Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-23
Say Moral Effect of His
Election as Speaker
Would be Bad.
WILL MAKE NO CHOICE
TayIorViIIe Man Successful Fri
day, According to Attor-
ney Generals Ruling.

Springfield. H.. Jan 23.-The third
week Of the 49th general assembly
ended yesterday with the problem of
organizing the house apparently no
nearer solution than when Secre-
tary Of State Stevenson first rapt the
assem5Iymen 10 order
The opposition 10 Walter NJ Pro-
vine. republican caucus nominee for
speaker. which has been more or less
under cover from the outset. is rap
idly coming to the surface and there
were hints yesterday that some of the
G3 caucus participants may bolt next
week and attempt to force new
alignment of voting Friends of Pro
vine, however. profess no alarm. The
Provine position is that for him to
withdraw now would be to throw the
situation back into the chaos that ex-
listed before the republican caucus
had ss.ected q candidate.
TpCn the event OF their departure
for their respective homes, members
Of the committee selected TO repre-
sent tine republican caucus in its ne
got cns with the : wet" republ-
cans. who refused TO caucus. made
public a statement This was not
ened by all the conferees, however.
Representative Boyd of Henry declin-
ing 10 become a party to it. The
statement follows:
Questions Asked the Seventeen.
"The conferees. representing the
caucus. asked the conferees for the
= aosentees:
"Fl-si-What they expected on the
aces CT IN Scommfftee at the hands Of
as.Net' Speaker which they would not
decei' AT the hands of a dry speak
sr?
: "Second-If any honorable agree !
ment could be made which would in
duce them to vote for Mr. PrOvine?
The committee for the II replied
that their course was not prompted
by fear of disadvantage or desire for
advantage in committee or on the
floor
That they had already said that
they would not vote for Mr.. Tice, Mr.. .
Mr. Watson, Mr.. Dudseon, .
MIR. Flagg or Mr.. Provine.
THAT the other gentlemen having
it would not be honorable .
fer them now 10 agree TO vote for Mr.
Provine.
THAT. having a majority of vets
IN the house. if they were to elect an
altra dry speaker, the moral effect of
their cause in the state would he bad.
That on their part they did not
ask for an active wet for speaker.
That they would vote for any man
nominated by The caucus who had not
actively taken part in the wet and
dry fights in this state nor was bound
ast 10 either extreme wet or dry
action. even though he might indi-
vote on the floor OF the house
or dry measures.
Declined to Propose Names.
That the Il declined TO propose
lamys 10 the conferees for the eau
us ~ they did not wish to be in the
,osition Of debating whom the eau
us should nominate
THAT ii the caucus would submit
lanes Of candidates, they would indi-
ate ior whom they could not vote, so
hat the caucus might select candj-
late from the remaining.
THE individual members Of the COM
nittee for the Il. in reply to Ques-
ions. answered for themselves indi-
icuany and for the II collectively
bat they would not, under any cir
CT tat any time. vote for
ir. Provine.
In the belief that during the pres
Mt recess of the assembly, the people
re entitled 20 the facts regarding the
legislative deadlock, six of the seven +
lembers of the committee for the O
aucus voted in favor of issuing the I
bove statement with the consent of e
be committee for the IL and were C
resent at its preparation" 4
Notwithstanding the above declara- I
on Oh behalf of the IL hold-outs that +
.Cy win not under any circumstances "
ote for Provine for speaker, lieuten-
nts OF the candidate insist that he
ill not withdraw from the race.
Browne Very Confident. :,
On the iemocratic side of the house :,
le situsti ticn has taken a more definite a
nape In the lest week. Lee O'Neil :
rownc reached the high mark of the
ession. so far as his party is concern
a, Thursday. when he received IS of
lie 40 dt rincratic votes. He contin- d
es 70 express the belief that the Il
ouse Ultimately will be organized on b
lie ''weT' and dry issue. and thus. Il
; the candidate of the ''wets." he will s.
2 sieakeT. e.
E,ihe- Wa;ter NJ. Proyine was elect oI