The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-23

A foundation for one Of the hotties;
nights for the minority leadership in the
House ever known I'm the history of the
Democratic party is being laid. accord
ing to developments in the situation to-
day,
1t will be Il three-cornered fight. for
late yesterday afternoon two members
Of the Texas delegation received tele-
grams from Representative Robert Hen
ry OF Texas, now in the Lone Star State.
asking that his friends refrain from
committing themselves to either De
Armond or Williams in the Leadership
race. as he thought strongly OF running
Tor the position Today Il was said
that there seemed little doubt that
Henry would run
II was added that he might stand a
good chance 70 win both the De Arrond
followers, and the Williams supporters
are working with might and main to
line up enough 10 elect their man in
the next Congress. Should Henry 20
before the caucus. which will be held
here next December with enough votes
to give him an excuse for staying in
The race. he might get the place IL a
deadlock between the other two parties
WAS strong enough 90 prevent either
Williams or De Almond from securing
the prize.
That the fight viii be hot one is now
undoubteJ. The De Armcnd people are
claiming mat they have seventy-eight
votes for their man, while with The
tun caucus present. IL would require
only etghty-threc votes to elect In the
various State delegations friends of Mr.
Williams have in the last few days
9een circulating papers as invitations to
Mr.. Williams to be candidate for the
leadership. and have been securing All
the signatures possible to these invita-
tlons.'
De Almonds Friends Confident.
De Almonds friends claim to see
great encouragement IN the circulation
OF these invitations to Mr.. williams
They declare that it is unusual and
unnecessary TO invite a man to run
when he Is, as Williams is, an open and
aVowed candidate for the position They
claim that unless the Williams follow
ers were uneasy about the result Of the
contest. they would not be trying to
secure these pledges for their man.
Friends Of Mr.. Williams refuse to
DISCUSS the situation in detail, saving
they are confident that williams cam
not possibly lose the fight. Mr. Williams
also appears not at all uneasy about the
nnal result OF the contest
De Armond men also say they are
glad Henry Will run for the place. al
though they admit II may result in
Henry getting the prize over either De
Almond or Williams. Their view of
the matter was voiced thus today bv
one OF their number:
Williams has n larger following in
Texas than De Almond has Natu--
ally the Texas delegation will s1Ipport
Henry, Texas man. Therefore in
that direction. Henry's candidacy will
be a greater blow 10 Williams than 10
DE Almond. Henry also has stronc,
friends in the Alabama and Kentucky
delegations, those friends now being for
Williams. So, you see. Henry stands
70 weaken Williams In those two places.
henry, however, could not draw anv
strength from the Western or North
ern Democrats among whom De Ar
mond Is very strong.
Henry's Hope Is Deadlock.
The possibility Of a deadlock in the
Eamo If Henry stays In to the last is
admitted by pretty much everybody
familiar with the situation Should bal
lot after ballot be taken with De Ar
Ihond and Williams unable to win out
and with Henry the third man. It is en-
urely possible that Henry might re-
ceiVe the support OF one or the other of
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