Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-27
SENATE MINORITY =
LEADERSHIP MAY
HINGE ON ONE VOTE
BY THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The
fight over the democratic leader
ship of the next senate reached such
a stage today that one vote may
determine whether Senator Furnifold
NJ. Simmons, of North Carolina, or
Senator Joseph T. Robinson, of Ar.
kansas, shall map the course OF the
minority in the next congress. Both
Georgia senators are supporting Sen
ator Simmons. AT this hour, the two
candidates appear to be running neck
and neck. There are conflicting cam
paign claims just as one might ex-
pect in ward election.
For instance, the minority leader
ship may depend upon the vote of
Senator elect William Cabell Bruce.
of Maryland, whose vote is positively
claimed by the Robinson campaign
managers. The Bruce vote is classed
as doubtful or non-committal by the
Simmons managers. The best infor-
nation obtainable today following
comparison of conflicting claims of
that the selection Of minority lead
ers will depend upon the choice of
0CHdlOES-GICCI QCCs W ]hASAA > AStAAN
Copeland, of New York; Ferris, OF
Michigan: Mayfield, of Texas. and
Edwards, of New Jersey. The Sim
mons managers aIlege that eighteen
of the thirty-two old members of the
senate are pledged to their candidate,
and that Senator Robinson starts off
with a handicap because he must get
practically all of the ten new mem
II o11 Il Nv he m.
mons managers that they have COM
initials from twent-two OF the old
and new members of the senate, one
more than a majority and sufflclent
to- elect. Such claims are disputed
by the managers for Senator ROBIN
son. They claim a majority of votes,
including Senators-elect Bruce, Oh
Maryland, and Edwards, of New Jer-
sey, but decline to give out doubt
full list, because it is claimed the IS
sue is not one to be tried in the
newspapers and in advance of the
Democratic party caucus. Likewise,
the Simmons managers assert that
the contest is not publicity stunt,
but that they are absolutely conf
dent that Mr.. Simmons, ranking
Democrat of the finance committee
and a veteral in legislative service,
will beat out Mr.. Robinson, a young
err member of that body.
Issues SO far drawn appear to
hinge about whether the senate mi
noriay needs new blood as typified
by Robinson and SO expressed by his
hackers, or conservatism and eXpe-
rience," as claimed by the supporters
of the veteran from North Carolina.
The n1ixup in which senate Demo-
Gratis DOW find themselves is much
similar to that of four years ago
when Senator Underwood, Of Ala
bama, and Senator Hitchcock, of Ne
braska, fought out the minority
leadership issue. For time the two
candidates were tied. Senator Car
ter Glass, of Virginia, then recently
resigned from the post of secretary
of the treasury and who took his
seat in the senate a week or two
ahead of the time he might have
Just as well qualified, eventually cast
the deciding vote in favor of Senator
Underwood. The present contest
promises to be just as close and ex-
citing with not mor1 than one or
two votes deciding the issue in a SEN
ate conflict that will have much to
do with shaping the policies of the
Democratic party foI the 1924 cam
paign.