Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-08
blast of Seniority Denounced
nv Nebraskan, Given Blow
by Progressives.
THlRST FOR
| REVENGE FACTOR, TOO
|Hoke Smith, Aligned With the
proqressives, Opposes Dou-
BILE Honor for Colleague.
Bv JAMES B. NEVIN.

WASHINGTON, March S.-Full real
1qation of how Senator Bacon's defeat
,or nresident pro TEN of the senate was
Hsrcomplished has come to official
WASHINGTON today, and the story is in
resting and dramatic.
Senator Bacon, one of the Oldest sen
,ore in congress in point Of service,
reunited confidently on being assigned
Z 10 the presidency pro tenn of the senate
ana TO the craftsmanship of the foreign
relations committee. Not until the SEN
ate went into caucus yesterday did the
senator believe his chances were in
Hanger Indeed, he went into the eau
cus expecting To be named to both
places.
4 Senator Bacon. however, has been in
.disfavor with M Bryan for some time.
He was one of the senators included in
sMr. BIyan's remarks concerning the
.blght Of seniority, recorded some time
ago, and generally commented upon
throughout the nation Mr.. Bryan has
Enayar criticised Mi. Bacon outspokenly
\ in his newspaper, but Bacon, it is
9bnown. has been under Bryan's suspi-
\ cion, nevertheless.
Mr.. Bacon apparently made some eff
\ Hort recently toy lift the blight of Bry-
Hans hostility, and readily Joined in the
Substitution of Senator Kern, MI. Bry-
ans right hand man and spokesman in
1 the senate, for Senator Martin, MI.
|Bryan's particular "obnoxion" for floor
leader. This was thought to have mol
lifted MI Bryan in a measure and to
|haye assured Mr.. Bacon the favor of
The progr9 ssives to the extent of giving
him the presidency pro tenn of the SEN
|ate, anyway.
Angered Martins Friends.
1t was found by the. progressives,
.nowever that MI. Bacon, in lining up
with them for Kern, had brought him
self into sharp disfavor with Martins
eactionary outfit, and when a subtle
suggestion was thrown out that Bacon
might be relegated q peg or two down
ward in influence, if the progressives
n would join hands with the extreme re-
actionaries, 1t was greedily, though
quietly, snapped up.
The Martin senators make no bones
Of admitting now that they deliber-
aely handed Bacon u lemon, in gentle
manly revenge for his Kern work, and
'Ae proSressi"es took refuge in the po-
sluon that Bacon could not and should
not expect more of them than either the
Presidency pro tenn or the foreign rela-
IONS Craftsmanship, and that they
would back him for either, but not for
both.
lnis was Senator Hoke Smiths unex-
s'''a position in the caucus. although
Presented Bacon's name therein for
resident pro tenn.
'"1 acute situation thus set up in
'aIcuS was extremely painful and not a
''"e disgusting to Senator Bacon. and
never consented to choose. He did
tie mint escape. however, that if he
-au TO foreso either of the places he
IVuu prefer to take the foreign rela-
WIS committee. When his name was
n sU Iof In caucus for president pro
n -" 'ne progressives and the Martin
eHa'of5 voted for Clark. and he de-
''''e1 Bacon by - to IA.
n. Took His Bitter Pill.
'"e result of that ballot which was
4 @V" "Sposes of the suggestion that
'4..of Bacon agreed to his own de-
,a p''5N. He simply took the bitter pill
NJ, 1s0 up Tor him. He did not want to
my II and did not expect to have to.
"''e are those who say Senator Ba-
,ol. VAS Undertaking to play both ends
i . ans the middle. and that neither
would fall for it,"
", s'ns'or Smith who is very close to
\. ~ o'yan is said to have appreciated
s.a'ity of the problem involved in
H.. " uSnlng of Bacon's ambition, but
"o' uenied that he played part in
continued on Pace Two,