by Brandon Woolum
Huntington News Network Writer
![[image]](http://www.huntingtonnews.net/pictures/Generic/100yrs01.jpg)
Huntington (HNN) — Charleston - That there is a serious disaffection in the Republican ranks is not denied by the party leaders. A large strong minority of the members of both houses of the legislature object to the dictation of the White-Dawson machine, as was voiced in the recent Republican caucus by Delegate Kittie, of Barbour County when he declared that he obeyed the crack of no man's whip, and that he wore his sovereignty under his hat.The exact extent of the disaffection, and its effect upon legislation, it is yet impossible to determine, but there is a strenuous task before the machine in driving its measures through the legislature.
About the sorest man in Charleston is the Hon. Thomas Parks Fleming, delegate from Marion. Mr. Fleming is sore because he was not appointed chairman of the house committee on railroads, the only position he especially wanted and one for which he was an out-and-out candidate. Instead of getting that appointment, Haymond Maxwell, "the baby of the house," a twenty-one year old lawyer from Clarksburg was given the chairmanship and Mr. Fleming had to content himself with a place on the tail end of that highly important committee. He is now trying to ascertain who it was put the blocks to him and has about concluded that it was the state administration. Mr. Fleming is a capitalist, a man of extensive business affairs and seemed best suited of anybody in the house for either the chairmanship of the finance or railroad committee. But he received neither.
Mr. Fleming says the mistake that he made was not borrowing a set of false whiskers and disguise himself as a hayseed. If he had done that and talked like an anarchist he says he believes that he would have got most anything he wanted. Mr. Fleming is really very angry over the treatment accorded him and when he first learned of the humiliation heaped upon him he said rather vigorously that he'd be 666 if he didn't resign and go home. However he is still there.
A general court martial has been ordered to meet in this city on Thursday, Jan. 24 to try such cases as may come before it. The detail for the court is as follow: Major Lestor Ridenour, Capt. B. L. Perry, Earl H. Smith, O. A. Price, Major W. G. Peterkin of Parkersburg, Judge advocate.
In the Senate a most important bill is that of Senator Cole giving police regulations to the production, us and transportation of natural gas within the state.
Senator Cole's bill seeks to prohibit the exportation of this precious fuel and to prevent its waste. By its provisions the use of pressure pumps for piping gas great distances is forbidden. Other than natural pressure of wells, 300 pounds to the square inch pipe.
Use of flambeaux is prohibited and gas can not be burned during the day.
— The district meeting of the Knights of Pythias, for the Sixth district, is in session this afternoon at the Hall of Syracuse lodge on Twentieth Street. The meeting began at two o'clock this afternoon, and quite a great deal of interest is manifested.
The meeting is for the purpose of conferring the grand lodge degree upon a number of candidates, and for the discussion of matters that will come up at the meeting of the grand lodge of the state in Martinsburg in next October.
One of the most important measures that will be discussed will be the location of the proposed Pythian home, which has been agitated for some time past. Quite a number of cities are after this home, including Huntington, Charleston, and a warm contest will be had at the Martinsburg meeting on this question.
At the meeting this afternoon steps will be taken to secure the location of the home somewhere in this section of the state.
Lexington — Within half an hour a Negro attempted an assault upon two women in their homes before daylight this morning, leaving two victims who may die as the result of injuries sustained.
The first victim was Mrs. Jones whose husband had just left to go to his train. She was beaten into insensibility and may die.
The next assault was attempted at the home of C. A. Wagner, a carpenter, five squares away from the scene of the first attempt. Wagner was at home, and in defending his wife from the assault of the Negro, he was shot by the fiend. He is in a serious condition. The Negro is still at liberty. Bloodhounds have been sent for.