The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-03-08
SENATOR BAILEY'S SENSATION.
designation AstOundS ColIcaaucs-
Prevailed Upon TO Withdraw.

Y |
episodes surrounding the adjourn
ment Of Congress today, by resignrg
his Office as Senator from the State If
Texas.
Angered by the attitude Of his Dem
ocratic colleagues. in favoring the
resolution approving the new Consti-
tuition OF Arizona, to which Mr.
Bailey has declared his undying op-
position, he wrote his resignation and
took 1t to the Vice President, with
the request that he announce it TO
the Senatt. Mr.. Sherman declined TO
have anything to do with il: Senator
Bacon, lmportuned in like manner
TO announce it, took a similar position.
Thereupon, the Texan telegraphed it
to Governor o. B. Colquitt, of Texas.
who promptly refused to accept it.
replying as follows:
decline to accept your resigna-
ton as Senator from Texas, and re-
spectfully ask you to withdraw it.
Please wire fully"
Meanwhile, the resignation was the
subject of excited discussion. Many
OF Mr.. Bailey's Democratic colleagues
expressed regret at his action and
urged him to reconsider his action.
Not few stated that he would think
better Of his decision "after he cools
Off, and would withdraw his resig-
nation.
you know how unalterably 1 am
opposed to these Populistic heresies.
known as the iniative referendum and
recall" said the Senator, "and l
would not be willing to remain in
the same or any other branch of pub
lie service, If 4 majority Of the party
friends associated with me were will
ling to give their approval to them.
Il construed the vote of the Demo-
cratic Senators in the Senate this
morning, on the resolution approx
ing the Constitution Of Arizona. as
giving their support to those vagaries,
and under that impression / promptly
rendered my resignation. The ablest
and most conspicuous Democrats
who voted that way have given me
their assurance that they Gid not in
tend their votes to be so construed
and have made, through Senator Ba-
con, statement N the open Senate,
expressly declaring that they utterly
disapproved them.
Under these circumstances and at
their earnest request, as we'll as at
your own request, supplemented by
many messages from my friends in
Texas and some from other States, l
have concluded to withdraw nv
resignation. 1 am willing to work to
the limit Of my strength, so long as
| can serve the public and at the same
| time obey what I understand to be
| the commandment of Democratic
principles, but no Office could tempt
me to assist in n policy that I think
would help to destroy the Govern
ment established by our fathers"
Senator Tillman, Of South Carolina,
before he heard that Mr.. Bailey had
Withdrawn his resignation, issued a
| statement in which he expressed pro-
found regret at the Texans action,
| characterizing it as "precipitate and
unwise. the result Of passion, which
he will regret as soon as he cools
| off" He declared Mr.. Bailey "the
ablest man in the Senate, and one of
the best equipped men in public
life" and that he had known for
years that there was a coterie in the
Senate envious of Mr.. Bailey and plot
ting against his assuming leadership.
THE Senator has played into their
hands by his action" he continued.
Il knew Bailey was mad" said an
other Senator, "but 1 never thought
he would use his rage as a hatchet to
split open his own head"
Eleven of the Democratic Senators
sent to Governor Colquitt the follow
ing:
1--WE, Democratic Senators, speak
ing for ourselves regard the proposed
resignation of Senator Bailey as a
national calamity, and we urge upon
the people Of Texas to demand that
he withdraw the same, and that he
continue to serve in the Senate, in
which he is the undisputed and most
conspicuous leader"
This telegram was signed by Sem
ators Bacon, Foster, Overman, Tallia-
ferro Paynter, Bankhead, Percy.
Johnston, Taylor, Watson and Fletch-
er.
While Senator Bailey predicated his
resignation uDOp Notoc t,,o