Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-05-08
HOT AFTER BAILEY.
ONLY $4,000 MAJORITY IN TEXAS PR
LINGS WITH STAND
ARD OIL URGED AGAINST
SENATOR.

SENATOR.
Fort Worth, Tex, May with re-
turns from all the 800 counties complet-
ed Senator Joseph w. Bailey has won
out in the primaries by majority of
nearly 25,OOO, one-fourth of what he
claimed would be given. The result of
this primary will send him to the
Denver convention as one of the four
delegates-at-large, where they will, ac-
cording to promise, vote for Bryan
until he is nominated for the Presi-
dency, unless he withdraws from the
race, which is thought unlikely here.
For a time it appeared as if MI
Bailey would be defeated in Saturdays
primaries, as the rival set of delegates,
headed by Cone johnson, lawyer,
won in nearly so counties. If the vote
had resulted adversely Bailey it would
have amounted to Retaliation Of the
Senator because of his admitted deal
ings with the Standard Oil Company,
the Waters-Pierce Oil Company, David
R. Francis and H. Clay Pierce. In all
his speeches in the bitter campaign
just closed in Texas the Senator did
not deny his connections with these
corporations and magnates, but declar-
ed he merely borrowed sums of money
from Pierce, which he paid back, and
that he gave the Standard an option,
for which he received $25, 900, declaring
he did the work as private individual.
| The opposition, in whose ranks are
many prominent Texas Democrats,
used as their slogan the weil-known
editorial utterance of w. J. Bryan.
'No man intrusted with public office
can accept employment or money from
corporation"
1t was pointed out that Bailey, in
1896, opposed Bryan, saying he was a
Populist. AS it was, Bailey charged
Cone johnson with taking the same
stand, and johnson said he did so act
ing upon Bailey's advice. Bailey in
several speeches called johnson liar.
Had Bailey declared himself in the
least opposed to the Nebraskan his re-
lection would have been certain, as the
State is solid for Bryan and will give
him its entire vote in the national con-
vention. The State convention will be
held May "a, when the Nebraskan is
certain of Endorsement. Political leaders
here agree it is distasteful to Bailey to
maintain his seat in the Senate only by
swearing allegiance to Bryan, as Bailey
himself was ambitious of getting the
Democratic nomination for the Presi-
dency in 1896, 1900 and 1904, with
Bryan standing in his way.
One of the remarkable features in the
election Saturday was the pledge every
voter was forced ia take. Before being
handed ballot each was required to
take oath he was a Democrat-not a
Republican, not Populist and not a
Socialist-and had always supported
Democratic nominees; from constable
to President. This pledge helped Bailey
to his victory, and anti-Baiieyites are
severe in their denunciation of it.
Bailey at his home in Gainesville TO-
nights reported as saying he will not
rest until he buries politically the
leaders of the warfare against him,
while the opposition forces say they
are encouraged by the great vote they
have polled, and have just begun the
fight.
One thing is certain, the fight against
Senator Bailey will continue unabat-
ed, and the Senator will be forced to
take the lead. He declares he will not
resign, even if defeated by popular
WISH as his term does not expire for
five years.
1t was noticeable in the primaries
that Northern Texas except the city of
Dallas, was strong for Bailey, while
Eastern Texas and Southern Texas
were against him. Dallas, the largest
city in Texas, gave the johnson ticket
a majority of nearly 5000. Fort Worth
went pro-Bailey. 1t is here Bailey's
chief organ, the Record, champions his
cause. Bailey owns most of the stock
in this publication. In the present
controversy neither Senator G. A.
Culberson nor Governor Campbell ex-
pressed himself.