Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-12
Tariff Brings Fame to Simmons.
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Capital Discovers N. c. Senator.
.sE
DodgeS Society for Hard Work
Underwood's Colleague Has No
AmuSements, and Even Lets
Wife Buy His Clothes, but He'll
Fight Any One for Principles.

"AShINGTON, Oct 1I.-Au Wash
lhston Is casting respectfully admir-
ing eyes in the direction of one Sena-
tor Furnifold McLendel Simmons Of
North Carolina and wondering why
SuCH a paragon Of industry and per
Slstent work should have lived so
Ions IN IT'S midst and have gone I'M
HolIced. Perhaps If he hadn't been
T I'm with Representative Oscar
Underwood in framing the new tariff
law, Washington even now wouId nor
oe so respectful and Senator Sim
mons still a paragon, but unrecog-
H4%eu' would be going about his work
as ne mas done all his years in
sively
when the new tariff bill passed. and
me newspaper men affixed TO If the
ute The Underwood Simmons Tar
IN people began to look up the Sen
aIoT from North Carolina. What they
iound was that here was man who
mas achieved fame, having his name
attached to a great tariff measure
because Of obstinate, persistent and
unrelaxing work. The net result was
not achieved through exceptional
Drllllancy, or diplomacy, or any IN
usual nights. He has worked hard
al the time. and now is coming into
his due need Of renown.
Wife Buys His Clothes.
They found that the Senator from
North Carolina has no recreations.
that he does not golf or play bill
hards, or motor, or ride, or do
any or the things usually ascribed to
those who are mighty, They found a
modest, plain, quiet man
The Senator &c rnor
strain Of frivolity His wife buys his
clothes for him so little does the
matter enter his mind. And what
she buys is plain and simple.
II Is even alleged that when he
entered the Senate he blossomed out
In froCk coat, but gave 1t later TO
the hired man. The story runs. too.
that in his earlier days he purchased
SILK hat, but was so little impressed
by Its splendor that when a heftv
stranger sat upon 1t he did not re-
place 1t.
The Senator uses tobacco. although
moderately, in the form that would be
expected OF plain man from North
Carolina. He carries always a plug
in a small case, biting off a hunk
occasionally.
And he never makes a speech I'M
less he has something to say, so
that he can not be classed as an ora
tor OF pyrotechnic qualities. But he
VIII fight at any occasion. fearing the
size OF no antagonist, and counting
no handicap. At that, he is a rather
small man, with bare five feet and
six inches to his credit.
Cares Nothing for Society.
Senator and Mrs. Simmons are not
likely ever to be figures in Washing
ton society. They care nothing for
the gay life of the Capital, ENJOYING
rather their own home and the sim
pie life Of their own North Carolina
mountains Last campaign Mrs. Sim
mons accompanied her husband
through the mountains, taking pot
luck with him.
When 1t became known what man
ner of man the Senator is. all Wash
ington hazarded the guess. the cor
rect guess, too, that he was farm
er's son. He was born on a small
farm in North Carolina. and went
through the common schools and
Trinity College. When he graduated
In law he went to work with the in
dustry that still is his. He opened
offices in three cities and worked as
a lawyer until his Democratic people
called him to lead a fororn hope in
a Republican district. The hope was
not so forlorn as they thought. or
simmons was more powerful than
they thought, for he went to Congress.
He was defeated for reelection and
retired from politics until the people
OF his State called him to free North
Carolina from negro domination Then
they sent him to the Senate. He is
90 years old.
A very capable and earnest person.