Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-02-15
SIMMONS IS.NOT
CANDIDATE FOR
SENATE LEADER

pose Robinson-His Health is No,
Good-Physicians Warn Him No,
to Take On New Burdens.
drawal of Senator Simmons, of North
Carolina, from the race with Senate,
Robinson of Arkansas for Democrat.
ic leadership in the next senate when
Senator Underwood of Alabama, the
present Democratic leader, will retire
was announced by Senator Overman
of North Carolina, on behalf of his
colleague.
The announcement by Senator Ov-
erman was regarded as assuring the
election of Senator Robinson. Sen
ator Simmons authorized the announc
ment from his sick bed at New Bern
N. C. ff
Overman's Statement
Senator Overman's statement fol-
lows:
"My colleague, Senator Simmons,
from his sick bed in New Bern, N.
c. has asked me to make public re-
quest that his name shall no longer
be considered for the post of demo-
cratic leader in the Senate. Not
withstanding the fact that more
than half the members Of the pres
ent senate are supporting him, and
he has other assurances that justify
him In feeling most hopeful Of
success, Senator Simmons feels he
must take this action in part upon
consideration of his health and in
part for reasons Of party harmony
My colleagues physicians have ad-
vised him that he must take the
best care of himself for several
months to come, and they strongly
warn him. against undertaking any
new burdens until he shall have
fully recovered his strength.
1T is well known here that Sem
ator Simmons in the beginning con-
sented to the use of his name for
the democratic leadership only upon
what seemed to be satisfactory as
surances that there would be no
considerable opposition. He stated
then that he would not under any
circumstances enter into. scramble
for the place. Since Senator 1tubin-
son for whom Senator Simmons feels
high esteem and friendship, was off
cred as candidate, Senator Simmons
has sefrained from withdrawing his
own name only because he has felt
that loyalty to his own friends and
supporters would not permit it.
Wants Harmony
"My colleague now feels, however
in view of his health and of the
fact that the contest between his
friends and those of Senator Robin
son has grown so close and promis-
es to be so long drawn out, with the
consequent neglect Of that necessary
concentration by Democratic sena-
tors of mind and effort on party and
lsational affairs all through this
year, that the highest national and
party considerations demand that
the contest shll proceed no further.
Senator Simmons therefore has
asked and obtained the consent of
his friends to leave the field clear to
Senator Robinson, whose leadership,
my colleague believes, will be in
every respect able and satisfactory.
Senator Simmons wishes ME TO
xpress for him his deep and CRATE
full appreciation of the loyal sup
port given him and of the splendid
zeal and generalship that his friends
have exercised in his behalf. He
appreciates no less too, the kind
solicitude and regard for him and
his present state of health that have
prompted his friends. in the Senate
to yield without hard feeling to his
desire to take himself out of con-
sideration, and bring the contest to
an end"