The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-12-28
CLOSE fight FOR
SPEAKER OF HOUSE
NEITHER PARKER OR WARNER
HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO
WIN THE OFFICE
FRIDAY Will SETTLE CONTEST
BOOMS FOR OTHER CANDIDATES
DIE AS LEGISLATORS GA
THEIR IN ST. PAUL.

st. Paul, Dec. 27.-With the van
guard of legislators already in St.
Paul and the main body on the way,
due to arrive today, there is every in
dication that the fight for Speaker of
the house will be settled within the
next 48 hours.
So far, neither of the leading can
didates, Ralph w. Parker of Spring
Valley nor Charles H. Warner of Ait
kin, has lined up definitely enough
votes to assure election as presiding
officer. Friends of both insist the
necessary quota will have signed not
later than Friday night.
There are nominally four candidates
still in the field, despite the elimina-
ton of four last week. Besides the two
mentioned, Oscar Swenson Of Nico-
let and Magnus Johnson of KimbaH
are still in the race.
1t was predicted last night the
Swenson and Johnson booms would
expire today. The exact time for the
ceremonies has not been set. Mem
bers of the Third congressional dis
trict delegation are simply awaiting
the consent of Swenson to leave his
standard. A meeting is scheduled for
today. Magnus Johnson, whose
strength has been a rather nebulous
quantity, is expected to declare for
either Warner or Parker today.
While friends of Warner and Park
er are making all kinds of claims, it is
generally conceded that there is def
mite information on how the majority
of the members of the First, Second,
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth and
Tenth congressional districts will 60
The attitude of the members Of the
/ Third, Fourth and Eighth COMPRESSION
al districts is worrying The campaign
managers, however. Members of the
Eighth district will meet in Duluth
tonight.
Adherents of the Warner cause
claim the majority of the votes in the
Third. They say those who have sup
ported Oscar Swenson will go to the
Aitkin man. On the other hand, the
Eighth district is claimed for Parker,
with the exception of two or three
men.
The Ramsey county representative
are credited with having adopted a
policy of "watchful waiting It is
said the majority of the st. Paul leg
islators are waiting to see how the
country members line up before max
! ing their choice.
Out of 10 house members from Hen
nepin county, 13 are signed up fol-
Parker. Up to yesterday there We're
2 IA pledged, but one representative
S withdrew to support Warner. WITH
2 only two exceptions, the balance of tke
e Hennepin county delegation is said t.
e be unpledged.
e Both Warner and Parker cl,enet
regular campaign headquarters yes
e terday. Charles E. Bouck of Royal
ton and others took charge of TIT
j Warner rooms at the Merchants hotel
Y Members of the elimination commit
I, tee and several of the eliminated can
: didates were on hand at the parke
: rooms at the st. Francis hotel.
! While the House members were Ell
crossed in the speakership fight, sen
: ators who arrived on the scene of thei
d winters labors, sought out Thoma
0 Frankson, lieutenant governor, to con
suit with him on committee assign
S ments. Mr.. Frankson has intimate,
c that there will be but few changes j
h the organization of the Senate. Onl,
h a few senators haveSindicated any de
e sire to make changes.