The times., 1897-04-05
MIR. BAILEY Ar HOME.
Varying Opinions of His ConstitU-
ents as to the Man and His Dress.

-
ents as to- the Man and His Dress.
Gainesville, Texas, April 3.-There is
nothing new in Representa- tive Bailey's re-
fusaI to accept President McKinley's invi
tation to dinner because he would not
wear a dress suit. Bets have been offered
here and accepted III all seriousness that
Bailey would give way TO the demands Of
good breeding and official etiquette before
he had been long in Washington.
Subsequent to his first election TO Con-
gress, in 1890, Mr.. Bsiiley openly boosted,
when taunted by friends, that come what
might he would never wear dress suit
He declared that he had lived in three
university towns and had been welcome
guest in the best circles Of Southern society
without ever wearing clothes at once
''dudish' and ''menial," and that he would
not go back on his custom now that he
was to enter public life in Washington.
He has been watched closely by his friends
since his first election, but no wager has
thus far been lost by any person who bet
that he would not put on u swallow
tall
Many fMr. Pailey's constituents have
believed, however, that he would sig
naliZe his reception of the high honor of
leader OF his party in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes by casting aside his we'll
grounded prejudice against the wearing
of a dress suit. They were not prepared
for the shock which has been given them
by the young leaders refusal to attend
dinner given hy the President becaUseof his
inability to comply with a simple require
ment of the etiquette of good breeding.
Opinion differs here, as it las differed
ever since Mr.. Bailey became a citizen
of Texas, as TO whether his violation of the
prescribed rules of society s due to
demagogy ol pure eccentrictty.
He has firmer friends and more bitter
enemies in this, his home city, than ne has
elsewhere in this Congressional district
Politically, he is euIogiZed on the one
hand as second jefferson and on the
otheris denounced as an arrant demagogue-
1t is fair to say that all intelligent and
obs erving persons believe that socially
he poses for effect and courts the notoriety
which his habits of dress bring him.
Bailey came to Gainesville in 1885. He
had boundless political ambition, and
Iected this locality as Il good one TO grow
up with II was understood that he was
to be backed financially By rich relative
to be the case Mr. Bailey received welcome
assistance from his benefactOr for some
years and made rapid progress in his
political career. Within two years he be
came known as the young Dernosthenes
of the Texas Democracy aud in $50 he
was sent to Congress by a plurality OF
nearly %, 900 votes.
His wilful disregard Of the conventional
the estimation OF his constituents. Out
side Of the larger towns very few dress
suits are ever seen in the Fifth Con
gressional district of Texas, and it s
safe to predict that when il becomes gener-
ally known that BAILEY wouldn't get
inter dress suit ter 20 ter McKinley's
dinner" as one man expressed it, his
popularity in the district viii be increased.
There Is a heavy Populist vote outside of
the cities, and they Will be as proud OF
Bailey now as the Pops of the Medicine
Lodge district of Kansas are OF Jerry
Simpson, because of their belief that he
does not wear socks in Washington
During the almost dozen years Mr. Bailey
has lived in Gainesville hi dress has been
ever the same He has worn q long black
coat, with trousers and vest TO match, an
easy-sitting turnover collar, white lawn
tie, and o plated shirt, with expansive
bosom of immaculate whiteness, in which
are two small diamond studs His head has
always been crowned with black sIouch
hat, which he has taken care should be OF
the best grade OF wool. He has attended
social functions many times dressed as
described and the fact that evening clothes
were generally worn by the gentlemen
present has not seemed to disturb him at
all New York Herald