Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-07
DEFEAT OF JONES
SENDS SHUDDER
To MANY
SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN
ARE TERRIFIED TO SEE THE
"oLD TIMERS" SWIFT
LY RETIRED.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-The result of
the recent primary in Arkansas, whereby
Il appears that Senator Jones. Representa-
tives McRae, Dinsmore and MCCULLOUGH
are relocated to private life, perhaps in
terests Washington more than any other
part Of the country outside Of Arkansas.
The wholesale defeat Of these long term
congressman, IL may be said in passing,
has thrown a large sized fright into many
a staunch congressional breast that has
heaved for years in fancied security.
All the Arkansas men who appear to be
retired are personally popular In Wash
ington and their retirement is greatly re-
GREETED in all official and social circles
here. But that is not the real reason that
is interesting the capital in the case OF
these Democrats.
why did Arkansas turn them down for
other Democrats?
This question is the basis Of frequent
cloak room debates and street car confer
ences. II is recognized that local issues
encompassed their defeat, but from the
Washington viewpoint there is no local IS
ues so paramount that they should out
weigh what Washington is pleased to term
the length OF service power" attained by
the men defeated.
They argue it this way. Senator Jones
and the representatives who go out with
him have been in congress for so many
years they have attained leadership on
important committees. Now, the new men
elected to take their places will have to
serve from eight to ten years 70 attain
anything like the power held by the men
who go back to private life. The state
of Arkansas. they declare here, has lit
orally given away her eminence and in
fiuence IN congress. She will send novices
in the places of experienced, well educated
and high ranking congressman.
To give an example of the material loss
the state Of Arkansas sustains by the
change, IL is pointed out that Representa-
tive Mccullough, who Is to be retired, Is
the second IN rank among the Democrats
on the rivers and harbOrs committee. The
state OF Arkansas Is as deeply interested
IN the development of her rivers for COM
merciaf purposes as any other project IN
her boundaries. Mccullough had iniu-
ence in that committee. II the house goes
Democratic next year he would have been
the most influential member on the COM
mittee, * not the chairman. But he is to
stay at home and in his place comes a
man. though he be the most capable in
Arkansas, who must take a minor place
on an unimportant committee in which his
state is not interested in the least.
SO I'm the case Of McRae. who stands
second in rank among the Democrats on
the appropriations committee, the most
important. perhaps. in congress. Dinsmore
is the ranking Democrat on the foreign
affairs committee. Terry. who was de-
feated for the last congress. was the rank
ing Democrat on the judiciary commit
tee.
As for Senator Jones, he was the senior
Democrat on the senate finance commit
tee. one of the most important places in
congress. Along with the others he must
give way 20 one who can only attain his
power after years Of service.
Therefore IT Is small wonder all Wash
ington IS asking why Arkansas turned
down these long service men for novices.
OF course, when members Of congress
argue along this line they are Indirectly
arguing Tor their own benefit, too; at
least those are who have the service to
their credit that the Arkansas men have.
But even to laymen It is not exactly
clear why a state turns out by ballot a
set OF men of unquestioned integrity and
ability, after they have attained eminent
positions OF influence and after they have
worked up to point where they can be
Of real benefit to their constituency.
The voter, according to the congression-
al measurement. is a queer bird. He will
have his own way and there is no telling
where that way viii lead.