The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-06
Session Of the Legislature
Will Open in Capitol at
Noonon Wednesday.
BYRD AND MANN
WILL BE CHOSEN
Former Will Be Speaker Of House
and Latter Will Be Caucus
Chairman OF Senate-Many
Judgeship Fights Up.
Important Message
from Governor.

With tho tolling of the hour OF noon
on Wednesday both branches OF the
new General Assembly will convene at
the Capitol for sixty-day session,
which promises to be one OF the bust.
est and most important In the recent
history of the State.
Both branches are overwhelmingly
Democratic, and the organization Will
therefore be practically effected
through the separate caucuses OF that
party to be held on the previous night,
though, OF course, the formal elections
will be had when the two Houses con-
vene.
In the upper branch Judge william
Hodges Mann, Of Nottoway. Will be re-
elected caucus chairman without oppo-
sition, and he will appoint steering
committed which In turn Will name
the standing committees Of tho body.
Judge F. w. Sims, OF Louisa. is the
only avowed candidate Tor president
pro tempore. though the friends Of
may present his name for the honor.
SerSeant-at-Arms Frank B. Watkins
Of Charlotte. and Door-Keeper S. NJ.
Donald. OF Augusta. will be reelected
to their present positions. Captain An-
drew Jackson Taylor. Of Fluvanna.
speaks OF running for the former place.
but Mr.. Watkins has already far more
than enough votes pledged to him to
insure his reelection. The only big
fight OIL the Senate side is for clerk,
and the friends Of both Messrs. Booker
and Lynch appear confident OF victory.
They are working day and night, and
will keep at it until the last name is
called in the caucus.
VIII be Harmonious.
The House caucus will be harmoni-
Gus throughput, and little or no oppo-
s.tion will develop to the leading can
didates for the various positions to be
filled.
1t is en- absolute certainty that Hon.
Richard Evelyn Byrd. OF Winchester,
Will be Speaker. and though the names
of Messrs. Withers and Churchman
may be presented, the Winchester man
will win on the first ballot with many
votes to spare. Mr.. John w. Williams
OF Giles. long the faithful and efficient
clerk OF the body. will have no oppo-
sition. and Captain ]. NJ. Johnston. OF
Rockbrldge. will likewise be unonposed
There are two doorkeepers, Of the
House. and three candidates are apply
Ing for the places. They are Colonel
s. NJ. Newhouse. OF Culpeper. and Cap,
/ IS-iIl ~. lapSSS1AAbp " ANhA6 b <AAtA %aSSA
(incumbents). and Mr.. j. e. Barrow, OF
Pittsylvania.
Hon. John W. Churchman. OF Au.
gusta, will almost certainly be re.
elected chairman OF the House caucus
but there will be q new secretary
as Hon. Charles T. Bland. of Ports,
mouth, who filled the place at the las
session, Is not a member OF the new
body.
Elect Caucus Nominees.
The organization OF the two branche.
being thus completed in the Democrat,
caucuses the Senate and House vii
meet in their respective chambers a
noon on Wednesday and proceed a.
once to elect the caucus nominees 70,
| various Offices.
Lieutenant-Governor j. Taylor Ely,
son will preside at the opening session
OF the Senate. and Clerk John w. VIII
liams viii call the House to order.
] So far as is known the Republican!
| will not name candidates for office.
in either house. though they will prob
| ably caucus Tuesday night for the Sc
lection Of floor leaders. This homo,
Will likely fall to Senator John 6
Noel. OF Lee. In the upper branch, ant
to Hon. c. F. Pendleton, OF Scott ii
the house.
Tho opening OF a Legislature in vir,
| glnia Is usually made some thing OF {
|