Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-05-10
CHAlRMANSHIP OF STATE CONVENTION Speculation Rife as to Who Will Preside at Meet
 ing Here.
A STUBBORN FIGH T
Judge Kirby Will Vigorously Prose. cute Claim for Senatorial Seat, Charging He Has Been De.
 frauded of Nomination.

Llttle ROCK, May 9.-Inere IS much speculation as to the man who will be selected as chairman of the Demo- cratic state convention in Pine Bluff June 8.
 The indications are that the conven tion will be lined up according to the Clarke and Kirby partisanship, as the contest for the nomination of United States senator is the only one that is probable.
 Both sides are working quietly to determine the personnel of the dele gations, but there is no definite infor- diction may be based of the way they will line up on questions vitally af fecting the senatorial question.
 Judge Kirby is preparing his case from the record for vigorous prose- cution of his appeal before the con- vention, and his partisans are active in his behalf They insist that Judge Kirby has been defrauded of the nom- ination, and that they will make a fight in the convention to secure a reversal of the decision reached by the central committee.
 On the other hand, Senator Clarke is in Washington attending to the important duties of president pro tenn of the senate at time when history is being made for the North Ameri- can continent. He and his friends are resting perfectly secure in the result shown on the face of the returns giv- ing him the nomination by a majority of 214 votes. They declare that every thing is perfectly regular and honest, and that there is no basis whatever for contest on the part of. Judge Kirby.
 There will be contest between the two factions for the election of the there is nothing more definite than gossip among political prophets and near-prophets. The one most prom inently mentioned for gavel honors is Congressman J. o. Floyd, a Clarke partisan. Others whose names have been mentioned in this connection are A. D. Dulaney of Little River, Jeptha H. Evans of Logan, Stephen Brun- didge of White, and Smead Powell of Ouachita.
 629 Delegates Coming.
 There are 629 delegates to the con- vention, and Clarke supporters claim there are fully 430 of these in favor of the candidate declared the nomi- nee by the state committed A Kirby adviser made the statement recently that Judge Kirby had a slight major ity in the convention
 So keen is the interest that it is probable that few proxies will be pre- sented at the Pine Bluff convention June 8, for all the delegates will be on hand.
 No one has been mentioned for the place of temporary chairman by any, one connected with either headquar- ters, but several delegates have sug- gested the name of Vincent M. Miles, a young attorney of Fort Smith, and a strong supporter of Senator Clarke. | The Kirby forces have remained si- | lent as to their favorites for conven- tion officers, but they will prepare a | slate, and the first test of strength | will be in the selection of presiding officer. The temporary chairman is | selected by the state Democratic cen tral committee, and MT. Miles is a ] of that body.
 Because of the great interest in the state convention, Pine Bluff will be crowded during that week, and many are now reserving their hotel accom- modations in order to escape a night under tree, due to the overcrowded conditions of the hotels at that time.