The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-30
SPEAKERS FIGHT
lis PURELY POLITICAL
Suffragists Will Play Part in
Struggle Which Will En-
sue in January.

JACKSON, Miss, Dec 30 tSplJ-- |
The fight for the speakership Of the |
lower house OF the Mississippi legisis-
ture is holding the center Of interest IN
political circles as the time for the con-
vening of that body draws near. The
lawmakers go into annual session one
week from today,
II Is impossible to pick the winner In
the speakership fight but surface indt-
cations are that the finish Will be be-
tween Sonnet Conner, of Covingtoh,' the
incumbent, and Judge George Anderson
q Warren, with Joe s. owen, Of Union
clustering considerable f0llowlng
among the members In the northeastern
part Of the state. $, II. Glass. OF At
tala also has a right good number u
supporters,
brought about it will probably take a
day to select a speaker, and that means
Gov Bilbo's message Is not likely to go
10 the lawmakers before Wednesday
| morning.
Woman suffrage leaders are planning
to push their fight from the very start,
with the view Of obtaining a vote on
| the federal amendment within two
weeks from the date the Legislature con-
venes. The forces are well organized
and are not the least disconnected over
the arrival In jackson of two Alabama
women who took part in the fight
| against suffrage In that state and VINO
l nave come mere lOI lllN pulPboN VI
forming a state organization Of the
| Southern League Opposed to Woman
| Suffrage. Thus far the antisuffragists
| have aroused little enthusiasm. Advo-
| Gates Of the amendment are extremely
| active and already have obtained large
number Of pledges from lawmakers, who
have hitherto been regarded rs OPP
ponents OF the ballot for women.
| One of the most important measures
which win he urged for early consldera-.
tlon Is the bill framed by the Mississippi
| Highway Improvement association, pro-
viding for a s2b 900 900 bond issue to be
Fused In the construction OF translate
system OF highways that will touch
| every county In the state. A powerful
organization is behind this measure and
It is not believed that even a low
pressure" element In either branch Of
The Iawmaklng body can accomplish it's
defeat Briefly stated, this bill shirts
the burden of road building to automo-
bile owners and Its passage means that
II Mississippi makes $4,000, 600 avail
able for good roads building similar
amount wild be donated by the federal
government, making total OF $bOOO0,-
900 for the work,
Indications are that George b. Power,
OF Jackson, viii again be Reelected
clerk OF the house and John 7, Falkner
secretary of the senate. Mr.. Power has
officated as clerk OF the house under
the Vardaman Brewer, Aoe and Blbo
administrations and will usher In the
Russell administration, administering
the oath OF office to members and WELD
ing the gayel as presiding officer until
speaker Is chosen.
Balloting for doorkeepers, postmts-
tresses, sergeants-a arms, and the Ike
always consumes considerable time, ana
these contests are frequently somewhat
spirited. The election of state librarian
is done In joint session OF the two
houses. SO far Mrs. Marshall, the in
\ cumbent, has no opposition,
Lieut. Gov. elect II. II. Casteel who
assumes the gavel on Jan. 10. promises
to have his selections for the standing
Committees ready during the first week
OF the session. Several OF the more I'm
portant committees, which he already
4 has chosen, will be announced IRON the
chair by Lieut.. Gov. Russell, who pre-
sides over the senate from Jan. Il
Jan. 10 The senate Ms n rule makes
better Roadway with its calendar dur
Ing the first month OF the session,
While both branches OF the legsla
ture win no doubt be fully organize
within As hours II Is not likely that mucl
will be accomplished IN the way o
actual legislation until the new COVER
nor goes into office Jan. 90 Lawmak
crs customarily have remained In dc
nothing frame Of mind until they hea
what the new governor has to recon-
mend Very little attention liz given
the suggestions Of the outgoing COVER
nor In his final message
GbV Bllbo already has commence
packing up his personal effects prepare
Ntory 10 vacatinR the executive nansio
not later than Jan 10 In order to'glv
his successor ample time to become IN
stalled prior to inaugural day.
FlumonIa Fuming for deep colds, dit
ticult breathing, etc adj