Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-12
Col, Nat {, Harris of Macon
AmuSeS Senatorial Commit
tee by Bungling Misrepre-
sensations in macon TeIe-
graph"
By RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 10.-The
committee of United States senator's
who attended the funeral of Senator
Robert L. Taylor. of Tennessee. at
Knoxville last week, are surprised and
amused at story which appeared in
the Macon Telegraph of April 5, in
which Col. Nat e. Harris. of Macon, is
placed in the ridiculous attitude Of
learning" that every member of the
committee favored the nomination by
the Democrats of Representative Oscar
w. Underwood, of Alabama. Colonel
Harris correction of the original story
is regarded as almost as misleading and
quite as amusing as the first story.
IF the Telegraph had purposely
sought to misrepresent the committee
it would have been impossible for it to
have crowded more .misstatements of
facts in so little space" said one of tho
senators today. "If the Telegraph
story is a fair sample of the political
situation in Georgia. it seems to me
that the opponents of Governor Wilson
are hard put to it for campaign mate
rial"
Five Democratic senators were on the
committee to the Taylor funeral They
were Senator Lea, of Tennessee, chair
man; Senators Bacon, of Georgia; Over
man, of North Carolina; Johnston, of
Alabama, and Fletcher. of Florida.
Although Colonel Harris is reported
in the Telegraph's first story to have
Learned" that all of them favor I'm
derwood's nomination, the fact is that
at least two of them are openly recog-
nized as Wilson men, while one Of them
certainly Senator Bacon, has never ex-
pressed a preference, and if another,
Senator Fletcher, has ever declared him
self it is unknown to his closest friends
in Washington.
OF course, Senator Johnston, of Ala
bsma, is for Underwood. They are
neighbors and live in the same city
Birmingham. Thus this unanimous
sentiment among southern senators
which the Telegraph credits Colonel
Harris with having found is far from
nized in Washington as an Underwood
man, while two of them are for Gov
ernor Wilson, and two others have ex-
pressed y preference.
WHAT BACON SAYS.
Senator Bacon today authorized the
publication of the following concerning
the Telegraphs stories:
ut is known by your correspondent
that Senator Bacon has never expressed
preference for the presidential nomi-
nation by the Democrats for reasons
which are entirely satisfactory to him
self He has business of his own to at
tend to, and is dev oting his time and
attention exclusively to the senate. His
reticence in this regard is we'll known
not only to the newspaper men in the
capitol, but to al of his colleagues in
the senate
Senator Overman was plainly sur
prised when shown the story and the
'lefthanded' correction, as it has been
termed.
II am for Governor Wilson, but have
taken no decided stand in this campaign.
met Colonel Harris very pleasantly
on the train, but most certainly did not
express my preference for Mr.. Under
wood.
Il am sure that Senator Bacon said
nothing of the sort. Senator Johnston.
of Alabama, was the only senator
heard express himself for Mr.. Under
wood"
Senator Luke Lea, of Tennessee, said: