The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-10
MOORE LEADING
OVER kEA7LEY
SPEAKERSHIP RACE
THE BIG FEATURE
Battle for Senate Presidency
Close-Talk of Bloch
AS Compromise
BY J. r. REE d

Special Dispatch TO The lnte!ligencer.
Charleston, w. Va, Jan. State
LEGISLATORS began gathering here sarly
today for the session OF state lesiSla-
ture TO open in temporary quarters next
Wednesday. Considerable spirit has
been stirred up already concerning the
nghts which must precede orsanizatlnn'
since many Of the Republican candi-
dates have already secured headquarters
and are carrying on their campaigns
with great vigor.
Up until late hour tonight only six
Of the state senators had arrived in the
city. Among them were Senator L. T.
Hill OF Tyler county. Second district
f. b. Stewart OF Monongalia county,
Eleventh district: II. w. Harmer Of
Clarksburg. Twelfth district: q. G.
Arnold and II. G.. Johnson OF the Thtr-
teenth district.
Members Of the house of delegates
have been arriving on all trains uur!ng
the day. making 1t quite possible that
4 majority of the members will be In
the capitol tomorrow. Tho early morn
Ing trains are carrying many repre-
sentativcs as well. Large numbers o.
people interested in the coming session
have already arrived. and hotel reserva-
tlons show that many are expected
within the next few days.
Moore In the Load.
Preparations have already been made
foa caucus of the Republican hosts on
Tuesday evening TO consider nomlna'
tions for speaker Of the house. president
OF the senate. clerks and sergeants-at.
arms. Fights on the hrst two both
promise to be full OF thrills. Latest adj
Everett r. Moore of Marshall county,
In the house Of delegates caucus. How
ever. he Is being pressed strongly BY
G. F. Wysong OF Mercer county: James
Strothers Mcdowell, and f. NJ. Keatey
Of Charleston.
All four Of the candidates are rs yet
In the field. although it Is understood
tha, conferences tonight may draw one
or more Of the candidates from tho
district south Of the Kanawha out Of
the race.
Moore's Claims.
Moore's supporters claim that he has
already obtained promises OF support
from forty-three delegates. This num-
Der would be sufficient to insure his
nomination against a united field Down
state forces seem, however, to be un'
able to unite on any one OF the three.
Wysorg Is considered most probable as
n compromise candidate from the south.
ern district.
Trading on the capitol location fight
will prevent KeatinE, the kanawha
county candidate. from carrying on an
active race say the delegates,
The closest fight NJ present seems TO
be between Senators Cohen c. Arnold
Of ,Cpshur county and Harvey W. Har'
0hnH
Steward of Monong gala, who WAS orig.
,nally rated as strong candidate for
the presidency Of the senate, Is said 10
have withdrawn, leaving the others 70
"hght II out"
Bloch a. Comproniss.
Stewards withdrawal is said to favor
Harmer more than Arnold, although al
this early hour the latter seems 10 be
leading Indications are that Harmers 8
strength will be In the northern coun'
ties and in the eastern Panhandle.
Should Stewart decide to stay in the
race a deadlock Is considered possible.
in which case Senator J. A. Bloch OF
Ohio county Is spoken Of AZ a compro-
mise candidate. This IS not, however.
expected.
John I. Harris. clerk OF the senate At
the last session Of the Legislature. will
be elected unopposed. while Will Long
OF Tyler county Is expected 10 carry Off
the nomination for sergeant-at-arms
there.
The clcrkship in the house is also ex-
pectrd TO be close NJ. Stanley Hodges
Of Pendleton county and Michael Ne
!aney are al present in the lead. with a
slight advantage being granted to the
former
W. ]. c. Curtis Of West Liberty. op-
posed TO w. r. Hutchisson. his former
assistant. IN the race for serEeant-at-
arms in the house. is well in the lead.
according to present indications.
The Empty Honors.
Democratic candidates have not as
vet been discussed for any Of the above
positions Only one name has been
mentioned thus far. and that Is Sept!-
mus Hall dean OF the house. who came
20 the capitol from his home in Wetzcl
county yesterday. He will probably he
the Democratic standard bearer In the
house. The selection Of Democratic
candidates will be q mere formality,
since they are outnumbered In each
house and voting will be along strictly
PARTY lines No Democratic selection
for president Of the senate has as yet
been made.
Republicans members who have ar
rived set up headquarters ~ the Kama
wha hotel and began preparations for
the organization meeting at once.
TIKI WAITER.