The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1916-12-30

With the announcement made early
this afternoon by Representative E.
A. Bowman of the Twenty-fourth dis
trict that everything looks favorable
to Wood" and that he had turned his
support and influence to the Ward
county man, 1t was foregone con-
clusiOn that Howard r. Wood of Deer
ing would be speaker of the house.
Il was never in the race, but some
of my friends were boosting for me-
stated Bowman, when seen in his
room in the Mckenzie. II don't care
for the position and would rather be
on the floor. q wish to state that I
am not in the race and have turned
my support and influence to Mr..
Wood" IL. ...
Wiley Boom Loses Noise.
The Wiley boom has lost its noise.
1t was exploded late last night by
friends OF the representative from
Morton county. Active in the support
of the league organization and mas
much as he has served years in the
house, his friends wished that he
should receive the preference, but
prominent league chieftains made the
assertions that there 'is nothing in
Wiley's candidacy" and that It is
practically assured that the MEM
bers are behind Wood"
Introduce Wood a. Speaker "
So confident were some of the
league men that Wood would be en-
dorsed as speaker at the caucus to-
be held late today or this evening
that the representative from Deering
was introduced to several OF the in.
coming members as Representative
Wood, our speaker" .%
Wood, Wiley and Bowman are all
league members. ''F. s..
2 Waiting For a Majority.
The caucusiof the members of the
lower house, which will elect the
speaker, awaits the arrival of enough
members to have large majority.
About go or 70 had reached the city
up to the noon hour. With the Barnes
county delegation and others expect
ed in this afternoon, it was stated
that it might be possible to have the
caucus late this afternoon or early
this evening, when the employment
committee will be named to confer
with the speaker regarding the dis
tribution of patronage. This commit
tee. as in the past, will be made up
of one member from each judicial dis
trict Of working organization OF
II. @,,s4r a:..g.t.'.
F. B. Wood of Fargo, vice president
Of the Non-partisan league, and father
Of Howard r. Wood, arrived in the
city early this morning and when
seen in the lobby of the Mckenzie
this afternoon, gave out the state
ment which led one to infer that his
assistance in boosting his sons can
didacy for the speakership was not
needed Edwin Wood, a prominent
league worker, son of F. B. Wood and
brother of the candidate boosted for
speaker. is also in the city.
Senate Control In Doubt.
A quiet little caucus held last night
in which hold-over members and SEN
at0rs elected last November against
the opposition of the league partici-
pated leaves the control of the senate
very much in doubt. But for the prob
ability of a constitution convention, it
is likely that little opposition to
league domination would have devei-
oped in the senate. AS it is, with the
PROSPECT Of a constitutional conven-
tion being constituted by members of
the Fifteenth legislative assembly
there is a disposition among such
members of the upper house whose
hands are not tied to find out what
there is doing and what part they are
to have in the doing of it.
The practical certainty of consti-
tutional convention has placed an en-
tirely new light on many propositions.
There is a tendency in various quar-
ters not to stay put in view of the
probable revision Of the constitution
and revamping of the basis upon
which all legislation. prODerty rights,