The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-07-23
SEE JOHNSON =.
ASLEADINC IN.
n. CANPA
Has Edge, Some Consider
in Campaign for the /,
Speakership j,
Bv J. CT BAsKERVlLLn nre.,
The Times-NGws Bure""
Sir Walter Hotter

RALEIGH, July 2S.-Although
there seem to be some strange
goings-on in connection with che
contest already under way 1or
the speakership of the 1859
house most observers here who
have been following the contest
90 far are convinced that Robert
Grady johnson Of Fender. already
Is ont in the lead and likely TO
be the next speaker. altnougi'
! aurie McEachern of Hoke, coun-
tv has also been making some
nretty good progress. Then there
IS Willie Lee Lumpkin of Frank
lin. who is also a candidate Tor
speaker and who is credited with
having the support of the Doug
lass brothers here in Wake coun-
tV. one of whom will be a mem
her of the 1895 house and the
other of the Third House
There are also some very definite
indications, that Reginald l.. Har-
ris of Roxboro, Person, county
who was speaker again. For while
lis not vet, an avowed candidate,
there are indications that both
he and his friends are keeping
their ears very close to, the
ground in the. hope of hearing
favorable rumblings: ,..
FOR a while observers here
were unable to explain rather Der
sistent reports to the effect that
iLumpkin was making , unusual
progress in his campaign and
making a much better impression
upon newly-nominated members
Of the house than either Johnson
or McEachern. These reports
were to the effect that when
Lumpkin breezed into the office,
store of what-have-you of a new
ly-nominated house member that
his pleasant smile and beaming
personality instantly made an ex-
cellent impression. As . result
some thought Lumpkin might give
much more trouble than had been
expected. For despite Lumpkin's
long experience in the house, the
fact that he had consistently been
identified with the more radical
element in the house, including
the Bowie economy at any
price" bloc, apparently makes it
certain that he cannot be elected
speaker. most political observers
here agree. SO many were at a
loss to understand or explain the
recent boom in Lumpkin stock.
| There has evidently been some
method on the part OF those who
have been making it appear that
Lumpkin was gaining more
strength than he really seems to
have, according to some of the
more astute political sleuths here.
They maintain that those who
have been blowing Lumpkin's
horn so Justify are really much
more interested in seeing Harris
reelected speaker than in seeing
Lumpkin get the post, but that
their strategy has been to boost
Lumpkin in an effort to discour-
age the hackers of both Johnson
and McEachern, evidently in the
hope of bringing about dead
lock between the three, in which
event they could bring Harris out
as the clark horse" and emerg-
ency man and have good chance
! of re-electing him speaker,
I There has also been some talk
to the effect that R. Gregg Cher
ry of Gastonia, or Tam C. Bowie
of Ashe, or both. might be can
didates for speaker. But most
observers here believe that this
talk is nothing more than a ma
neuver on the part of the friends
of these two members to secura
/ important committee chairman
ships for them. There is little
doubt that each would like to be
chairman of the powerful house
committee on finance. Some also
think that the activity on the
| part. of Harris friends suggest
ing him for the speakership again
!. has as its principal objective the
naming of Harris as chairman of
the house committee on finance.
He was chairman Of the house
appropriations committee in the
1881 session and if he should he
named chairman Of the house fl
nance committee in the 1885 ses-.
sion, he would probably be the
only man who had held the three
highest offices in the house.
namely. speaker and chairman of
both the appropriations and fl
nance committees.
Opinion in most political cir
cles here is to the effect that
Harris will not be a candidate
for speaker unless deadlock
does develop between johnson,
McEachern and Lumpkin and
any other candidates that may
get into the race before the leg
islature convenes in January. A
good many also think that if he
does not become a candidate most
of his friends and supporters will
back McEachern for speaker in
the hope that he will appoint
Harris chairman of the finance
committee. If Johnson is elected
speaker, some think there is
possibility that he will appoint
Cherry chairman of the finance
committee or at least chairman
OF the appropriations committee.
At any rate, it is agreed that