The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-31
Shift in State Political Seen
cry Has Placed Him 70 the
Front and He Appears to
Be a Winner.
WILL BE A CAUCUS
ON WEDNESDAY NEXT
Probably by That Time All
Candidates for Speaker
Will Have Withdrawn Ex-
cept Albert Veneman.
tpallad dunn Specially

Indianapolis. Dec. 3l.---As first pub
lished in the Palladium, Adam Wise
and Albert Veneman, until week
ago the leaders in the fight for the
honor of the speakership in the com
ing legislature, are practically out of
the race.
The shift in the political scenery
has placed Adolph Seidensticker to
the front and il is almost a certainty
he will be selected speaker at the
caucus of the Democratic house mem
bers next Wednesday evening. II is
also within the realm of probability
that by the time the caucus convenes
he will have no opposition.
1t is common talk among the Demo
cratic politicians who are already be-
ginning to gather preparatory to the
opening of the legislature next week
that all of the candidates will with
draw before the caucus with the pos
sible exception of Albert Veneman.
His exception is made because he has
not been here this week. neither any
one authorized to speak for him.
He Meets Adam Wise.
Adam Wise came to Indianapolis on
Thursday and held several confer
ences, not the least significant one
being with Seidensticker over the cof-
fee cups in the Denison cafe. What
ever passed between these two Is not
known. but they apparently agreed.
judging from the expressions they
wore upon their return to the lobby.
Soon after came the word that Wise
would not let his name 60 before the
caucus. as he regarded his chances
practically nil.
AS the Palladium first stated Joseph
Cravens, formidable candidate for
speaker, had he made a vigorous fight
for it. is handicapped by the fact he is
needed elsewhere more than in the
speakers chair. He is one of the
strong men in the coming legislature.
having had experience in previous ses-
sions and having the confidence of all
factions. Owing to the determination
of the present administration and the
party as whole to make a record for
wholesome economy it is necessary to
have some one chairman of the house
committee upon ways and means who
will watch every penny appropriated.
Cravens is admirably suited for this
by his training and by the experience
and information he has gained as a
member of the committee which has
just finished visiting all Of the state
institutions. The bulk OF the appro-
priations asked will be for these insti.
tutions and Cravens has made thor
ough first hand study of these institu-
tions. In fact no man upon the ma jor-
ity side of the coming house will be as
of the state. and as to just how much
or how little is necessary as Cravens
For this reason primarily, Cravens
will be chairman of the committee on
ways and means.
This carries with it the floor leader.
ship and here again the legislative ex.
perience and parliamentary training
Of Cravens and the confidence Of his
associates in him make him a valua
BILE man.
VIII BE Cared For.
If Wise and Veneman withdraw
! from the race they will be taken care
with good committee chairmanships
II is very likely Wise will head one
of the committees on judiciary which
is counted one of the most important
chairmanships in the house. This
however, is speculation, as there are
other men clamoring for recognition
other candidates for speaker who have
to be placated to get them out of the
| way, and then Seidensticker himself
as speaker. may have something to say
as to his appointments.
| The election of Seidensticker with
out opposition would justify the
claims of the Taggart forces that Tag
gart himself is taking no part in the
6ght and is not concerned over the
result. Seidensticker belongs to the
anti-Taggart wing of Marion count,
Democracy and his entrance in the
| fight defeated the plan of Taggart te
have Marion county cast her solid
vote and influence for w W Spencer
| a Taggart adherent.
Those who insist upon keeping Tag
CARTS fingers in the pie say that he
will throw whatever influence he has
| to teneman, but the fact that yene
mans success would hurt the chances
Of Samuel Ralston for governor makes
this claim somewhat invalid Seiden
sticker's friends say be will get all o
Marion -county's vote with possibl,
Ii. n, u
case in event Taggart really mean
fight