The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-29
JOE. BAILEY OR TEXAS.
Personality of Brainy Giant Fa-
nous as a Constitutional Lawyer.
Gifted and Forceful Orator Who
Carries His Audience by Storm
How He Got His Start in Life.

Lincoln Steffens in one of his peri
odic hunts for civic virtue went to
Washington. Why he should have
expected to find this pearl without
price in Washington no one knows.
Possibly he did not, but was lookin.
for its opposite. AT any rate he
joumeyed thithcr and while OH the
ground concluded that he would find
out who is the ablcst man in con-
gress. He may have taken up this
subject because of his failure to To-
cate civic righteousness. He was cer-
tain to find people with opinions as
to the ability Of the various solons,
and it is not so sure that he would
have succeeded in locating anybody
with ideas OH the other question. If
he had mentioned civic virtue to them
maybe the Washingtonians would not
have known what he was talking
about.
1t is not related that Steffens con-
cluded it as hopeless task to dis
cover intellectual astuteness in con-
gress as to rake out his particular
kind Of Righteousness in the rest of
the capital city. Possibly this was
due to his lack Of familiarity with
congress. However that may be. he
made the effort.
"Ablest Man in Congress.
Being acquainted with certain
members of the press gallery and
knowing them to be men who have
eyes to see and who use them for that
purpose. Mr. Steffens asked the first
member of the press gallery he met
as to whom he considered the ablest
man in congress.
"Bailcy of Texas" answered the
Scribe.
When Stcffcns expressed surprise
and incrcdulity the newspaper man
proposed that they put the question
! to the next ten members of the press
gallery they met. The result was
that every one gave the same answer.
The last of the ten was reporter
from BoStnn. and that settled it.
! When a Boston man admits that any
thing good can come out of Texas
that particular Texas product must
be very good indeed.
There is no evidence that Steffens
went to Bailey on the subject Of civic
virtue. If he had done so the Texas
senator would doubtless have agreed
that civic virtue is all right, provided
it is in strict accordance with the
constitution. If it is unconstitution-
nj he would have nothing to do with
it.
Bailey is strong OH the constitu-
tion. He is admitted to be the great
est constitutional lawyer in the sem
ate. Even Spooner would admit 1t
since Bailey got through with him.
The senator from Texas is also
very must of democrat, with a big
"D' and with little "d.' We all
know what Shakespeare said about
greatness. that "somc are born
great, some achieve greatness and
some have greatness thrust upon
thcm.' Well, Bailey got his demo-
cracy in all three ways. He was a
Democrat, he achieved democracy,
and he had democracy thrust upon
him. In native parlance, "he jest
couldn't escape it nohow.'
His Start in Life.
Two stories are told Of the manner
in which Bailey got his start that are
worth repeating. After he had set
tied in Texas he was made dele
gate to q congressional convention.
He walked to the place of meeting
and Oh the way came up with farm
er, who asked the young man to get
in and ride. Falling into conversa-
ton. Bailey found that the farmer
was also going to the convention.
Ever hear Of young lawyer
named Bailey round here7' asked the
budding statesman.
"Nope,' said the farmer.
"Good speaker and bright fellow,
| underestimate suggested Bailey.
"S pose so," said the farmer.
"Ics,' continued Bailey, "and
he will be over there today, and I
tell you what we'll do. Wen call on
him to make speech. You see all
your friends, tell them about Bailey,
and We'll call on him."
The farmer said all right. No