The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-11-11
A BIG SCRAMBLE
WHEN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE MEETS
Rumblinss Of Forthcoming Volcanic
Session Are Already Heard
Everybody Lobbying.

tion has wiped out all uncertainty as
to the complexion or personnel of the
coming legislature, and already the
rumblings of what all agree will be a
most strenuous and important legisla-
tive session are being heard. The fight
for the speakership is so well under
way that number of politicians be-
lieye it is already settled. The COVER
nor's message, $4,000 words long, has
been prepared and will be sent out
this week. The applicants for legisla-
tive jobs have picked their places and
begun the customary bombardment of
the legislators with letters from them
selves and friends.
AS to the speakership, the igns at
this time certainly favor John Craw-
ford of Ada. His forces seem well
organized and there are powerful in
nuences pulling for him. Except for
the fact that Maxey of Muskogee, Will
liams of Lawton and Smith of Shaw
nee are known to be candidates for the
speakership, there are no signs about
Oklahoma City of their candidacy. On
the other hand, hardly day passes
but some Crawford supporter meets
some other Crawford supporter here or
comes up to look over the situation.
The present speaker, w. A. Durant of
Durant, who is regiment in himself,
spent a couple Of days here last week
boosting for Crawford andstrengthen-
ing his alliances. Crawford was Du-
rants right hand man in the 1910 leg
islature
In the senate, ]. Elmer Thomas of
Lawton, A. f. Vendeventer of Bartles-
Vile, ]. b. Thompson of Pauls Valley,
and Campbell Russell Of Warner are
mentioned for. president pro tempore,
AT this time there are four paramount
matters which the legislature will have
to deal with, each in itself enough to
cause enough commotion for one ordi-
nary session.
Redlstricting an Issue.
The state must be redistricted. con-
occasionally and every man who thinks
himself congressional timber or has a
friend who thinks he is, must have a
finger in the pit Campbell Russell,
who has slowly forced himself into a
commanding position in state politics
and made those who first laughed
openly now very careful to laugh be-
hind their hands, will have to say for
the eastern side of the state where he
win doubtless be a congressional can
didate two years hence. Congress
man-eIect Joe B. Thompson of Pauls
Valley, came to the senate two years
ago at the express wishes of state lead
ers to direct the congressional redis-
tricting, and for his own sake now will
take small part in that fight, Sena-
tor Echols of Elk City, won a great
majority as candidate for congress-
man-at-large in his own part OF the
state and will remember this when the
bill comes up.
4. Elmer Thomas IS looked on as a
man who will be in congress in few
years, and will not neglect his own in
terests. Neither will Senator Red
wine of McAlester nor Senator Van
deventer of Bartlesyille. add to these
the friends of Congressman Daven-
port, Carter, Murray. Ferris and Wea-
yer who want district carved out
especially for their respective leaders,
and the possibilities of the congress
sional redistricting bill for creating
lively times can bze appreciated. es-
pecially when it is remembered that
the house is more than twice as large
as the senate, and consequently has
more than twice as many would-be
congressman, or congressmen-makers.
Opposition to "Retrenchment."
The second proposition will be Gov