Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-06
THOS. r. MARSHALL AND
A. O. BACON
BY JOHN T. BOIFEUILLET

n menced recently published newspa-
paper article with the following high
tribute to the late Senator A. o. Bacon:
"When 1 first presided over the senate of
the United States there yet remained in
that body few gentlemen Of the old school
who were deeply impressed with the dignity
and responsibility of their high office.
1.-THE amenities of debate strictly
observed by them. Principles alone were
discussed, and by no possible stretch of i'm
agination could anyone conceive these fine
minded men attacking the honor of state
or impugning the motives of fellow senator
~"Among the number was the distinguished
A. o. Bacon. He had card which read:
Augustus Octavius Bacon, senator from
the SOVEREIGN State of Georgia. in the Sen
ate of the United States"
"When he passed away, 1amented> by all
of us, | had little hope that | would ever
again hear of the sovereign state of Georgia
or of any other sovereign state"
l was Senator Bacons private secretary
for seven years, part of which period COW
cred the entire time he and Vice President
Marshall were associated in the senate, but
/ never saw personal card of the senator's
like the one described by the vice president
Senator Bacon believed Georgia was SOW
ereign state, all right-splendid and peer
less-and so declared numerous times in
private and public utterances, but the style
of the said card was so foreign to that sim
plicity of manner characteristic of this emf
nent American, that the vice presidents
statement was very surprising to me.
No Card With major
l am confident, however, that there came
under the eye of Vice President Marshall
one of the senator's cards which read
Major Bacon" From the close of the
Civil War until the day of his DEATH Geor-
oia
Major Bacon. The people thought he had
been a major in the confederate service,
whereas his rank was never higher than
that of captain. He detested the appella-
ton of major as applied to him, for the rea-
son that he was not entitled to be so
called. He did not believe in persons
being addressed by titles which did not
properly and legitimately belong to him.
There was nothing that caused the sena-
tor more irritation than to be called major.
He dislilIed thus being addressed by his
closest and most intimate friends
Georgian Was Astonished
One day prominent Georgian entered
the senator's office at Washington and
said: Il am happy to see you, Major.
The senator/ answered emphatically, Don
call me major"
The visitor was somewhat nonplussed,
and said Excuse me for not calling you
senator"
You don't catch my idea,'' responded
the senator. II never have been a major
| am not now major, and 1 never expect to
be a major! If you want to call me cap
tain all right; that was the highest rank
attained in the Confederate service. Call
me captain, or Gus, or Bacon, but do not
call me major. IT you must address me
by some title, then let it be plain ,Mr.
This form of address is as honorable, cour-
teous and gentlemanly as any you can use.
You have never heard a true southerner
call a negro Mister.
Bacon DisIiked Fads
Senator Bacon did not have much pa
thence with men having fads, ana ne was
positive that he did not possess one, but L
have always thought he had several the
most conspicuous of which was his antlpathy
to being addressed as major.
The day after the distinguished Joseph
r. Lamar of Augusta, was nominated by
President Taft for appointment as associate
Justice of the supreme court or the Onlteo
States, the Washington correspondent Oh
a New York newspaper asked Senator Ba-
con what was Judge Lamar's fad
Fad" exclaimed the senator rising
from his seat. ''He has no fad he is
100 ~ o', sensible to possess one If he were a
faddist. I might have hesitated in urging
him for appointment to the supreme
court
What Lodge Said
Senator Bacon and the distinguished lie
nublican senator, Henry Cabot Lodge, served
for eighteen years together in the senate
Their personal friendship grew constantly
closer and more affectionate with the pas
sage of time. 80,
Senator Lodge in his eulogy on the life
and character of Senator Bacon, delivered
in the United States senate nearly nine
wears ago. spoke the following exalted sentl-
ments of similar tone to Vice president
Marshalls lofty expressions, quoted at the
commencement of this article:
From the day Senator Bacon took t~e
oath of office he was with all his strengtn
and all his mind a senator of the United
States in the largest and highest sense. he
feIt great pride in the senate a body. He
was sensitive as to it's rights and jealous OF
it's constitutional prerogatives. He was not
ready~for any detriment to come to either: IL
is owing to senators like Senator Bacon that
the senate has held throughout our history
the place and power in cur government Which
belong to it. and when senators become IN
different to the position Of the body to Wnlch
thew belong all tn power and influence so
Ions. possessed by the senate in our govern
ment will fade away