Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-07
BAILEY W|THDRAWs
HIS RESIGNATION
Texas Senator, Urged by the
Governor of Texas, Stays
in u. S. Senate

WASHINGTON, March 4.-Senator
Joseph W. Bailey added to the excite
ment and to the extraordinary episodes
surrounding the adjournment Of the 6lst
congress today by resigning his office
as senator from the state of Texas, and a
few hours later withdrawing his resig-
nation.
Angered by the attitude of his Demo-
cratic colleagues in favoring the resolu-
ton approving the new constitution of
Arizona, to whose radical features Mr..
Bailey has declared his undying OPPOSE
ton, he wrote his resignation and took it
to theNvice president with the request
that he announce it to the senate Mr..
Sherman declined to have anything to do
with it Senator Bacon, importuned in
like manner to announce, took a similar
position. Thereupon the Texan tele-
graphed it to Gov. o. B. Colquitt, of
Texas, who promptly refused to accept
it, replying as follows:
Il decline to accept your resignation
as a senator from Texas and respectfully
ask you to withdraw it. Please wire
fully"
Meanwhile, the resignation was a sub
ject of excited discussion about the capt.
toll. many of Mr.. Baileys Democratic
colleagues expressing surprise at his ac-
ton, and those who talked with him
urged him to reconsider his action. Not
a few prophesied that he would think
differently of his decision after he cools
off" and would withdraw the resigna-
ton.
wITHDRAWS RESIGNATION.
He did withdraw 1t and this evening
made public the telegram sent by him
to Governor Colquitt:
"You know how unaIterably I am OPP
posed to those populistic heresies, known
as the initiative, referendum and recall
and / would not be willing to remain in
the senate or in any branch of the pub
lie service If majority of the party
friends associated with me were willing
to give their approval of them
81 construed the vote of the Demo-
cratic senators in the senate this morn
ing on the resolution approving the con-
stitution of Arizona as giving their sup
port to these vagaries and under that
impression I promptly rendered my res
ignation. The ablest and most conspicu-
Gus Democrats who voted that way have
given me their assurance that they did
not intend their votes to be so construed
and have made, through Senator Bacon,
a statement in the open senate declaring
that they utterly disapprove them.
Under these circumstances and at
their earnest request as well as your own
request, supplemented by many messages
from my friends in Texas and some from
other states, have concluded to with
draw my resignation. I am willing to
work to the limit of my strength as long
as can serve the public and at the same
time obey what / understand to be the
commandment of Democratic principles,
but no Office could tempt me for one mo-
ment to compromise with a policy which
1 am certain would in the end destroy
the government established by our ia
TIERS"
"ABLEST IN SENATE"
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, be-
fore he heard that Mr.. Bailey had with
drawn his resignation, issued a state
ment in which he expressed profound re-
gret at the Texans action, character
izing 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
without exception, 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 plotting against his assum-
ing leadership. The senator had played
into their hands by his action, Mr.. Till
man said
Il knew Bailey was mad said an
other senator, but 1 never thought he
would use his rage as a Ratchet to split
open his own head"
Eleven of the Democratic senators sent
to Governor Colquitt the following tele-
49, --------