The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-07
OPPONENTS OF BYRD
WITHDRAW FROM RACE
Winchester Man Will Be the
Speaker OF New House Of
Delegates.
HOT FIGHT ON SENATE SIDE
Contest Over Clerkship Closest
Ever Seen Here-Echols's
Friends at Work.

On the eve of the assembling OF the
Legislature the most interesting devel-
opments are that Hon. Richard Evelyn
Byrd, of Winchester, will have no op-
position for Speaker of the House Of
Delegates, and that the friends Of SEN
ator Edward Echols. Of Augusta Will
insist that he shall be president pro
TEN OF the upper branch. MI. Byrds
opponents, Mr.. r. W. Withers, Of Nan
semond, and Mr.. John w. Chua Gilman.
of Augusta, both withdrew from the
race y, day. The election OF Mr.
Echols is conceded If his name is pre-
sented
The separate caucuses of the two
Houses will be held at s o'clock to-
night. and they promise to be tame. eN.
cent for the fierce battle for the senate
clerkship, between Messrs. NJ g. Book
er. OF Halifax, and T. a. Lynch, ~
Tazewen. Both candidates are nope
full but they are looking for more
votes, and the contest appears 10 be an
eseeedingly close one. Concerning
the result Of the speakership contest
there has been no reasonable doubt
for some time, and The Times dispatch
has frequently predicted that MI. byrd
would win.
He has won, and his will be the only
name presented to the caucus. he VIII
he nominated by Colonel Eugene G.
Massie, OF this city. and the lno.ion
viii he seconded by Judge Alden Bell,
Of Culpeper. who is looked upoi as one
Of the most polished orators in the
body. -, ia
named by reclamation. with the ex-
ception of doorkeepers There are
three candidates for two places. ~
are Colonel S. NJ. Newhouse, OF Cuis :
nener. and Captain p. Z. Lipscomb. or
King and, Queen counties, ana ME-. D.
% Barrow. OF Pittsylvania.
Thauk Their Friends.
AR withers, who has been conducl-
,ue a vigorous campaign for the SPEAK
ership, was called home on lmportan.
business yesterday, but he !eft wore
with his close friends to withdraw MS
name and nor TO permit II 70 be pre-
scnted to the caucus. In retlrlns 1rotl
the contest Mr.. Withers declared that
~ NV was grateful 10 his supporters for
iIeir Kindness and loyalty, and that
he would ever seek an opportunity 70
repay them.
a have been in public life long
time" said Hon. John w. Churchnan
OF Augusta, when seen last night con-
corning his withdrawal, and I have
come to know when I am defeated
Mr.. Byrd has evidently enough votes
"a nominate him In the caucus anG
Ks I cheerfully abide the decision of my
polleag CUES In withdrawing from thu
contest, cannot find words with which
10 thank my friends for their loya
support, and / shall only hope to b'
able In some way to return the grta
favor"
There is but one candidate for presi
dent pro tempore of the Senate. He ]
Judge F. w. Sims. of Louisa. TIL
friends of former Lieutenant- Governo
Echols, of Augusta. however, wish l
present his name, and though he is i
nc sense candidate, IT is know
among his close friends that if he
elected he will serve
Hot Fight Here.
The real scrap will be over the CLERK
ship of the Senate. This contest
evershadowing everything else that
70 come up In the early stages OF II
session, and both candidates are worl
ing as though they didn't have a sing
vote to their credit.
Some feeling is developing, an
stories concerning the personnel OF tt
two mea were being circulated in II
lobb!es last night
MY name viii be presented to IL
caucus by Senator A. c. Hartman.
Richmond. and II will be seconded t
eenator keezell. of Rockingham, ar
pthers," declared Mr.. Lynch, when ash
"a tor final statement by Time,
Dispatch man. IT do not care to discu,
The matter further" he said, In cor
Sj alus!ou,
MIR. Rooker's friends prepared TIL
statement for publication.
"Hon, NJ 3. Booker is Il young ma
Of Intelligence, ability and popularit
81 BE entered the contest for clerk Of Il
SENATE advisedly. and will be nom
mated by the caucus tomorrow nigt
We make this final statement after
careful review of thc situation, and
view of the fact that sufficient nur
her Of Senator'S have indicated th,
purpose to vote for him TO insure i
nomination.
'.Answerins the contention that It
Nresumptuous in Mr. Booker to aspi
Ia the position against man who h
hesn the assistant clerk for sol
years, we desire to say that he was
esmmittse clerk In the House for o