Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-12-08
GETTING READY
 FCR LEGISLATURE Some Interesting Contests Are Booked For Speaker
 ship and Presidency. CONFINES ON JAN. IS Will Gov. Robinson Take a Hand is the Question-S. \. Miller After
 House Leadership.
CONFINES ON JAN. IS
(BY CLIO HARPER)

It will be an unlucky day fer about a dozen aspirants for the Speakerslip and the Presidency. With other pol itical contests out of the way, with the exception of a municipal prmary which Little Rock Democrats will hold December IT, the people of Ark ansas, who revel in eight or ten elec- tions year, are turning their atten- tion to Legislative politics. The election of United States Senator, which used to be big factor in the Legislature, has been eliminated by she preferential primary, and this time all that the lawmakers will do will be to ra,ify the action of the people in the selection of Jeff Davis to succeed himself for a second term.
 But the contests for Speaker of the House and President of the Senate are beginning to attract attention, and frequent conferences are being held by the supporters of ,,he various
 
 and Capital. One of the most prom inent questions in connection with these races is, what will Joe Robin- son-Joe is the Governor-elec,- what will Joe Robinson do about it? The indications are that the new Gov ernor will have things pretty much his own way in the two houses, but whether he will take any prominent part in the organization is matter of conjecture. The fact that he has his eye on the United States Senate, for the seat that will be vacated by Senator Day six years hence, un- less unforeseen conditions may force him into race in 1914, will doubt less influence the governor in secur- ing as favorable an organization as possible for the new admin stration. So, far as known, however, none of candid-i.ss has assumed an attitude antagonistic toward MT. Robinson.
 For the Presidency
 There are three prominnt candi- dates for the presidency of the Sen ate. It is noa denied that Gov.-elect Rob nson favors Senator w. M. Old ham, who halls from his own county of Loncke, and this is considered a strong factor. On the other hand, Senator T.. J. Raney, of Independ- ence, who was one .of the leaders of the reform element in he last Sen ate, claims, strong support. It is generally predicted that the fight will be between these TWO and Senator A. c. Martin, of Faulkner, who claims that he must be reckoned w tn when it comes to casing up the bal lots of the thirty-five members. Phil lips, of Carroll, and Rodgers, of Ben ton, were talked of for awhile, but are not now expected to figure in the contest very extensively.
 For the Speakership.
 More complex and spirited is the consest fer presiding officer over the hundred members constituting the lower House. While ten or dozen members have been mentioned from time to time, the indications are that the contest VII narrow down to a four-cornered affair among $. A. Miller, of Jefferson, Jo Hardage, of Clark; T. c. Jcbe, of Hampstead, and Carroll Armstrong. of Conway. All of these are avowed candidates, the lafest definite entry being MT. Arm strong. of Morrilton, one of the old school politicians of the state who was, in the Legislature yesrs ago, and fer many years was chairman of the State Central Comm Etee. He is a close personal and political friend of Gov.-elecs Robinson, and this fact probably influenced him to some ex- tent in entering the race for Speak ership.
 Among others who have been men toned in connection With the place are c. B. Thweatt, of Prairie; Hart sill Ragcn, of Johnson; Bonnie Davis, of Columbia. and A. G. Gray, of m 
 The most active in organization are ;Hardage and M Her. Representa- five Miller. a native of Tennessee, is 48 years old, and th.s will be the third term he has served in the Leg islature from Jefferson county. lie declares, that. if elected. he will use his best endeavors to carry out the pledges of the Democratic party force a bus ness administration and give everybody square deal.
 10 Hardage. a former county 1ucss