Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-12
Tariff Brings Fame to Simmons
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Capital Discovers N. c. Senator
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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.

WASHINGTON, oct. 11.-AlI Wash
ington is casting respectfully admir-
ing eyes in the direction of one Sena-
ter Furnifold McLendel Simmons of
North Carolina and wondering why
such paragon of industry and per-
sistent work should have lived so
long In its midst and have gone I'M
noticed. Perhaps II he hadn't been
connected with Representative Oscar
Underwood In framing the new tariff
law, Washington even now would not
be so respectful, and Senator Sim
mons, still a paragon, but unrecog-
niZed. would be going about his work
as he has done all his years I'm
Washington-quietly and unobtru-
slvely.
When the new tariff bill passed, and
the newspaper men affixed to 1t the
title The Underwood Simmons Tar
iff," people began to look up the Sen
ator from North Carolina. What they
found was that here was a man who
has achieved fame, having his name
attached TO a great tSriff measure,
because Of obstinate, persistent and
unrelaXing work The net result was
not achieved through exceptional
brllliancy, or diplomacy, or any un-
usual flights. He has worked hard
all 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
liards, or motor, or ride, or do
any of the things usually ascribed to
those who are mighty. They found
modest plain, quiet man.
The Senator Is man without a
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.
1t is even alleged that when he
entered the Senate he blossomed out
In a frock coat, hut gave 1t later to
the hired man. The story runs, too,
that I'm his earlier days ne purchased
n silk hat, but WINS so little impressed
by its splendor that when a hefty
stranger sat upon 1t he did not re-
place It,
The Senator uses tobacco, although
moderately. I'm the form that would be
expected of a plain man from North
Carolina. He carries always a plug
In small case, biting off a hunk
occasionally.
And he never makes n speech I'M
less he has something to say, so
that he can not he classed as an ora
tor OF pyrotechnic qualities. But he
will fight at any occasion, fearing the
size OF mo antagonist and counting
no handicap. At that. he is rather
small man, with a 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 It became known what man
ner OF man the Senator Is. all Wash
ington hazarded the guess, the cor
rect guess, too, that he was a farm
ers 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
dustrv that still is his He opened
offices in three cities and worked as
a lawyer until his Democratic people
called him TO lead a forlorn 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 re election and
retired from politics until the people
of his State called him tn free North
Carolina from negro domination. Then
they sent him to the Senate He is
SO years old.
very capable and earnest person,