East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-14
"RUSK AND EATON
LEAD FOR SPEAKER
HOUSE SITUATION is
CUP IN THE AIR.
Eastern Oregon Representative May
Land job, Selling in Lead for Sem
ate Presidency But Change May
Occur-BOwerman May Win.

Members of the house of represen-
| tatives from different sections of the
state, who are drifting into Portland
to look things over, say that the
speaker of the house has not been
elected. yet, says the Journal They
say that things are up in the air"
and that they do not know who will
be the lucky man, though they all ad-
NIT that Eaton or Lane, and Rusk of
Wallowa. are the two leaders in the
race at this time.
Eaton's friends say that the Lane
county man has 92 votes in his pocket
now and that there is nothing furth-
er left to do but to go up to Salem
and have them counted. But several
OF these same men who have been list
ed and tagged by the Eaton boosters
are among the list who are frank in
their deliberations that they do not
know what is going to happen, which
fact complicates matters and casts
much doubt on the assertion that all
Eaton has to do is to count his bal
lots. There are some members who
are unkind enough to say that Eaton
has not half of 80 votes favorable to
him and that less than that number
are actually pledged
Rusk Also at Sea.
Rusk Is in much the rane situa-
ton. He has friends, a good many
Of them and he has some votes pledg-
ed to him. But he has more that will
be with him provided that the owners
Of the votes come to the conclusion
that with their help Rusk can make
the speakership.
The fact of the matter is that the
speakership fight is in a nebulous con-
dition. Both Rusk and Eaton have a
nucleus of votes and the future alone
can tell which nucleus will prove the
strongest magnet. Eaton is claiming
the majority of Multnomah county.
and some of the men he is claiming
say they have made no pledge to any,
one. Henry Mckinney of Baker
county. who is candidate, is think
ing of stepping out and throwing his
support to Rusk. So there you are.
Take your pick. 1t is an even guess.
Turning to the senate, Senator Jay
Bowerman is scheduled to reach Port
land this evening to make his official
entrance into the fight for the presi-
dency. C. w. Fulton and others of his
old hackers have been working for
him for several days.
Bowerman's friends contend that
they believe their man has a good
chance. They contend that Bower
man is a good manipulation and that
he will be able to line up the neces-
sary 16 votes.
Dark Horse Possible.
Selling's friends say that Selling has
16 votes already pledged. If he has,
he is elected, for that number is a ma
jority of the senate. But there is an
other rumor and it is that Bowerman
may be able to at least block Selling
and make it finally necessary for the
senate to light on some new man. Ru
NOR says that Dan j. Malarkey is the
new man. Malarkey says he is for
Selling. Another rumor says that \.
J. Sinnott of The Dalles is being
groomed as the dark horse. He, how
ever, is a Selling man. But If, by
any means. the contest could be dead
locked, there would be nothing to
prevent either Malarkey or Sinnott
emerging from the scrimmage with
the presidency under his arm.
So. it looks like Selling for presi
dent, now, but 1t is several days yet
until the senate will organize, and
there is an old adage about the cup