The Washington times., 1909-07-05
BAILEY IS INVOLVED
IN TEXAS CAMP AIGN
Senator's Arch-Opponent Is
Candidate for Governor
of State.
SEAT IN CONGRESS
MAY CHANGE HANDS
1t Attorney General Davidson Wins
Election He Probably Will
Aspire 10 Senate.

Stormy times are ahead ia Texas over
the Democratic nomination for govern
or, according to gossip among the
Texas contingent in Washington
The Lone S-ar State is used &c stormy
and strenuous politics, but it is pre-
dtcted the next year viii be one of I'M
usual animation. # things pass OF
peacefully and there are no gunplays
and other distressing results, It VIII be
a cause for congra tulation all around.
For there Is no doubt that the situation
looks ugly and there are some symptoms
OF a high rate OF mortality before the
contest is over.
1t will be year before a governor is
nominated. but the fight Is already on
Here IN Washington. the contest IS
chiefly Of interest because 90 It's bear
ing on the political fortunes OF Senator
Joseph W Bailey. who has taken the
lead Of the Senate Democrats in the
consideration OF the tariff bill
The prohibition issue and Senator
Bailey. it is said, viii be the issues of
the campaign. Either issue is sufficient
TO bring about a lively campaign IN
Texas.
Davidson a Candidate.
The fact that Attorney General Robert
Y. Davidson is TO be one of the candi-
dates for governor is sufficient evidence
as 10 whether the Bailey and anti
Bailey issue viii be introduced. David
son has earned the enmity of the
Bailey faction. He is the man who was
chiefly responsible for stirring up the
fight against Bailey in connection with
the Waters-Pierce Oil Company and its
readTnission 70 Texas. He finally drove
the company out of the State
For what he did efforts were made to
wipe him out OF political existence. but
ne ran Tor a third term as attorney
general contrary to precedent, and aft
ter a hot campaign, won out in the
primaries and was reelected. This
fight, in which Davidson won and in
which he was reelected, was one of the
bitterest since the admission Of Texas.
But II Is generally conceded that the
struggle did not approach the bitter
ness OF the campaign which is begin
ming now over the goyernorship.
Would Mean Much.
Should Davidson win the governor
ship, this will mean that his political
fortunes are in the asceudent. and that
he may come to the Senate. Presum-
ably he would not seek TO succeed GU
berson, whose term ends in March, 1911,
but would seek to Dust Bailey from the
The contest. therefore, Is of much mo
ment to Senator Bailey It is generally
expected that he wiz take the stump,
though some OF his friends say they 90
not expect him 70 do so.
Davidson viii have a number OF op-
pOnents as candidates for the Demo-
cratic nomination for governor. one Of
them viii be Governor Campbell, who
seeks a re-election.
Texans say that the campaign now
beginning viii be the most noteworthy
since the times of sam Houston and the
days before the civil war Davidson
is a fighter and no battle in which he
is engaged is likely to be calm, peace
fui, and ladylike. He is a nephew of
the noted "Zeb' Vance. of North caro-
lima, once United States Senator, and
parsonage who fought his way 20 re-
nown not only in his own State but
elsewhere.
Complexities Matters.
To comDlcate matters. there is the
prohibition issue. Prohibition apparent
~ is gaining ground in Texas. AT least.
Il is live issue and the supporters of.
il are battling hard 20 bring about
Statewide prohibition.
By a narrow margin, a plank Tor a
vote on Stf-Ce-wide prohibition was de-
feated in the last Democratic State
Convention. but this has not discouraged
that wing Of the Democratic party
which IS for the punishment of the
rum power and II is said the pro-
h5bitiOn Democrats win either control
the next State convention or split the
Democrats party.
The accomplishment OF prohibition ia
an empire like Texas would be hailed
by the temperance forces the country
over as a long step forward toward
driving liquor out Of the entire United
States.