The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1914-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington City,
February 16, 1871

February 16, 1914
The death of Senator Bacon Sat
urday afternoon was a great shock
to his fellow Senators and to all his
friends in Washington. 1t had been
represented that his condition was
improving and that there was no
cause for alarm.
The mysterious character of his
illness, which had baffled the physi.
clans for ten days or more, had been
finally traced to acute inflammation
of the kidneys, which it was sail
would yield to medical treatment.
His fever had been reported as gone
and his temperature was normal for
the first time since he became i'll.
Everybody was hopeful in a high de-
gree.
A little after two o'clock Senator
Bacon raised himself slightly in bed
and Immediately collapsed. His
death was almost instantaneous
The doctors said clot of blood had
entered his heart.
The Senate was in Executive Ses-
sion and Immediately after passing
suitable resolutions adjourned. Fun
eral services are to be held in the
Senate Chamber Tuesday and then
the body will be taken to Georgia
for interment
1t will be impossible to fill Sena
tor Bacon's place in the Senate at
this time. No other man in that
body so well understands the res
possibilities that were laid upon his
shoulders when he was made chair
man of the committee on foreign re-
lations. We have possible complica-
tions with Japan, Russia, England,
Mexico and other countries. The
principles involved were long since
mastered by Senator Bacon. He
knew how to protect the vital rights
of our country and the President
and Secretary of State could not
have had safer adviser.
Senator Bacon's work in the Senate
has always been national rather
than State. He has looked after the
affairs of Georgia in the way that
he considered proper, but his great
study and his greatest labors have
been broader than sections. 1t has
been necessary that the Senate haze
such men and Bacon has been the
highest type of national Senator
The constitution and our interna-
tional relations have been his first
thought and he has been recognized
as the best authority here on those
subjects.
Senator Stone, of Missouri is the
ranking member of the Committee
on Foreign relations, and will pro-
badly be chairman. He is sick,
however, at this time and as he is an
old man will find the burden a hea-
Wy one. No living member of the
Committee begins to compare with
Bacon in knowledge, ability and
temperament.
The death of Senator Bacon VIII
precipitate a political contest "a
Georgia that may be far reaching.
The first thing will be the APP
pointment of a successor. That will
be done by Governor Slaton and the
appointee will serve until an cleo
tion is held On the first Tuesday in
November, the regular election day
for congressman. 1t is believed
here that Governor Slaton will ap-
point Hon. Clark Howell, editor of
the Atlanta Constitution. The fact
that Mr.. Howell has done such va
liant service for the Democratic
party for 80 many years inclines
many to the belief that Governor
Slaton will tender the short term
between now and the election in
November: 1t is not supposed
Mr.. Howell would be a candidate
for the unexpire term. 1t is rather
a custom to honor prominent editors
with appointments like this. Hon.
Pat Walsh, of the Augusta Chron-
icle, received such an appointment.
Lafayette Young, of the Des Moines
Capital, came here as Senator for a
while and only a few weeks ago
Frank Glass of the Birmingham
News received an appointment. Mr..
Glass lacked one vote of being seat
80, however, as Alabama has not
ade provision for an appointment