The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-12
SENATORSH|P IS STILL 4 MATTER IF GUESSWORK Talk of Dark Horse Is Be- coming More Ssl0u, In Mississippi Contest .AhDAMAN STILL LEADS
 BY LARGE MAJORITY Former Governor Has About Sixty Votes That Are Pledged to Stick
 to the End, and Deadlock is
 Unchanged.

Jackson, Miss, January 1.-Two bal lots tonight were sufficient to demon strate that the legislative caucus is still deadlocked as to a successor to the late Senator A. J. McLaurin. After the sec ond ballot the caucus adjourned until afternoon
 The opening ballot tonight showed a defection from the ranks of former Gov. James K. Vardaman, a loss of five votes from the closing of last nights balloting. on the second ballot the eleventh of the caucus, two more votes were lost Ills 6S votes, however, are still fl in ex- cess of his nearest opponent, Leroy Percy Of Greenville. C. C. Anderson was next with 20 votes. While the other contest- ants retained practically the following of the preceding night, two new names. considered by many as dark horse" possibilities, were added, Col H. M. Street, speaker of the lower house of the state legislature, and Chief Justice A. H. Whitfield of the state supreme court. In the closing ballot the former is credited with two votes and the latter one
 Tonight's balloting brought somewhat of a surprise to both the Vardaman faction and the combined opposition. It was the contention of the yardaman ad- herents that a decided gain would be shown with the opening ballot, while but few of his opponents anticipated other than the votes of last night would be re- tained
 First Ballot Senatorial Caucus-Varda- m
 son Fl. Byrd 14. Kyle 12, Critz 3, Street ,, Whitfield l, Lonsino l. Total 174
 Second Ballot-vardaman es, Percy 27, Alexander 19. Anderson 20 Kyle I5, Byrd IT, Critz 4, Street 2. Whitfield l. Lon gino 1. Total 174. Necessary to choice ss.
 Quite number of citizens from over the state who have not heretofore shown up in Jackson since the caucussing be- gan. were noticed around the capitol during the day. and a great many of them were sporting Vardaman badges. So far no other candidate has adopted method of Identification. but they all know their friends and supporters bv sight, and say they do not have to label them. This acquisition to the vardau,an forces has served to llven up the town a little, and may have some effect on the voting. as the visitors have been at work since their arrival on their county
 
 of course. that they have been able to stlffen up a few weak backbones and hold the independent or unpledged votes in line for their friend
 The average member of the legisla- ture does not see much chance for break; he is convinced they are in for long continued deadlock and does not see the beginning of the end It is argued that it would be unfair to adopt any rule that would cut off the hindmost man, for the reason that the new men coming Into the race on every ballot are invariably the hindmost man. and new 'hindmost candidate" is lia- ble to be sprung on the caucus with each succeeding ballot. For these and other reasons there will be strenuous opposition to the adoption of any rues that will eliminate any candidate now in the race, or who may hereafter come into it.
 There are a great many claims of losses and gains for this. that and the other candidate, but the chances are that there will be little of either dur ing the next few ballots. No candidate shows any disposition to get out, and until one does his friends and sup porters are going to stand by him in the hope that the tide will change in his favor before the deadlock is broken. 1t is known that the leading candidate in this race has about 60 votes that are sworn to stand by him to. the bitter end, and to never vote for any other man so long as yardaman is in the race, so that losses on that hand will hardly be experienced. He may lose down to GO, but there the losses will stop. The Vardaman supporters are claiming more than 60. but on the other hand the opposition assert thht there are some of the 70 he has been getting will not sign the roll of hon. or" that is said to have been made up for their signatures.