Evening star., 1928-12-23
ROW AMONG FOES
MAY REFLECT LEE
Maryland Speakership Fight
Takes New Phase After
Baltimore Parley.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


BALTIMORE, December 22.-Re-
election of E. Brooke Lee of Montgom-
cry County as Speaker of the House of
Delegates of the session OF the Legisla-
ture which begins January 2, was prac-
tically assured when the Baltimore City
delegates, who were supposed to be solid
ly behind Francis p. Curtis for Speaker,
wrangled in parley last nigh; and l3
left the meeting.
Fifteen of the delegates who remained
at the meeting passed resolution bind
ing themselves to support the action OF
the caucus of all the Democrats in the
House of Delegates, to be held the day
before the 1929 session of the Legisla-
ture opens.
Lee, It is believed, will have almost
the solid backing of the delegates from
the counties of whom there are 40 and
as only 60 votes are required for the
election of a Speaker, his election with
the Is delegates from the city is practi-
cally assured, despite the report that the
boiling delegates are said to be trying
to form a coalition with the Republicans
to block Lees election. There are only
80 Republican delegates in the Legisla-
ture, which, with the 13 bolterS. would
still leave 9 short of the required ma
iority. even should the Republicans vote
solidly against Lee.
Jackson and Bichy Active.
The boiling factions of the city dele
pwtes is led by Howard w. Jackson, for
n1er mayor, and Charles r. Bichy, chair
man of the city committee, and has been
openly antagonistic to Gov. Rltchle
since the mayoralty election in the
Spring of last year when the governor
forced the withdrawal of r, Walter Ora
ham, the candidate of the Jackson
Bichy faction, and nominated William
Curran for mayor.
At the election, 1t was openly charged
that the jackson -Bichy faction sent
word down the line to cut Curran." and
William F. Broening, the Republican
candidate, was elected by majority
of $1,000 despite registered Demo
cratic majority of nearly $4,000 voters.
The break in the parley last night
came when the Ritchie-Curra1l- Ennis
group attempted to indorse the re-
election of Lee as speaker of the House
Before the meeting 1t was indicated
that the delegates associated with the
Ritchie -Curran- Ennis faction would bt
willing to support Curtis, but they
changed their minds when 1t became
evident that their leaders were favor
able to Lee.
Agreement Is Opposed.
Jackson and Bichy advised theil
forces in the meeting not to agree or
Curtis, it was said, If the agreement bt
coupled with promise to enter thu
caucus of January /. They said it wa
reported such action would be only
gesture toward settlement of the diff
ferences with the opposing faction
and they preferred not to enter th'
caucus under such conditions. Bichl
opened the meeting but after he hat
presided q short time motion wa
offered and carried to confine th'
gathering to members Of the House o.
Delegates.
Bichy then named Alfred E. Sharp
one of the city delegates, as presidini
oficer and Withdrew from the meeting
A few minutes later the entire jackson
Bichy forces bolted. No candidate, l
is said. has been suggested by the bolt
ers, but they announced they favored
/ city man for speaker.