Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-11
House Caucus This Afternoon
Presents Name of No Other
Candidate
pAssLEss POLITICS puLsELEss
Conspicuous Absence Of the Crowds
Which Usually Haunt the State Cap
itaI at Opening of Lesislature--Mur-
ply Score. Again as Politician =
Iowa Sentiment.
Special to Times-Republican.

Sence OF the crOWoS WhlSn A"sS "
ly haunted the corridors OF the hotels.
Some Of the members are evidently
walking and taking their time me
candidates are not many. and newspa-
per men who usually come to boss the
lob are conspicuous by not being here.
Ten years ago a group OF members got
together and listed the candidates Tor
positions in house and senate and they
made out a list OF 260. This year there
are not a hundred, and that includes
doorkeepers and pages. Members
have learned that it doesn't pay to
make all sorts OF promises that can
not be kept and persons who nave
been seeking these little jobs have also
learned that there is nothing in 1t Tor
them. An impression has been given
out in the past that O whole lot OF the
Jobs. such as clerks and doorkeepers,
meant an easy time with nothing to
do: but this has not been true In re-
cent years as formerly. And so 1t hap
pens that the preliminaries are very
tame.
held this afternoon. In advance 1t was
settled that Kendall would have no OPP
position for speaker and the three cleri-
cal positions are taken. These are to
be filled by Rush Benedict. A. u. KEEP
ford and Dennis O'Leary-a business
man. a minister, and newspaper man.
For the rest Of the places 1t is wide op-
en-. In caucus the republican MEM
bers will vote and choose the men best
suited.
The senators have been so slow get
ting in that it seems improbable their
caucus will be held before Saturday
afternoon or evening. A great many
Of the senators had not yet reached the
city by last evening.
Lieutenant Governor John Herriott
arrived yesterday and announced him
self ready to WELD the gavel until such
time as his successor shall have the
right to preside. MIR. Herriott Is look
ing well and is in the best OF spirits.
N. e. Kendall, who viii be speaker,
has been busy with his work on the in
surance report the past few days, 80
that he has not completed his COM
mittee list, but 1t Is probable he will
have 1t all done, ready for announce
ment on Monday. when permanent or
ganization Is effected. Lieutenant
Governor Garst has practically COM
pleted his committee list, subject to
slight revision, but of course 1t cannot
be announced until after the inaugur-
alton.
Governor Cummins has completed
his biennial message, or what will this
year be an annual message. Nobody
has seen 1t yet. But there is much pre-
dieting that 1t will be an interesting
document and it will be such as to set
the members to thinking.
The desire Of Governor Cummins and
Of Lieutenant Governor Garst Is to
have the inaugural ceremonies simple
and as inexpensive as possible. a.
best only very few persons in the
state can ever actually attend the cere-
monies or hear the addresses made.
1t is probable the ceremonies will
therefore be held in the state house.
members of the legislature have reach
ed the city They say they will have
caucus and put up ticket and that
they will be ,heard from, but they do
not intend to make any corrupt deals
deals this time with anybody. "a
A good deal Of inquiry is made as to
the status of the Black Hawk county
contest In which George Mornin seeks
to unseat Guy Feeley. The republicans
believe that no case has been shown
and that it will be quickly disposed of.
All parties agree that it should be set
tied at once.
Those who have been looking for
factional alignment in the matter Of
have thus far failed to
find it. Nobody seems to be aware OF
factionalism, and especially among the
new members there is disposition to
disregard it.
4 There is q well defined rumor here
that the, son Of Bernard Murphy is
to be assistant attorney general for
northern Iowa II M. J. Tobin is made
attorney. Mr.. Murphy, Jr., is one of
the most brilliant and able young at
torneys Of the state The rumor that
he was to have the appointment to
the position of assistant was first
heard at the Slavery lobby last night.
Since this rumor has started there
has been some thinking on the part
of the politicians They have been
tracing back over the paths of the
late political contest. They remem-
her that when the state convention of
the republican party was held there
were fears that there would be two
conventions: that if there were two
conventions the legislature that is to
meet next week would be democratic
in all human probability and that
democratic legislature would likely
elect a democratic United States SEN
ator. Not only this but that certain
congressman might be succeeded by
democrats. A4
1t is also remembered that Bernard
Murphy stood almost alone among the
standpatters at that time in support
ing the report of the credentials COM
mittee and that there was something
of a dramatic scene when Mr.. Murphy
took the floor and urged his friends
to support the report that meant but
one convention. They applauded MI.