Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-01-07

ton of the legislature. The effect of
this retirement from the speakership
contest, in the manner In which II
has come about, will be to retire him
from the leadership of the Republi-
can party in this county and state.
Last spring at the peace conference
he was chosen as chairman, and was
regarded as coming aspirant for
congressional and state honors, had
he gone through the legislative ses-
sion in a creditable manner. His fall
ure at this critical moment will be
greatly regretted by his friends, who
We're legion, and whether agreeing
with him or not all liked Frank
Davey and wished him well.
What the Oregonian Says.
Dissolution of the Davy forces in
the fight for speaker of the Oregon
Legislature is imminent, owing to the
disappearance of Dayey, and surmise
that IL is due to thirst for the cups,
which he had held under subsection
so long a time that his friends had
confidence in his continued alb
stinence
After a lively campaign of several
weeks throughout the state for
speaker, he had practically won the
fight against Vawter, of Jackson,
whose followers gave up the contest
as lost
The effect is the termination of
the Vawter boom and a shifting of
political lines. Should 1t turn out
true that Davey has vanished for the
cause suspected, there will probably
follow a slump to Vawter or the uni
ication of the hitherto discordant
elements, In the Multnomah delega-
! tion of 13 members for a new
4 Multnomah candidate.
Disappeared In Portland.
Davey on previous occasions like
the one now suspected has been wont
to seclude himself from friends and
family Since last Thursday night
his whereabouts have been unknown.
He was then in Portland and wired
TO his home in Salem that he would
return next morning. Since that
time nothing has been heard of him.
Search has been made for him high
and low in Portland by his friends,
Mrs. Davey came down to Portland
yesterday to join in the search.
Davey's friends hope that he may
be found in some distant part OF
the state. possibly eastern Oregon,
where he might have gone to round
up votes for the speakership. Some
think him the victim of foul play OF
political enemies who may have
turned him to liquor or given him
drugs like knockout" drops. They
aver he had too strong hold on him-
self TO let go at 50 critical a time
unless trapped by foes.
Political activities have been al
most paralyzed In the last three days
because of the uncertainty as to
Davey, Northing could be done by
his supporters until he was found
and the fear dlspeled or confirmed
Every trail that could lead up to him
In Portland has been followed by his
friends during the suspense. The
news was kept very quiet, but yes
terday began to leak out in Salem
and in this city. The many inquiries
for him in Salem were answered by:
Gone to Portland" Don't know
when he will be back" Cant say
just where he is" until suspicious
began TO crop out The inquiries
were brought to Portland with the
same result, until II became frequent
ly whispered that Davey could not
to be found.
Davey Had Thirty-four Votes.
Lane county's three members are
of this class: also Inns three and
Washington's three. all of which
Davey was reasonably certain of sei
curing in his support. He had made
inroads into Vawter's southern Ore
gon support and had almost the solid
support of eastern Oregon. Yamhlll
county's two votes wero his, and he
had strong assurance of obtaining
Clackamas county's three. Dayey
apparently had the support of at
least "a members. or three more than
needed TO elect.
Vawter will undoubtedly start in
to recoup his losses. and indications
are that he will become the leading