The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-12
M 'M|[L|N LEADS IN SENATORSH|P Joint Session Takes Vote
 In Tennessee Legislature OUTLOOK IS NOT HOPEFUL
Indications Point to n Deadlock Over Candidates Unless . Dark Horse
 Should Step In and .++s. Settle It

Nashville, Tenn, January u.-(Special ) While still contesting the illegality of ac- ton of the lower house in starting to ballot for United States senator, on the ground of 1t not being constitutional ly organized, when the time came for the point session of the two houses at noon today all members of both houses, with one exception. were found in their seats. But one ballot was taken. five names being presented. the result stand ing: McMillin 67, Sanders s2, Fitzhugh 22. ment was announced until time for the daily joint session tomorrow. these ses- sions to continue daily until someone Is selected for the place.
 Members of the senate of the regular faction decided to fall Into line in the senatorial voting on account of a legal point raised as to the wording of the statute covering the method of selecting a senator. It Is tho contention of the fusionists that majority of those pres ent in joint session is all that is re- quired instead of a majority of the mem- bers of both houses, as the regulars con- tend.
 The first skirmish in joint ballot throws little if any more light upon the sem atorial situation than before voting start ed McMillin has been put up as the first choice of the regulars. all voting for him today excepting two members of the Memphis delegation. who registered their choice for former Secretary of War Luke E. Wright. It appears that this faction will put McMillin over If possible, but there are many who are of the opinion that the entrance of Wright Is for the special purpose of throwing him into the running as the first compromise man when McMillin fails to land.
 All three factions appear confident of having chance. the republicans taking on hope and sticking together. The in dependent vote at present Is pretty even- ly divided between Fitxhugh and Frazier, the latter having a few regular votes. enough, in fact, to about counteract Ftizhugh's majority of strictly independ- ent democratic votes From appearances the man with the best rating with all three factions should win.
 The republicans would appear to have partlcuiarly gOOu opportunity m view of the fact that the bulk of both regular and independent democrats would likely prefer to give the honor to a republican than to representative of either war ring branch within the party. A dead lock with dark horse and formidable entries is still widely predicted.
 Both houses had separate sessions to- day. In the senate the house resolution looking to the canvass of the guberna- torial vote In January was concurred in, while Senator Houk introduced a measure seeking to redistrict the congress sional judicial, legislative and civil dis tricts of the state The repeal of the county commission act was also asked for in a bill by the same senator. MT. Hicks introduced a bill to secure their earnings to married working women and Mir. Cor bill to raise the marriage age from t to g.
 Several bills were introduced in the lower house, one seeking to allow husband ard wife to testify for and against each other in criminal cases.