The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1916-12-11
DAVENPORT IS A
fAYORITE IN RACE
FOR STATE PRESIDENCY
Senator From White and Faulkner
Counties Said to Have the
Advantage.

! Little Rock, Dec 1.-THE organiza-
ton of the coming legislature is the
chiep topic of interest among Arkan-
sas politicians and the business inter-
ests generally over the state During
the past few days more than a quo
rum of the senator's were in Little
Rock comforting on the presidency of
the senate.
The Commercial Appeals Little
Rock correspondent predicts that the
race will eventually narrow down be-
tween Senators Davenport of White,
Garret of Clark, Sims of Prairie and
a senator yet to be selected to repre-
sent the forces unfriendly to the in
coming administration. Senator Dav-
export seems to have the advantage
among the senator's who are known
as friends and supporters OF Cover
nor-elect Brough. Senator Garrett Of
Clark county is also classified as one
of the Brough supporters. 1t is prac-
tically settled that either he or Sen
ator Davenport will retire at the prop
CT time in order that the Brough
froces can present a solid front in the
senate caucus which will meet a few
hours before the legislature convenes.
Senator Sims, VINO has following
among the factions, occupies very ad-
vantageous grounds, and if a dead
! lock happens to take place he will have
splendid chances of securing the hon
or. The senators representing both
| factions while in Little Rock this
week stated that Senator Sims will
be perfectly agreeable to them and
would very likely receive their sup
port in the event they could not win
their first choice.
Governor-elect Brough up to date
has declined to take a hand in the
Organization and says ne will remain
"hands off, until the end. He an
nounced to his friends few days ago
that he would remain at Fayetteville
until after the president of the senate
and speaker of the house are agreed
upon. The governor is now hard at
work preparing his inaugural address.
The speakership contest is lying
dormant and promises to add but lit
tie interest until the headquarters are
opened in the Marion hotel during the
Christmas holidays. Brooks Norfleet
.of Forrest City and Lee Cazort of
johnson county will both open head
quarters in the Hotel Marion. Burt
Brooks of Little Rock, Jo johnson of
Fort Smith and one or two other pros
pective candidates for speaker have
as yet made no announcement rela-
tive to the location of their head
quarters.
All the members of the senate and
house visiting Little Rock the past
few weeks predict very interesting
session in many ways. Governor
| Brough will make a number of i'm
portant recommendations along con-
structive lines, and in addition will
ask the legislature to make radical
changes in several of the state board.
One of the first bills to be introduc-
ed will be measure providing for a
convention to frame new constitu-
ton. but it is doubtful if it will re-
ceive the sanction of both houses.
Four years ago the house passed a
resolution calling a constitutional con-
vention, but the same body killed it
two years ago.
The consolidation of several of the
state boards is also a strong probabil-
ity. Governor Brough has well-defn-
ed ideas along those lines, but his ex-
act policy will not be known until he
reads his inaugural address. The gov
ernor-elect also has plan mapped
out which, if enacted into law, will
make radical changes in the revenue
system of the state.
The removal of the University of
Arkansas from Fayetteville ito Little
Rock will also be one of the chief
topics of interest in the coming legis-
lature. 1t is said that Little Rock
will have very inviting proposition
to submit to the legislature on that
subject. Several senators stated Sat
urday that they would give hearty
support to a measure submitting the
removal question to the voters of the
state at the next general election,
This idea may prevail rs a compro-
mise.
1t is also reliably reported that Gov
Iernor Brough viii recommend the
passage OF a bank guaranty law mod
eled somewhat after the Oklahoma
statute. \ similar tiil was introduc-
led in the two previous legislatures,
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