The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-08
MAY USE CAUCUS
TO- SETTLE FIGHT
FOR SPEAKE RsHIP
Three of Four Candidates For
Speaker Open Headquar-
terS- -HoteIS Enlivened
as Legislators Arrive
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU I
THE AGE-HERALD
Monfrnmery Ala Ian


Montgomery. Ala. Jan.
With the organization of the leg
islature scheduled for noon Tuesday
it became evident in political circles
Sunday night that caucus of the
10S democratic members of the house
of representatives will be necessary
for the selection of a speaker. Three
of the four candidates for speaker
had appeared In Montgomery and
opened headquarters Sunday and in
dicatiCns were that no candidate
would have sufficient strength to
eltet himself ON the. first ballot. The
three candidates have established
headquarters at the Exchange hotel
Judge Hugh ID. Merrill OF Admission
has his Headquarters in Room 100,
j. Lee Long of Butler has Rooms 12o
and 122 and c., B. Werner of Tusca-
loosa has taken Rooms 324, 326 and
SeS. r. ]. Goode of Glastonbury. the
fourth candidate, had not reached the
city early Sunday evening.
Long Claims Election
Friends of Mr.. Long are making
the greatest claims. insisting that
their candidate will have a majority
on the first ballot Judge Merrill
and Mr.. Werner both expressed the
opinion that they will make the best
showing on the first ballot, but indi-
Gated that second ballot will be
necessary. Mr.. Goodies friends do
not claim sufficient strength to
elect their candidate, but believe he
will be named in the event of a dead
lock on the other candidates and a
fourth person is elected.
The Exchange hotel lobby was
buzzing with political gossip
throughout Sunday. About % mem
bers of the house and not more than
10 members of the Senate had
reached the city but the lobby was
crowded with representatives of va
rious interests which Will watch the
developments during the early days
of the session. S. A. Lynne. speaker
of the house of representatives now
ending, arrived at noon. He Will call
the first session of the new house to
order and will preside until the mem
bers have elected their speaker.
Another prominent figure in the
lobby was Senator A. II. Carmichael
of Tuscumbia. who will not be a
member of the incoming legislature.
Senator Carmichael came to Mont
gomery to attend meeting of the
state council of education and to look
after the interests of education.
Craft Is Slated.
Thomas J.. Judge OF Birmingham
and b. NJ. Allen of Birmingham also
reached the city today. Mr.. Judge
is interested in the race of Mr.. Long
for speaker of the house. The dele
cations of jefferson and Mobile
counties came Ito the city during the
day. Senator John Craft of Mobile,
member of the last senate and
|. member of the state highway COM
mission. lis sch eduled to be made
chairman of the senate committee on
roads according to inforation. me
story is that Senator Craft has al
ready been selected for this chair-
mansnip by Lieutenant Governor
Charles S. Mcdowell, who will make
the, appointments.
Second interest as the legislators
gather is in the race for secretary
of the senate, where four candidates
are seeking the position. lndica-
tons are that no candidate has
majority and that developments dur
ing the next "a hours will spell sue
cess for one and defeat for the oth-
ers. The candidates are ]. T.. Spelght
,of Lockhart. walter. F. Miller OF
Tuscumbia. Henry f. Reese of selma
and Senator o. T. Smith of Good
water.
verner's Supporters
If Appearances COuut Aoi ohs -
in political battle the Anti-Saloon
League will combine with the Tusca-,
loosa friends OF C. B. Werner in sup
mort of Mr.. Werner for speaker OF
the house Among Mr.. Verner's
friends now making the fight for him
may be counted several active sup
porters of the Anti-Saloon league.
Politicians during, the day remarked
constntIy about the fact that this is
the first time in many years when
a governor-elect has not appeared In
Montgomery in the interest of his
friends who seek to be officers OF the
legislature. Gov. Charles Henderson
sought. q elect his candidates in 1915
and failed. while Gov. Thomas Il.
Kilby made the same effort in 1914
and won. Governor elect Brandon Is
persistent in his refusal to come to
Montgomery, although he has writ
ten a strong letter to Senator j. NJ.
Foster, in which he said that while
he would not attempt to tell mem
bers Of the house what they should
do, ne would vote for Mr.. Werner If
he were a member.