The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-11
Arnold Claims Majority.
In the Senate Caucus.
Everett Moore Declared to
Be Leading for the House
Speakership Close Con-
test for Clerkship of the
House
By J, r. REED

Special Dispatch to The Intr,!lscn,er.
Charleston. W. Va. Jan. ln.-Tvntght
found the situation for speaker Of the
house OF delegates and president of
state senate greatly changed. Hardly
any candidate for either position re-
tanned the same standing at the close
oS an evenings work in the lobbies or
hotels "a he had throughout the day.
Men considered rank outsiders at the
opening appeared as possible leaders at
nightfall. With the greater part Of the
members in, all candidates are work
Ing bu$ily and many have opened CAM
raiEn headquarters to be mtaiutatned
until after the caucus tomorrow night.
Arnold In the Load.
Tie greatest change nt the day IS
noted in the race for the presidency Of
the senate Close observers state tho
tight now. stands Arnold against the
field Cohen G. Arnold was last night
considered leading by very close mar
gin over Harvey w Harmer OF Clarks-
burS. while Edgar Il. Stewart Of Nor
gantown and J. VI. Sanders OF Bluercld
were regarded as far behind the leaders.
Overnight Harmers strength seems
to have dtspelled. slightly adding to
the following OF both Sanders and
Stewart. the latter OF whom may with
draw. IL is said. .trnold's total strength
seems 10 bc unchanged. His hackers
declare that tlftcen Of the votes. or moro
than enough TO nominate him. are al
ready his. Others. however. say that
he cannot hope to muster more than
ten or twelve. in which case deadlock
Is bound 10 enSue. Arnold himself Is
confident OF victory. while the other
.hree admit that IL necessary they will
send a coalition candidate into the
field. backing either one "f their own
number or i cCmpromiSc choice. Ar
nold's great strength Is said to be in
the Northern and southwestern dis
tricts. despite predictions earlier that
they were solid for Harmcr. One OF the
three or a compromise candidate Sc
lccted by them will. II Is said. have at
least an even show.
The spsakerxhip.
In the spcakership fight the threu
candidates south Of the kanawha, Il. II.
keal!ey. A. +. WySUnS and james A.
Strothcr. are still running we'll. but
Everett +. Moore II Marshall county
is said to be numerically the strongest.
WysonG and Struther lost strength. dur
ing the day. however. and conference
Of keatley's forces seemed 20 indicate
with Moore has opened ur hcadGuar-
ters at the Kanawha hotel. where mem
hers OF the legislature and lobbyists
fairly few around all day long. Wysons
and Strother both admit that they are
not In the race Unless hopeless diri-
sion calls for . compromise.
Even though a bitter contest tS eX-
perienced in the race for speaker. there
Is no possibility OF a misunderstanding
between factions. AS there may be in the
senate. Feeling IN the latter tghgt ran
high during the day. eliminating In nu-
merous lobby arguments.
The third big ftght. the tEreo-cornered
contest between NJ. Stanley Hodges OF
Franklin. ". J. Malamphy OF Morgan
town and NJ. l.. Morgan OF F'airmont,
for the clerkship in the house. is grow
ing warmer every minute. Malamphy
was in reality the heaviest sufferer OF
the day among candidates for all Of
hces. 1t was reported that his great
following OF yesterday was dropping off
TO a large degree. with Morgan gain
ing. Morgan arrived in the city only
today. but his days campaigning has
been full of results. II any OF the three
is leading now. Hodges seems TO be the
man. Should incoming delegates fail
to change the ratio OF the vote, u Is
most likely that neither OF the three
can be selected without much halloting.
Legislation Discussed.
For the first time since they began
10 gather hero the delegates and Scnat-
ors began seriously discussing proposed
bills today. Many OF them spent the
greater part OF the day going TO the
various state offices, discussing lcgls-
lation needed by the departments. At
torney General T.. T. Eneland'S office
in the Elks' club was probably the
busiest OF all. since throughout tho day
the attorney general and his force
were kept busy by members "f both
houses who wished TO discuss measures
which they expect to introduce.
Considerable interest was also taken
BY members In discussions Of the
states financial condition with state
Treasurer W. s Johnson and State
Auditor John 5. Darst
Many members favor the passing OF