The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1913-01-02
Legislature Soon
To Be in Session
CONTINUED from Page II


TO be candidate, though he has never
made an official announcement. He is
active among the independents and
will develop much strength, though it
remains TO be seen if that strength will
he sufficient to win.
Gen. Chas. T. Gates, Jr., has been
talked of as . candidate, but il is gen.
orally felt that he has retired from the
race in favor Of Chief Justice John X.
Shields. For many reasons Judge
Shields will prove strong candidate,
and many regard has chances as very
favorable at the present stage of the
legislative situation.
On the fight for senator, The struggle
will be fierce, but it is the general opin-
ion that an independent democrat will
be ell ectel, though he may be one who
has been partly harmonized in that,
lie supported the regular candidate for
governor in the last election but sup
On the state officials other hard fights
will be made, and all kinds of deals
will be attempted to carry the day.
Hallum w. Goodloe is candidate
for reelection as secretary of state and
while no one has announced against
hi n he is sure TO have oppositions. 1t
is said that the regulars are trying to
trade this office to republicans in return
for their support, and it is said that
The independents will likely have
candidate in the Held before the race is
far advanced.
For comptroller, Frank Dibrell is a
candidate for reelection, but one ofthe
certainties OF this legislature seems to
be his defeat and the destruction OF the
back tax machine. George Blake and
!, George Wooden are both after this
office.
There is strong probability that
the treasurer and insurance commits
sioner office will be made into two and
that the insurance commissioner will
be made an oppoin,ive office.
For treasurer. there are more than
one candidate. Speaker A. NJ. Leach
is after the place and belong Rice has
the republican nomination. Others
will enter this race.
This legislature promises to be an
important one for the democratic par
ty as well for the principles for which
the independents have been fighting.
1t looks now like the fusionists will
get about all they want during this
session. They will control both houses
aud will have committees to suit them.
On most all questions Of importance
they will have majority. They are
against Patterson and Dibbreil and for
The repeal or modification of the back
tax laws. On these men and measures,
eaough regulars have been instructed
the same way TO insure the lndepend-
eat program being carried out.
On the liquor question the prohibit
tion leaders claim that,the majority
against the repeal of the prohibition
laws will be greater than on any other
question. This being true,it is claimed
that number of regulars will join in
the tight to make laws which will en-
able those already on the books to be
enforced. IL is said there are many
regulars who favor first the repeal of
the prohibition laws, but failing in
that, they favor the enforcement of
the laws.
MANY bills bearing on LABOR ques-
tions and affecting corporations will
be sure TO be fought out The consti-
tutional convention movement will be
of interest, and The question of equal
suffrage for women will be q new fea-
of interest in this session.
Taken as whole, this Legislature
promises to be red-letter one in the
history of Tennessee. It's every fea.
ture will be an important one, and it
looks like the linal great battle be-
tween the independents and regulars
Harmony talk again much in the ali
and regulars express the hope that
harmony may result during this ses-
sion. They even say that If this result
does not take place that it means that
Tennessee will be permanently repub.
lican. On the other hand, many indie
pendents claim that a failure 10 har-
monte during this session means the
driving together of the two democratic
factions two years hence.
Few politicians are in town, but now
that the next thing OF interest on
The program is the meeting of the leg
islature, it is expected that political
matters will begin TO boom at once