The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-18
|BAILEY RET|RES
| FROM L|MfL|GHT
Democratic Party Has Dis,
owned Texan-Has Had
Spectacular Career,
aY JONATHAN WINFIELD.

WASHINGTON, Sept. Ex-senator
Joseph w. Bailey, OF Texas, has for
the second and positively the last
time, SO he says, given notice OF his
retirement as Senator OF the United
States from the great State of Texas.
Should Bailey really mean what he
said, that he will decline to run again
for Senator. his declination will have
considerable effect on the national
Democratic campaign to be waged this
fall. ....
The cause of Bailey's desire to drop
out of National politics is not specif-
cally known, but many accusations
have been made against the Texan
that created tremendous opposition to
him in his home State. Stories that
gained widespread circulation several
years ago, when ne made a statewide
! campaign for denomination and reel
ection. blackened his political record
to such an extent that he hardly
weathered the storm. Charges were
made that he was closely identified
with the Waters-Pierce Oil Company
subsidiary concern of the Standard
Oil Company, and that he was instru-
mental in getting" the Standard a
| foothold in Texas. The fight against
Bailey was taken up nationally, and
| the cry was raised to throw him out"
of the Democratic party. He survived
the fight at that time, but the mutiny
in his party organization assumed
such proportions that it is an open
In he ho hn "a
come out successfully should be
stand for reelection.
Bailey created sensation at the
close of the last regular session, when
it was dramatically announced by
| Vice-President Sherman that Bailey
had handed in his resignation. The
announcement was hailed with joy by
the Texans enemies. but afterwards
the Senator withdrew his announce
ment. That was the first time. During
the past extraordinary session, Bailey
really resigned from the National
Monetary Committee. Not many days
ago the Texan again declared that he
would not be a candidate for re-elec-
ton to the Senate and from the facts
surrounding this announcement it
looks like he means it.
1t was generally understood among
the Texans in Congress that Bailey
would throw his influence in the di-
rection of bringing about the nomina-
ton of a conservative Democrat for
the Presidency, possibly Judson Har-
mon. With Bailey out of the running
for the senate. and his influence in
politics in his own state and elsewhere
in the south reduced to nothing, there
is no doubt that efforts to get support
for progressive Democrats like Wood
row Wilson or Champ Clark, in the
South will be greatly aided. This ap-
plies with particular force to Texas,
where the Wilson forces are active
and where they are certain to be
strengthened by the retirement of
Bailey.
| In the Senate Bailey was once a
recognized leader, owing to this abili-
ty and his thorough knowledge of con-
nized officially as the minority floor
leader of the Senate, because Senator
Money of Mississippi had been select
ed in caucus. When Money retired
from the Senate. Senator Martin of
Virginia succeeded to the leadership.
This hurt Bailey's pride. as he sup
posed that he would succeed to the
leadership of the minority of the up
per branch. Secretly afterward, John
Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, came
to the Senate succeeding Senator Mon
ey. Mr.. Williams is an able parliament
tartan, lawyer of unquestioned abili-
/ y, and student. He crossed swords