Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-11
HERBERT HUFF
HAS RETIRED
FROM THE RACE
Hardin Co Man Dropped
Out Of Speakership Con-
test, Leaving But Four
in; Caucus Near.

DeS MOlneS, Jan. 1O.-RepreSentallVe
Herbert Huff of Hardin county today
announced his withdrawal from the
speakership contest. Thus the field,
"a hours in advance of the caucus, has
narrowed to four-Cunningham, Klay,
Larrabee and Stipe. Mr.. Huff an.
nounced his withdrawal without com.
ment of any kind, refusing to indicate
whom he favored. Messrs Cunning
ham and Klay we're the first to be In
formed of his decision to withdraw.
The house republican caucus has
been called for II O'Clock tomorrow
morning The senate republicans will
meet at 10 o'clock. Democratic eau
cuses will be held Monday. -.
The first difference Of opinion be-
tween candidates for the speakershlp
arose this morning. For time two
calls for a caucus at 10 o'clock were
in circulation, one call for the eau
Gus to nominate speaker In the
hands of friends of one of the candi-
dates, and the other a general call to
select speaker, employees, and to
transact such other business as might
come before the meeting. This call
was given to c. r. Benedict to clrcu-
late. .....5E
Later the two calls were consolidated
when Larrabee, Klay, Cunningham and
Stipe reached an agreement. me
four men went into conference at 2
o'clock to determine what matters
should come before the conference.
Charles Miller OF Waverly, looked
upon by many as the possible floor
leader of the democrats for the ses-
sion, made his appearance late yester-
day. He was not member of the last
assembly but before that had attained
prominence on the floor, especially
through his attack up on physicians.
tHesdenied Knowing anything OF the
plans Of the democrats or that he
would be their leader. The fight of the
state schools against the board of con-
troll order changing the curriculum
made it's appearance in hotel lobb1es
for the first time yesterday. Dave
Brandt of Iowa City, with two or three
other friends of the State university,
made their appearance and COM
menced interviewing legislators. Some
of the friends Of Amos Hunt are In the
CITY but the Representatives Of alumni
have not yet made headquarters mere.
Investigation of the house commit
tees discloses the fact that large
number of the committees will nave
to be reorganized for the coming ses-
sion. So large a number OF the leaders
of the last session did not return that
in some instances men ranking
twelfth and thirteenth or lower are
now the ranking members. On two OF
the smaller committees but one man
is now a member of the house COM
mittee membershi pof ten, two years
ago. House members are making an
effort to have the number Of members
of committee cut down: Some OF
the large committees last year had
between thirty and forty members.
Disagrees on Caucus.
Des Moines, Jan. 10.-(SpeciaD-
A serious disagreement developed
among the house members at noon and
there was total failure to get to-
gether so that this afternoon two calls
for a republican house caucus are In
circulation. The call as prepared was
"for organization and other business, =
leaving the way for appointment or
caucus committee and with power to
bind members to abide by the de-
cision. Stipe of Page wouldn't sign
unless the "other business" was strick-
en- out. A conference Of candidates
for speaker was held at noon to try to
agree. Klay, Jacobs and Larrabee
wired to a general call with no re.
strictions Stipe stood firm for limited
call. Cunningham did not want TO
decide the matter and withdrew from a
conference of candidates. Then
friends of candidates announced they
would circulate both calls and see
which one got the most names Ihe
caucus will be held at 10 o'clock to-
morrow. Huff of Hardin, who with
drew for speaker. will preside. Care
full politicians declare that it is any
body's race as yet between Klay and
Cunningham. The fourth district mem
bers held meeting and decided to go
solid for Klay unless they can land
Larrabee. A senate caucus is called
for one o'clock tomorrow.