The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-07
Organization Contests the Center of
 Attention. NAMING OF COMMITTEES
 IS FOOD FOR GOSSIP "Will Conner Intervene in Senate Tanglea" is the
 Question. BuIger withdraws from speakership Race and Throws Vote to Martin .-Caucus ia Not to Be Held Be-
 fore Tuesday Night.

A quiet day, an uneventful day and a day with but little political gossip. wa. the first Sunday before the assembling of the Alabama Legislature. Even the central controversy around which so much interest is clustered. the contest over the naming of the committees, was productive of but little talk.
 The leaders in this friendly contest Col Henry B. Gray of Jefferson County lieutenant t-Governor-elect. and Sena- tor E. F. Thomas. were seen but little around the lobbies. Their published statements in The Advertiser yester- day morning furnished food for the only political gossip of the day.
 As to the Speakership. practically 9tAothing was heard. Hon. Thomas L.. Bulger of Tallapoosa came to the city last night. The other candidates, Hon. W. L. Martin and R. T. Good wyn, remained at their homes in the rity. In the lobby of the Exchange, where the political gatherings are be- ing held until the assembling Of the Legislature, there were more candi- dates for doorkeepers and clerical places than there were members of the House and the Senate.
 In the statement of his withdrawal from the race for Speaker Hon. T L.. Bulger intimated that he would support Mir. Martin for Speaker. He spoke of the legislation Tn which he was espe- cially Interested and intimated to the newspaper men that his vote would De cast for MT. Martin.
 Most of the visiting statesmen went out to see Montgomery friends, or, talk ing advantage of the beautiful weather. strolled or drove over the city.
 It is now agreed that the caucus Of the Senate and of the House cannot be held until Tuesday night A caucus Monday night will be impossible. In the first place, large number of the members of the Legislature will not reach the city until the night trains of Monday come in. In the second place, a number of other legislators will not reach the city until Tuesday morning, previous ro the assembling of the two houses at noon The announcement That Hon. J. Manly Foster of Tusca- loosa, President of the Democratic cau- rus. had called the caucus to meet Mon day night, was premature. No such cai, has been issued Nor it is prob able that the caucus will be held on any other night but Tuesday.
 Fighf for Standing Committees.
 The controversy over the naming oi Inc committees Of the Senate was the prime subject of conversation during the night in the hotel Hobbies.
 Tt Is the prettiest fight that an Alabama Legislature has had before Il for a number of years" said veteran politician.
 This was the general opinion of the lobby crowd
 On the night train number of prom inent Birmingham men came in whc were frankly aids and supporters ol MT Gray. They included Capt F. 5 white and number of others A Thomas man saw in this circumstance a hopeful sign for the Barbour man.
 'Tt shows how scared they are" said the Thomas Senator And, by the way, this light looks like Ninth Dis trict fight against the State. The Bir' moved bodily down here. They do not seem to be satisfied with having the Governor the Leutenant-G anc other officers, but they want to have the whole thing"
 Senator Thomas late last night said
 My confidence has been increased by the Senators who have reached the city. I had no doubt of the success oi the campaign that the Senate through a legislative office should name its owr Senators, if no change was made in tho views expressed to me by letter. Since seeing the Senators as they come ir I am more than ever convinced the President pro tenn will be instructed to name the committees. Tonight feel absolutely serene and confident. ,
 Gray is Confident.
 Tn his room at the Exchange last night Colonel Gray said
 'I have the pledge of twenty Sena. tors that they will vote to have the Lieutenant-Gov name the commit. tees This many I am assuredly count. ing on. Of course 1t may be increased before the final vote is cast But that many at least are certain.
 The men who supported Mir. Conner are supporting me, and the men whe supported Dr. Cunningham are sup porting Senator Thomas The men who were identified with MT. Corners campaign are helping me. They know that if Is an administration and ar nti-administration fight. I shall wir the fight. You can depend upon that ,
 feature of this controversy which has been overlooked Is the fact that regardless of how the fight may turn out. the President pro tenn and not the lieutenant Governor names a number of clerical and other help of the Sen. ate. This Is provided for by statutes passed in 1903. According to these statutes, the President pro tenn ap. points all the pages of the Senate The President pro tenn, moreover. appoints all assistants to the Secretary, all as. eistants to the other clerical force, ant appoints the servants to assist thf doorkeepers. This was provided for by acts passed by the last Legislature, an[ these acts will govern the organiza. tion of the clerical force of the Senate which will convene Tuesday.
 VIII Governor Conner InsIstP
 The vital point to all the talk of naming of committees yesterday was twill MT. Conner tell the Senators that he insists on having the Lieutenant Governor name those committees?"
 The friends of MT. Gray say it is the wish of the Governor that the Lieuten- Governor name the committees. They say such has been his wish all the time The friends of Mir. Gray say the Governor-elec has had no other position than that the Lieutenant- Gov