Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-11
Orange, n,

Delegate George l.. Browning. of
orange, last night definitely authorized
the statement that he was not !, can
,!idatc for election as Speaker Of the
Housc, thereby leaving q clear field
Tor Delegate Harry K. Houston. of
hampton. No other candidate has been
suggested. and Mr.. Houston will. there
fore. be nominated Speaker At to-
nights House caucus by a unanimous
vote.
While it had come generally TO be
recognized that enough members had
been enrolled under the Houston ban
ner TO insure his election. Mr. Browning
had an influential following and the
situation st:il held an element of con-
test. The formal withdrawal of Mr.
Browning clarifies the situation, and
there viii be no drawing Of lines.
NOT CANDIDATE FOR
CHAIRMAN or CAUCUS
incidentally. also, Mr.. Browning said
that lie would not be candidate for
the chairinanshp OF the House caucus
While my friends have been very
kind and asked me TO allow my name
to be put in nomination" said Mr..
Browning last night, II cannot see my
way clear to do so. have a warm
friend who will he candidate for the
position, and ! feel that ought to
lay aside my personal ambitions this
time and support him"
Two thirds OF the members who COM
pose the General Assembly of 1916 were
registered AT the hotels last night, and
to all intents and purposes the new
session was underway. There were no
roll calls and no formal converting. hut
there were caucuses galore and c2n-
clavcs in hotel rooms without num-
ber.
At Murphys Hotel, for a gcnerat,a IN
the clearing house OF political thought
during Legislative sessions. the gather
ing OF bigger and lesser lights of the
political armament took on midsession
proportions. By 10 o'clock at night The
lobby held :, ,hrong OF lawmakers. new
and old, representing every faction that
Will figure IN the oncoming session.
Exactly half Of the Senate is rev
this year. and only forty-three of the
100 House members who served during
the tax session last winter have been
returned. While many OF the new man
have had Legislative experience, most
OF them face their first session of the
General Assembly.
OLD MEN CHAPERON
LEGISLATIVE DEBUTANTES
Under these circumstances, last
nights foregatherins of the clans
lacked Ia q degree the spirit of cam
aradcrie that characterized the pre-
session convention last year, when the
lawmakers had n fund Of common cy-
2"ricnces in the last preceding session
TO draw upon. There were introduc
tons without end. the veterans VINO
have been returned playing the part
OF chaperons to the flock of leeisla
tive dehutantes
But many of the debutantcs are
shrewd men OF affairs. and introduc-
tons led swiftly to the discussion of
the immediate problems that will en-
front the Democratic members at TO-
nights Senate and House caucuses
Party leaders worked overtime to re-
duce to a senblance of order the Demo
cratic program, and before the members
turned in for the night the caucus
drama was reasonably we'll rchearsed
Al Murphy's during the midevcning
the legislative atmosphere bristled
with promises and predictions Behind
every marble pillar was private
caucus of four or five members, and
III the parlors the leaders held recep
tions to the faithful.
ELECTION of HOUSTON
AS SPEAKER ASSURED
Out of the babel one thing arose as
universally conceded--the election or
Delegate Harry Il. Houston. of Hamp-
ton. as Speaker. OF all the ponderons
gossip about Offices ana the men who
will be selected 10 fill them the assunip-
tion that Mr.. Houston will be nomi
mated by to-nights House caucus alone
undisputed
Somewhat less certain was rho
spreading assumption that Delegate O.
Il. Jordan. OF Pulaski. will be elected
Tonight as chairman of the House
caucus Friends of Mr.. Jordan con
Quoted an active canvass, and late last
night made the statement that sufficient
votes were in sight TO insure his cleo
ton. This conclusion was disputed by |
the supporters of Delegate c. J.l
OF Prince William. wto has
been an avowed candidate for tho honor |
ever since the adjournment OF the spc- :
cial session.
SPIRITED FIGHT FOR
CAUCUS CiIAlRMAN NSiIIPS
While there is no rule to this effect,