Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-18
ESTRANGEMENT BETWEEN BRYAN
AND SENATE CAUSED BY MARTIN

tered the senate on March 4, 1896. and
each has 10 years OF continuous service to
his credit. IT Is true that neither Sena-
tors Culberson nor Money were the senior
members OF the minority when they were
chosen for the chairmanship, but In both
instances the three senators who out
ranked them-Messrs. Bacon, Martin and
Tillman-declined to serve.
When the SD congress met and 1t de-
volved upon the minority to elect new
caucus chairman, because of the retire
ment of Senator Money, of Mississippi,
Senator Bacon, Of Georgia, was suggest
ed, and would have been elected had he
consented to accept the place. When Mr..
Bacon declined to serve, the older Demo-
Gratis Of the senate next turned to Mar
tin, and his election was assured. He
would have been chosen without opposi-
ton except for Mr.. Bryan the peerless
troublemaker.
Mr. Bryan came to Washington on the
eve of the assembling of congress to pa
rade himself before the populace and
share in its plaudits of the triumphant
democracy. He Immediately interested
himself in the organization of the senate.
and he had some hard shedding, as re-
suit He concluded that Senator Martin
was not progressive enough to become
chairman Of the Democratic caucus-to
assume the leadership of the minority. he
and others plead, in their evident ignor-
ance of the duties of the caucus chair
man.
PERCY AND BRYAN.
Mr. BRYAN attended a little meeting at
when Senator Percy, of Mississippi. and
others were present. Percy was undecid-
ed as to how he would vote. Bryan was
insistent that he should oppose Martin.
Finally Percy declared that he had been
on the fence about his position, but since
Bryan had become so active in organizing
body of which he was not member he
had decided to vote for Martin.
''pll make you walk the plank down in
Mississippi If you do" Bryan is said to
have stated.
well, Mr.. Bryan, you may go to the
devil retorted Percy, and he voted for
Martin.
Bryan had a run-in with Senator
Clarke, of Arkansas. Clarke Informed
the Nebraskan that the Democratic mem
bers of the senate could organize the
senate without assistance from the out
side
yes. but 1 don't want it organized
improperly by the election of Martin. "
said Bryan.
MIR. Bryan. you can go TO hi" re-
sponded the Arkansan and Mr.. Bryan
beat hasty retreat. declaring that he
did not know he was in Martin meet
ing.
Senator Martin will probably discharge
the duties of the caucus Craftsmanship
satisfactorily to all parties concerned.
There is little to do. as stated. except to
call and preside at conferences. He has
already named his steering committee,
and has been criticised. of course.
MARTIN NEVER A LEADER.
Senator Martin has never been leader
in the senate, and he never will be. He
Is not constituted that way. In his 16
years service he has not made half a
dozen speeches Is minutes in length. He
rarely talks. and he is no orator. He has
always ben regarded as a reactionary'
or ultra conservative senator. with de-
cided views on a revenue tariiI. He is
supposed to be friendly with the corpora
tons, ad is regarded in Virginia ma
chine politician-a boss. He is pleasant.
agreeable and obliging. but has never
done anything in the senate for his party
that would entitle him to especial pref
erment, or distinguish him as leader
The new steering committee, as consti-
tuted by Mr.. Martin, consists of nine
members, four of them hold-overs and
Eve new members OF the five new mem
bers, three of them are entirely new to
the senate. The steering committee con
sists of Martin, chairman; Culberson, of
Texas; Clarke, of Arkansas; Simmons, of
North Carolina; Bankhead, of Alabama
Fletcher. of Florida: Williams, of Missis-
sippi Kern. of Indiana. and Hitchcock, of
Nebraska.
williams, Kern and Hitchcock have Just
entered the senate.
The steering committee steers nothing.
1t is a committee on committees, nothing
more. nothing less. Senator Bacon served
on the committee for IL years and retired
voluntarily, because the work involved a
lot of drudgery and unpleasant duties.