The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-04
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OUTCOME The ACTION
.
Of the House in Refusing to Un-
seat Gen. Wheeler.
CAMPAIGN OF THE ALBANIAN
Will Now Be Pushed and He Expects to
Win Out.
BAILEY GIVES HIS REASONS
For Abandoning the Contest and De-
clares That He is Not Actuated
By Pique or Disappointment
Scores His Opponents.

Washington. March 3.-(Special.)-As an
outcome of the action of the house yester-
day in refusing to unseat Gen. Wheeler,
Mr.. Bailey has withdrawn from future con-
tests for the leadership of his party in the
house and has, in rising above the factional
differences of party welfare, cast his cloak
on Bankhead, whom the Texan would make
his political Elisha
The last two days have been exciting
ones. First, the unexpected decision on the
part of the house not to follow Mr.. Bailey
In the Wheeler matter, and the open at
tack of Mr. Bailey on Mr. Richardson on
the floor for favoring the hero of Santiago,
and, secondly, Baileys sudden determina-
ton not to attempt to lead his party again.
This will put the fight for the leadership
of the minority in the next congress be-
tween Mr.. Richardson and Mr.. Bankhead
was one of the first to learn of Mr..
Baney's quixotic move today. Not credit
ing it, / sought Mr.. Bailey. He said: II
am not saying this in fit of bad temper
or in pique, or for the reason that think
my opponents could defeat me, but after
deliberation 1 have made up my mind not
to be a candidate again for the leadership
of my party In congress, either when 1t is
In the minority or majority" Continuing,
he said: II presume you got this news
first from Bankhead, of Alabama?"
"I did," said.
Pledged support TO Bankhead
"I thought so. There was no reason why
he should not give 1t out. l called on him
l.. NNrA
for the minority nomination of the next
congress. 1 would not have this empty po-
sition l hold again, or accept the leadership
of my party when forty-odd of its members
decline to uphold the constitution after
they had sworn to do SO. 1t is the first time
the democrats have voted in such way.
"I know that it will be said that my re-
fusal to again aspire to lead my party in
the lower house of congress will be attrib-
uted to a fit of temper. have had twenty
four hours to think over it, and my mind
is made up irrevocably made up"
Mr.. Bailey gave to the house the follow
ing statement of his attitude:
IT want 1t distinctly understood that I
am not actuated by any feeling of pique or
personal disappointment; but am proceed
ing purely upon the idea that as large
number of democrats are unwilling to In
sist upon an obedience to a perfectly plain
provision OF the constitution, they ought
not to be made responsible for the leader
ship of q man who believes that the con-
stitution Is the supreme law of the land
and ought to be obeyed at all times and
By all men.
Would Raise the Question Again
+ha
and 1 will raise 1t as often as 1t presents
itself; but when raise 1t from my place
in the ranks of the party 1 must take the
responsibility, and others will not be COM
PEELED to share the responsibility with me.
l believe that the democrats who voted TO
allow these military appointees of the pres-
ident to retain their seats in congress
greatly mistake the sentiments of their
democratic constituents. 1t Is utterly inn
possible for me to believe that any man
In this country is more popular with the
democratic masses than the constitution, q
reference for which has been the chief
article of our faith. l regret the vote
almost beyond expression. because doubt
II with that precedent established any ap-
pointee of the president will ever again be
denied a right to sit In the house.
1 saw Mr.. Bankhead later. He corrobor-
ated what Bailey had said. and contnuedi
"When Mr.. Bailey told me he would not
stand for the leadership of his party in
congress again, and offered me his support,
I did not fully grasp his meaning. 1 to.4
him that he should not make up his mind
suddenly. He told me he had determined
that IL the democrats would not follow him
In this matter he would not try to lead
them again, but to fight to uphold the con-
stitution as an individual. I announced
my candidacy for the speakership some
time ago, and now make my candidacy
active
Wheeler Returns to His Seat
When General Wheeler came into the
house this morning he was warmly greeted.