The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-07

In forcing a vote on Arizona State
hood in the closing hour of the late ses-
sion of Congress, Senator Owen, of Ok
lahoma, is acknowledged to have pulled
aside the scant covering of an issue which
is to give the Democratic party a world
of trouble during the sixteen months i'm
teTvenfng between now and its national
convention, and it is to eliminate in tina,
gathering
It is not denied by the leaders that the
principle Of the initiative, referendum, and
recall, which was wrapped in the Arizo-
ma case, is to rack the Democratic party
severely before its adoption or rejection
is settled. Senator Bailey, of Texas, who
figured so sensationally in the Owen epf-
sode, has declared himself In for a finish
fight against the so-caIled popular gov
eminent principles, providing his col
leagues in sufficient number stand by the
guns with him, as they gave evidence
they would do when they urged him to
cancel his resignation from the Senate.
If they do not. according to Senator
Bailey himself, he will again file his res
ignation and make it stick.
Senator Bailey said yesterday that he
had no desire to become the leader OF
lilt IutlOIllNr ana lIdI ne WOulO refuse
the position if it were offered to him. He
intimated that the main reason for his
stay in the Senate at all was to fight,
and fight vigorously, the encroachmenV
of ''populistic theories as he termed
them in his telegram to Gov. Colquftt.
If majority OF his Democratic colleagues
would join him, well and good If they
see fit to advocate a form Of govern
ment which Mr.. Bailey says was never
inf cd nv h.
go their way. and he would retire from
the Senate to practice law.
Will Fight in National Convention.
II have consistently fought these va
carries from the beginning OF my political
career said Senator Bailey. 81 believe
them absolutely unsafe and unworthy of
a republican form of government, and 1
intend to keep up the contest 1 be-
lieve. with tho understanding that now
have. that We can defeat the adoption of
the Arizona constitution as it stands.
That. however, will not be the end of
the conflict. 1 believe the issue will not
be squarely drawn until the next nation
al convention. and 1 am hopeful of con-
tnuing my public service until I can there
urge the Democratic party to declare
frankly and squarely the principles it pro-
Ocrats to come into the open and an
nounce just where they stand, for the
issue is drawn"
1t has developed that in the many stir
ring features surrounding the Bailey
f1are-Up on Saturday enough Democratic
Senators lined up on his side, even after
registering their votes in favor Of all the
principles contained in the Arizona consti-
tuition, to produce the result for which
the Texas Senator had been contending.
A majority of his colleagues, he says,
will give him heart to continue the bat
tie. In yielding to the entreaties of his
feliow-Senators that he should remain a
member of the Senate, Mr.. Bailey has in
effect signed them UP hard and fast in a
pact to stamp out of the party principles
which he, in bitter terms, asserts to be a
cult bordering on socialism. He apparent
ly considers that the nucleus of a work
ing majority has been gained
Divided Into Two Factions,
Senator Bailey believes he can now
count upon a reasonable number of con-
sentative Democrats, and that the radi-
Gals, headed by Senator Owen and Sen
ator Chamberlain. both haiIing from pop
ular government States, will be left to
head the faction which will unite with
the Republican insurgents in voting for
the ratification of the new constitution
Tho next appearance of the Arizona con-
stituuOn, therefore, will mark a parting
of the ways on the Democratic side of
the chamber which will not be brought to-
gether until the next national platform
of the Democrats in national convention
assembled declared what shall be the ac-
cepted doctrine of the party.
1t is understood that Senator Bailey es-
Inmates following of between twenty
five and thirty Democrats of the Senate,
as it will be organized after April T.
which can be counted upon to withstand
the growing sentiment in favor of the in
itiative and referendum principle. In
Epite OF the fact that at least four pro-
gressives are to displace Republican stall