The Washington times., 1912-07-13
BA|LEYS FAREWELL
SCORES DISSERTATION
OF HIGHEST OFFICE
Senator Warns Colleagues
Against Cowardice in
Public Office.

Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey of
Texas. whose long years of public SET
vice are drawing to a close, and who Is
about to retire from the Senate, made
what was considered a farewell address
TO thirty OF his colleagues last night
at a banquet in the New willard In
honor of Senator Bradley of Kentucky.
The banquet was given by c. Lee
Cook, of Louisville, a lifelong friend Of
Senator Bradley.
Senator Bailey's speech was dramatic
and impressive. In It, he declared the
United states was facing a greater
crisis than the wisest of men knew, and
that II was In the power of Senate and
House to prevent disaster. Every evil,
he declared, could be remedied without
violence to principles and policies on
which the republic was founded.
Dissertation of Office.
Senator Bailey was the last speaker
of the evening. Senator William Alden
Smith, who introduced the speakers,
said It wss a distinct loss to the people
OF the United States that Senator Bailey
should retire.
nounced the "desecration of the dignity
the American people to bestow" in the
recent campaign for the Republican
nomination. He urged members OF
both Houses to have the courage Of
their convictions. He said the country
would witness a Presidential campaign
such as It has never known, and he as
serted the dignity Of politics could not
be lowered without danger to the prin-
nj uVh q
Cowardice and not venality among
public men was the greatest evil to be
faced, he said. He said that for eight
cen months he had been out Of har-
mony in the Senate and under such
conditions was valueless to the people.
Stop Calling Names.
Senator Bailey said:
II call upon you Senators and Repre-
sentatives to make the public at large
feel that the Judgment of the Senate on
any question is just. is courageous, and
Is wise. 1 believe that protective tariff
is fallacy, and in the heat of a cam
paign 1 may have called it a robbery.
but never have 1 doubted the honesty
of its advocates.
Put an end to the bitter denuncia-
tions in campaigns, and the calling Of
names, and especially ugly ones, and
explain each issue of importance to the
public without, attacking the integrity
of the men who founded It,
Many people in the United States
have been led to believe That l am in
the Senate to protect the interests Of
the corporations. "a
II have served the people in both
houses for twenty-five years, and have
taken part 1 nevery important debate
and voted on. every matter Of impor-
tance which has arisen in that time.
Yet there is no man living who can
pl ace his finger upon single instance
where I have voted against or debated
against the interests of my constitu-
ents.
Predicts Wilson Victory.
"I believe that the Democratic party
will be victorious in November, but
one victory is all that the Democrats
will be able to get unless they change,
and II we are wise we will be able
to govern the country for as long as
our fathers did. and II we are not, we
do not deserve to.
THE spectacle of former President
of the United States and the incum-
bent of that high office going around
the country and making the most Bit
ter denunciations of each other was
terrible, and believe that we will
see in November a Presidential cam
paign such as we have never known.
II sincerely hope that Governor Will
son, a man whom l did not favor, will
be dignified, and confine his campaign
to a letter and a speech of acceptance,
and maintain the dignity of the high
office to which he aspires.
Let US save that high office and
President Taft from the necessity of
having to defend himself against the
disappointed officeseekers."