The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-08
Gives Way to Preference of Administra-
 tion. SELECTION OF MARTIN IS NOW PRACTICALLY ASSURED Gray Faction in Senate Fight Holds Caucus at Ex-
 change. Friends of Lieutenant-Governor Choose Senator J A Lusk As Floor Lead CT In Expected struggle rhomas siaintains He Is
 Confident.

Hon. R T. Goodwin of Montgomery will not be a candidate for Speaker of the House of Representatives. Hon. W L.. Martin, of Montgomery, will be elected Speaker without opposition al the Democratic caucus tonight
 This was the prime development of the political situation last night. Tn a short statement announcing his with drawal from the fight, Mr. Goodwin said in effect that he had become convinced the incoming administration favored Mir. Martin. and he would work to carry out the will of the people of ! the State as expressed at the polls.
 A caucus of the Senators who favor the naming of the Senate Committees by Hon. Henry B. Gray, the incoming lieutenant Governor. was held last night in MT. Gray's headquarters rooms BIO and 312 of the New Ex- change Hotel. MT. Gray's friends claim that twenty-two members of the Senate attended the caucus The friends of Senator Thomas scoff at that claim They say that less than a majority oi the Senate, which is eighteen, Senators attended the caucus. The friends oi Senator Thomas declare there is nu reason to doubt he will name the Sem ate committees. and that well calcu- lated bluffs will fail of their purpose
 But the supporters of Colonel Gray assert their man has won the fight, and that all is over but the shouting. They claim they had twenty-two Senators In the preliminary caucus, and that one Senator who Is not friendly to Mr. Thomas, and who will support tho claims of Mir. Gray to the prerogative of appointing the Committees. was noi present.
 At this caucus. Senator John A. Lusk was selected at floor leader of the Gray faction in the Senate. The other Sen ators are to support. motions of SaN- ator Lusk and to back him In any hooi firhts he may undertake. Senator w. T. Lowe was named President of the Senate caucus. Senator Lowe repre- sents Morgan and Lawrence Counties In the Senate. These nominations are of course, dependent upon the claims of the Gray men being made good In the Senate caucus.
 House Caucus Tonight.
 The House caucus will be called to- gether tonight by President J. Manly Foster of Tuscaloosa. His successor has not yet been determined upon by the dominant faction of the House In all probability Hon. J. Lee Long Of Butler will be named President Of the House caucus. Such was the tip given put last night by those in position to . know. But no selection has yet been made.
 aln announcing his withdr lwai from the race for Speaker, Captain Goodwin said last night:
 ''Yes, have withdrawn from the race for Speaker. have taken this ster after mature consideration ard consult tation with my friends, and my action meets their approval We are con vinced the administration favors the election of MT. Martin as Speaker. All of us are heartily in favor of settling for all time to come the question o1 railway rate legislation, The people ol the State properly demand such legis- lation and 1t Is very important that wt cooperate with Mir. Conner in carry ing out the salient features of the last Democratic platform of the party IT Alabama"
 Without saying so In so many words the statement of Captain Goodwin in inmates that he withdrew from the race for Speaker because the new admins tration demanded the selection of MT Martin. All day and all last evening the talk of the hotel lobbies was Of tht things that the administration demand ed. and of what It intended to have There was no room to doubt the new administration would insist upon hay ing everything which advisers though necessary. The administration and it. attitude cut the largest figure in ali the political gossip and action of yes terday and last night.
 Crowds ThrOng Exchange.
 A crowded lobby, crowded from piI, lar to pillar, and from door to door. . lobby filled with hand shakers, joker and confidential takers, such was tn, kNk %f | in which were gathered nearly eVero member of the Legislature, Senate and member of the House. Only a few --a very few, were missing.
 The largest ante-session crowd in tn. memory of the oldest politician, hac gathered in Montgomery. Legislators candidates for legislative assistance State officials. those who hope to bs officials of some kind, hopeful aspirant. for committee clerkships. followed tn. lobby, and political talk flowed deeI and uninterrupted.
 The controversy over the naming oi the committees continued to hold the center of the political stage. Nothing else approached 1t in importance. No was there any doubt that the Conner leaders were demanding pound O flesh" to which the victory of las summer, as they claimed, entitled them In other words, in the settlement o the organization controversies, the Co mer men claimed that MT. Conner, a. leader of the dominant faction of thG party, as the man who was nominated for Governor by the big majority, wa. entitled to say, in the organization oi the House and the Senate, the men whC should assist him in naming the legis lative committees.
 There was some frank talk, too, oI this central proposition. Senators an' Iegislators were plainty told.
 you are for the administration, oi you are against 1t. The administra' tion is in for four years. Do you wan to be recognized as an opponent of the administration? The administration can punish or it can reward. Which dc you want?"
 Feel Iron Hand.
 The iron hand which sometimes ap nlIAd the pressure was not even gloved