Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-13
sOL0Ns TO MEET TONIGHT
To ELECT NEW OFFICERS
Members Of General Assembly to
Hold Caucuscs on Eve OF
1920 Session.
OPENS TOMORROW
Governor Davis Expected to Deliver
His Message in Person Shortly
After Noon-Norfolk Judgeship
Fight Warm.

1mbued with the idea OF passing laws
which will put the Old Dominion on a
higher financial, commercial and ag-
ricultural plane than ever before in
Its history. 40 members OF the Cen
eral Assembly OF Virginia will gather
tonight and elect the presiding officers
who viii guide the deliberations Of the
two houses In the regular 1920 session
which Will open tomorrow at noon.
Election OF Speaker Is the task
which faces the House Democratic
caucus at It's meeting tonight at S
o'clock, In the chamber of the IIousc
OF Delegates. At the same hour. the
Senate Will also hold caucus and
chooSe president pro tenn, who will
be the presidinS officer in the absence
Election of sergeants- s-at-arms and
doorkeepers will also be handled in the
caucu6es tonight.
Speakership Fight Warm.
to Never in recent years has the fight
Gilpin, of Clarke County. is pledged
Ion 10 use Of ms ,h. efforts to SECURE the aboli-
ment. I1. II he is chosen. HE opponent.
richard L. Brewer. has not declared
positively that he favors the retention
Oh me denartmeni. but this is the i'm
Around the State Prohibition Depart
ment, the storm in the House Will cen
ieI during the coming session, from all
by friends of MIR. Gllpin that he had
neeGed ror.E votes Sn, .s positively pledged and
election certain. The Brewer forces
are claiming that Brewers election is
beyond the shadow of a doubt, point
ing to former statements that at one
Time he had seventy-two votes pledged
ana that since that time but few had
shifted from him to Gilpin.
Message Due at Noon.
5, GoyerRSs ta 1Ss Davis Ti,l deltysr his mes
the States chief executive was Still
WORKING on the document
IN his message. Governor Davis will
outline the principal recomme nda tions S
Tor appropriations made in the State
On Thursday night. the joint Demo
cratic caucus Of the senate and Uousc
VIII be held. Al that time three State
poration judgeships will be flied. The
most spirited fight will come in the
eiection OF a Judge. OF the Supreme
SouFo Stamo-d or uh hhpneais to succeed Judge
ert Southall and Congressman E. w.
Saunders. of the Fifth District, a,
candidates for the honor. Both have
Fight for JudEeship.
Much interest Is also cen.er;,r -;
the election OF the judge Of the Cornor-
alton Court, OF Norfolk. There are
,nrse men In the held-O. l.. Shackle-
iiord George Pitcher and Villa m
Henry Sergeant. The incumbent. Aiinn
X. Hanckel, will not be a candidate
Tor reelection. 1t is said that Dele
gates Dodson and Cherry. Of Norfolk
are pledged to Sergeant. Joseph r.
Deal, the new Senator from Norfolk,
is uncommitted. it is understood
Shackleford is the present Common.
wealth.s attorney. He is said to have
me indorse ment of the Bar Associa
tion OF Norfolk.
While the Democrats are meeting in
caucus tonight. the RepubMcans in
poth branches OF the Legislature will
mold Joint caucus and nominate mi
nority floor leaders. There are more
kepublicans in the General Assembly
this year than for many sessions, a
the last election. AZ