Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-10
Georgia Senator N o t
Taken in by Commit
tee Fellows on Plot
Against Colleague.
Downfall of Aspiration
President Pr o Tenn
Opening of Rule by
Progressive Wing.
BY JAMES B. NEvIN.


WASHINGTON, March 1o.-In con
sidering and undertaking to anslyze the
news from Washington nowadays as 1t
affects the fights for patronage. Geor-
gians should remember that Senator
Hoke Smith. whether he desires to be
or not is the storm center about which
1t revolves.
The disposition of every offfce-ReeksF
who comes to Washington is to seeS
Senator Smiths influence-which i.
powerful, if not always available-ano
the further disposition OF every dlsap-
pointed one is to blame 1t all upon the
junior senator.
Senator Smith is, with SenatorNGore
O'Gorman and Kern, one of the big
four members of the all-inTportant and
arbitrary steering committee. who are
undertaking the reorganization of the
senate along progressive lines ana III
opposition TO the theory of seniority
The defeat of Senator Bacon for
president pro tenn of the senate came
about through the logical and practical
application of the anti seniority theory
of advancement in the senate.
Senator Smith Didn't Know
It is not necessarily a warranted con
clusion, however, that Senator Smith
had previous knowledge of the effort to
GUST Bacon from power. and the sus
picion in the minds OF some thmt Elsa sdie
| arises from the circumstances OF his
! nearness to Gore, O'Gorn1an and Kern,
who accomplished Bacon's downfall
| Senator Smiths statement that he
| had no previous knowledge or the fight
on Bacon. and was astounded that it
came about, generally ia accepted as
| true statement-the doubt in some
| minds being considered the father to
! the thought.
The curious thing Is that Gore. O'C3oT-
man and Kern should have undertaken
task so directly embarrassing to Sen
ator Smith. without letting him know
what was in the wind.
1t is true that Senator Smith ala hear
something of fight on Bacon on at
| least two occasions previous to the eli
max Of Bacon's defeat, but neither
warning impressed him. Senator Reed,
| Of Missouri. said TO Senator Smith the
day before the catastrophe that he
| feared for Bacon, and thought some
| thing was UP. Senator Smith, however.
says he thought lightly of the warnings
and did not mention either to Senator
Bacon
Situation Rather Strange.
! That he was astonished and anX-
iously concerned over Bacons demo
ton, accomplished, at the hands OF Sen
ator Smiths intimates. is accepted as
true, but it is also considered strange
| that these associates should have per
| formed such a service against Senator
Smiths colleague without Senator
Smith knowing anything whatever
about it.
That is the curious and nysttfyins
circumstance Of the acute situation set
| up.
Senator Bacon fell victim to the re-
organization plans of the senate, Just
as Senator Martin did, and Just as
other senators bearing the mark or
Bryan's disapproval will.
1t is the cold booded logic of the sit
uation in the senate-and it's applica-
ton has resulted in demotion of MI
Bacon and the promotion of Mr. Smith
Explanation of how that came abour
necessarily is embarrassing to Senator
Smith
Progressi~ex in Saddle.
The reorganization OF the senate OF
the United States along progressive
lines is to be carried forward luthlessly
Wilson is behind it, as is Bryan, and
Senator Smith.
Senator Bacon long ago was marked
for slaughter. His fall was straight in
line with those plans Of the reorganiza-
tion-right or wrong
Senator Smith doubtless had no
knowledge of the plot against Bacon
no direct and certain knowledge, any
way What he should have" known. or
might have" known are two things
that may be speculated upon by those
so inclined.
The prevailing opinion is that he Old
| not know actually what was framed up
| for his colleague, and was powsrless To-
prevent IL