Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-05
INFLUENCES
DECLARED
SINISTER
Denial of Seat to Alabama Pub
Usher After Fight Establishes
Senate Precedent.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-F'rank P.
Glass, the Birmingham newspaper
publisher, will not fill the seat in the
Senate made vacant by the death of
Senator Joseph F. Johnston. This
case and that of Blair Lee, of Mary
land, were much discussed in the lob
bies of both House and Senate to-
day before Members and Senators
assembled for the day.
Teh refusal to seat Glass, illegally
appointed by Governor O'Neal of Ala
bama, and the seating of Blair Lee, #
Maryland, lawfully elected by the
people stablish two controlling prec-
edents and proclaim the view of the
Senate that the constitutional amend
ment providing for the popular cleo
ton of Senators must be complied
with strictly.
A vacancy can be filled only by
election or appointment by the Gov
ernor when so authorized by the Leg
islature.
The vote on the Glass case termi-
mated an extra campaign cf
two days duration in behalf Of the
Birmingham publisher. A few days
ago the Senate was overwhelmingly
opposed to the seating of Glass.
Wilson Supports Glass.
Then mysterious forces suddenly
were set in operation, with the result
that one after another of a score of
Senators known to be in opposition
swung into line for Glass.
The influence of President Wilson
was thrown in favor of Glass, who
managed the campaign for Wilson
delegates in Alabama in the primary
campaign. Through Senator James,
of kentucky, and other Administra-
ton leaders the President changed
many votes.
The most sensational report was
that liquor interests had interviewed
in behalf of Glass for the purpose of
multiplying the popular election
amendment in Alabama, where Rep
resentative Hobson. the prohibition
advocate, is reported to be outrun-
ming Representative Underwood.
These rumors came close to open
discussion when Senator Bristow
charged that sinister influences were
at work to influence Senators to vote
for Glass.
CIapp's Vote Beats Him.
The vote of Senator Clapp, of Min
nesota, was responsible for the defeat
of Glass. Mr.. Clapp had signed
minority report of the Privileges and
Elections Committee favoring the
seating Of the candidate. After list
enine to the debate on the constitu
tional questions involved, the Mime
sofa SENATOR announced that he had
changed his view and would vote
against Glass.
After that the scramble for votes
became livelier, and one or two Dem
ocratic Senators who had declared
against Glass were induced to absent
themselves. Hearing this, the oppo-
sition had Senator LaFollette brought
from a sick bed. He arrived too late
for the crucial roll call but as 1t
turned out the opposition did not need
the vote.
Only eight Democrats voted to deny
Mr.. Glass his seat. They were Sena-
tors Kern, Hitchcock. Johnson, Lane,
Pomerene, Shively, Thompson and
Walsh. Four Republicans, Bradley,
Fall, Perkins and Stephenson, voted
with the minority The vote was 80
to 81.
Following the failure OF the rcso-
luton to seat Glass, the Senate, by
vote of "a to 80, adopted the commit
tee report declaring the appoiDtee
not entitled to a seat under the pro-
visions of the seventeenth amend
ment.