious of his approac
ing victory, Mr., Byrd is indicating
SniritiIof generosity with reference
committee assignments, and tho
close 10 him well understand that
nc wins he viii treat those who IN
oppose hin. asS though they had be
Sneaker 1t Is believed that .
RI T. tI 4 .