Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-12
WARM CONTEST IS
ON IN SENATE FOR
MINORITY LEADER
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
40S Evans Building.
BY THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-A fac
tional fight Of great intensity is de-
yeloping over the minority leadership
of the senate in the next congress.
Underestimate reports about the con-
flict are today reaching the oren, and
the race may be almost as close as
the Hitchcock Underwood deadlock
that eventually resulted in Senator
/. Underwood's selection by one vote.
The two Georgia senators have al
ready taken sides IL the present con-
flict and will support Senator Furn1-
fold M: Simmons, of North Carolina,
for Democratic floor leader. Sena-
tors Iiirr.s aid George have given
assurances tu the Simmons SIDE, and
Senator Harris is working lieu
tenant of the Simmons forces.
When Senator Underwood an
nounced on election night that he
would not accept the Democratic
leadership in the next congress and
gave i'll health as the reason for his
decision, it was generally assumed
that the mantle of leadership would
fall on Senator Simmons, of North
Carolina, ranking Democrat of the
finance committee and a veteran of
more than twenty years service in
the senate. Many senators Voluntarl-
~ came to the Simmons standard.
Underwood Backs Robinson
:, However, it now appears that SEN
ator Joseph T. Robinson, of Arkan-
sas, with rather Influential backing,
including Senator Underwood him
self, has aspirations to become Demo
cratic floor leader and is actively at
work soliciting support. Senator
Robinson has been a member of the
senate for nine years and is a legis-
lative "youngster" compared to Sen
ator Simmons.
The contest between the supporters
of the two men has ragged underneath
the surface for some days, and each
side has out its scouts and workers.
Senator Robinson's chief hackers are
said to be Pat Harrison: who has as
sumed a sort of management of his
campaign with Senator Underwood
in an advisory capacity in the back
ground, and Senator Caraway, Of
Arkansas.
The chief hackers of Senator Sim
mons include Senators Overman, of
North Carolina; Senator Walsh, of
Massachusetts. Senator SwasOn, of
Virginia, and Senator Mcclellan, of
Tennessee. AS a rule, the Oldtimers
of the senate are understood to be
lining UP behind Mr.. Simmons. while
Senator Robinson is drawing support
from the newer members, with a
number of whom he served in the
house.
Up to New Members
Confidential gossip about the SEN
ate is that Senator Simmons has a
shade the advantage at the present.
Mr.. Simmons has been absent for
some days in North Carolina and
personally is not making an active
canvass. Nevertheless, the contest
may become so close that it will be
decided by the nine new members
of the next senate, who will sit on
the Democratic side, including Sena-
tors George, of Georgia, and BayarG,
of New Jersey, who already have
taken their places for the short ses-
sion.
Senator Simmons friends argue
that he is the logical successor to the
leadership. He is eX-chairman of the
finance committee, the leading expert
on tariff and revenue on the Demo.
cratic side, and a man of long gen
eral experience in legislation, who
possesses an even-keel disposition
and other qualifications that should
go along with minority leadership.