The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-06
COAL TER AND
GR|BBLE LEAD
FOR THE PLUM
SPEAKERSHIP CONTEST
VERY MUCH In THE AIR
Attitude of the Big Kanawha
County Delegation Not
Yet Known.
Special Dispatch to the Intclligrnccr.

Snccial Dispatch to the tcllIgrnccr.
CHARLESTON. W. Va. Jan. 5.--Ad-
mission Of friends nf candidates for the
presidency Of ;h" West Virginia stat"
senate that neither of III" four senators
, who arc seeking the honor have the rf-
uuired dozen votes necessary To secure
, The Republican caucus nomination Tues
dar night rrvcal the fact that tn" con-
tcst is clothed IN 4 maze Of uncertainty.
The creak If tho naneuverS. which Will
determine. tho identity az tn" victor. is
yet TO come. II will not com" until the
entire personnel Of the state senate Is
on thr ground. when it is predicted TINT
an otrensivH will hc started that Will
pitch the plum either to Senator Carl G.
Coaltcr. Of Hinton. who is on the ground
or Senator Wallace II. L;rihhle, "t bod
dridgc. county. who will arrive to-mor-
! row.
Coalter Claims Lead.
| CoaItcr. III" Hinton candidate. has a
number Of followers with him in his
hradquartcrs who claim that their favor
itc will hr nominated. At this time they
claim 4 lead for the Summers man over
! his three competitors. BEYOND IN" "N-
; prcSsion thai I'm going to win as sure
; as SIM" Senator Coaltcr declined To make
| any statement for publication. r"cltinF
! that he was not yet prepared TO make q
final claim OF strength.
Regardless OF the outcome OF thH eau
Gus contest. il is certain that Senator
Coalctr will at least preside over th'
! senate for awhile when il meets on "cd'
! ncsday AS the oldest member "t thC
hody on tho majority side in point o'
! service he will call the senate 10 order
on Wednesday and preside until pre-
siding officer ia elected.
! Tho Speakershtp.
There Ia just as much uncertainty
over the contest for the house speaker
, ship. Many OF the delegates are comine
/ TO the capital unpledgcd and they arc
asking for time before they can commit
! themselves Those who arc now here
| are Luther Anderson, OF WEIGH 4. +
Wysong. of Mercer: Luther Wolf. OF
| Jackson and Davy Cuprett. OF Tucker.
The latter was tho last to arrive. com
! ing on Sunday evening. Two other dele
eates. Cobcrly and OConnor. came n
from Randolph county. Cuppett stated
that he had talked TO a number or dcic-
gates and had written others and an
| nounced that ne had some support. max
ing no final prediction. as to the result
Kanawha Uncertain. -.-
| Inc DIX uOicSNlIull AApHi AN<a~AA " '''
county has not indicated where 1t viii
land on the s2cakcrship contest. The
delegation has committed itself t
Mont Topping for the clerkship anF
| while the various members have beer
solicited by number Of the candidates
| for speaker. they have refrainrd from
. making n declaration OF commitment
| Neither has tho Kanawha organization
committed itself to the candidacy Of any
aspirant for speaker
N Fl. King Is continuing an aEErcS'
sivc battle for the clerkshiD OF tnc
house. and NJ 7. MnlamphX tonight de
| clared that hc was satisfied with tho sit
uation. Mont Topping. the local man
Expressed the opinion that he would b.
! an easy victor.
Bcnncr HILL former sheriff or Kama
Continued on Page Eight)