Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-03-22
BAILEY MAY COME BACK
Friends of Ex-senator Confident He
Will Be In Race In 1916 or 1918

Will Be In Race In 1916 or 1918
Washington, March 22-Friends OF
former Senator Joseph W. Bailey,
Of Texas, are freely predicting that
he will again represent the Lone Star
State in the upper house of Congress
before two years have elapsed.
This they say is spite of the TACT
that Bailey declared on his resiena-
lion, a short time before the close OF
The 62nd Congress, that he would not
again accept seat in the United
States Senate if it were bestowed
upon him for life and made hered'-
tarv for his son. They speak with
such confidence that they must have
ocod reasons to look for the return
ar their adored Achilles to the bat
tlecround he so lately abandoned IN
disgust.
The country as whole probably
took Bailey at his word two years
ago and received without question
his assertion that he had retired
from politics forever. He doubtless
succeeded in convincing himself tnat
he had done this. But the profession
Of the law does not offer q man OF
the Bailey type, who has won bril-
liant reputation as orator and de-
hater in the halls of Congress, the
same chance TO distinguish himself
as he had in the political forum.
Daniel Webster possessed great
legal qualifications but he never ac-
ouired the fame as lawyer that ne
won and held as Il Senator. Spooncr
Of Wisconsin has made decided n
noncial success since his retirement
from the Senate to resume the prac-
lice of law; yet the country rarely
hears Of him and most people think
he is dead. Spooner seems able 70
stand it. consoling himself with his
big legal fees; but to being Ike
Bailey it must be torture no longer
Lc command the attention Of the conn
try and the applause Of listening
Senator's" al every crisis in politl-
cal affairs. The probability is tha!
he can no more help trying to come
back" than Napoleon could help It
after he had retired to Elba.
Those who are familiar with politl-
cal conditions in Texas car see that
there is a tempting chance Tor the
:clf-exiled warrior TO return. Sena-
4or Culbersen's term espires in 1917
and the primary campaign which de
.cides who shall succeed him is to
oc fought out next year. There VIII
be several candidates in the RAGE.
IF Bailey does not yield to ;empta'
tion and get into the race next year
there will be another opportunity fol
him in 1918 when Senator Morris
Sheppard's record in the Bailey shoes
will have to be, submitted TO the vo
( tars of Taxas for their verdict Shep
pard is prohibitionist and Baile!
is not. That issue might complicat'
things in 1918 more than III 1917
when there seems to be no essential
ly pro" candidate in sight. How
ever, if Mr.. Bailey.is going to ra'
next year. he will soon have y
be taking himself and his law offic
from Washington to Texas.
All Texans admit as a matter 0
course. that If Bailey runs, mex
year or later, there will be cam
paign full of fireworks and excite
ment. He has raised fine crop Q
durable enemies with whom he
hound to have the same old tigh
;, every time he runs for anything l
Texas. The indiscretions and lncor
sistencies of his political record ha
. been so glaring that his opponent
> will have plenty Of ammunition
lombard him from the first day
the campaign until the day of eIe
, tion. But with all that. they hay
never beaten him yet.