The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-11
GATHERING AGAIN
AT POLITICAL HUB.
oLDTIMERs MEET NoyICEs IN
MURpHY's LOBBY AND TALK
POLITICS.
LINING UP FRIENDS.
CANDIDATES FOR sPEAKERsHIR
AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE or
FICEs GREET FRI -sNDs-CAU-
Gus COMES TUESDAY NIGHT.
LINING UP FRIENDS

Oldhmers who last night dropped
into the lobby of Murphys hotel were
: reminded that once again are the
solons strengthening in this city for
the biennial sessions of the iegisla-
ture.
For years and years the political
center OF the State has been at Eighth
and Broad streets. Within the walls
Of the old building many of tho
grea test political battles OF the State
have been planned and fought
Last night there were the oldtimers
on the scene. men who had grown
gray in political service. the dapper
| beginner. the man who Is seeking
some sort of political job for HIM
self or who has friend who wants
to be a Judge or a commissioner or
some sort or another.
The candidates for the speakership
OF the house of delegates are about
the most congenial men to be seen.
Edwin P. Cox is right there and la
willing to shake hands with all the
men with whom he has served in the
last several years. Then there is
Delegate Hugh A. White, of Rock
bridge. who says that he Is very much
in the running and that he proposes
to stay In the fight till the last name
on the roll has been called.
Going 1t Alone.
Charles ). Meetze. of Prince VIII
liam, is one of the young men who liz
coming to the front. and he does not
In the least object to letting Il he
known that he wants to be speaker.
With him 1t is a pardonable ambition.
In case he can find no better man he
may decide that he will nominate
candidate for speaker who Is young,
strict party man, a regular Demo-
crat. temperance advocate and who
stands on his own record.
Mr. Meetze is making considerable
Roadway In his fight and he is losing
no time in presenting his claims.
Whether he wins or not he is deter
mined that the people of Virginia with
get the very best services of which
he Is capable.
Sergeant j. N. Johnston. the old
war horse OF Dem ocracy and OF the
legislature, Is back in the city, and
Is making the fight for the position
Of sergeant of the house Of delegates.
He has held that place for some years.
and he says he sees no reason why he
should be set aside. He has no ops
position. and says that II II Is all tho
same. he never wants to have to
make a hard fight for his job.
Some dozen OF the members had
registered up to last night, among
them being Delegates Weaver. Grasty.
Green, J. w. Stephenson. OF Bath:
Senators Gravatt. Lesner. Montague.
Garrett and a few others
Mayor John T. Loving, OF Pulaski,
who for years has been the chief Of
the corps of clerks In the house OF Il
delegates, Is again on the Job, though
he Is not as robust as he was Tor
long time. For some months his
health has been bad but he is round
ing into shape again and promises
to be good for many years yet to
come.
Tuesday night the caucus for tha
election OF officers Of the house Will
be held 1t will be called to order
and then will follow the choice at
chairman of the caucus. There aro
two candidates for that honor--Cap-
tain w. w. Baker, OF Chesterfield.
and Harry r, Houston, OF Hampton.
John W. williams, who has been
clerk for some years past, is a can
didate for election to succeed hirn-
self 1t was Speaker Byrd who said
that 'Mr. Williams Is not clerk. He
is an institution" And that about
sizes up the situation. for II ever there
was man who seems destined to have
a place reserved for him Il ~ the
clerkship Of the house for Mr.. WIZ
liams He will not have any oppo-
sition.
Colonel s. Morton Nswhouse. ct
Culpeper, who Ia known far and wtda
as the Chesterfield OF the body ard
aldo. as the Beau Brummel Of the
legislature, Is due here during to-
day, and he will ut once head 10f u
Murphy's, open headquarters In the
lobby and have all the younger me1n-
bers dancing attendance before ho No. Il
been in town half an hour. for wheM
legislation and IN the ne3d At hA3
ana tha nolffi<saf Area the imam - h