Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-13
FAMOUS TEXAN

~@C - IA 4CAoo " ~ 80
ton to discontinue toll collecting at
the bridge. His plea had been for
the transferrence of the case to the
federal courts.
A firm believer in Jeffersonian
Democracy, Senator Bailey was
long looked upon as the greatest
national exponent of states rights
as opposed to the increasing power
Of the central government. Though
a believer in woman's rights and
prohibition, Senator Bailey, because
Of his championship of states rights,
opposed the constitutional amend
ments providing for these changes,
and it has been said that this stand
cost him considerable of his po-
litical following in Texas.
Senator Bailey was born in Co.
piah county, Mississippi, October 6,
1868. After receiving his law edu-
Lebanon, Tenn, he was admitted to
the bar in 1883 when just 20. He
married in Mississippi, going back
from Texas to his old home state to
get his bride. He had two sons,
Weldon Bailey, who had a ranch in
Arizona, and J. E. Bailey. Jr., a
member of the law firm of Bailey,
Nickels and Bailey, which opened
offices in Dallas in 1920.
The year following his admittance
to the bar. Mr.. Bailey reached his
majority and then started on the
political career that led to the
TT-r+aI Ck1A1- n1-oA1 49, 49, 1nzI
ership Of his party. The first step
in this direction came when he was
chosen a presidential elector from
Georgia in 1884.
The next year he moved to Texas
and made his home in Gainesville
during his long and active political
career. In 1853 he was again a
presidential elector. this time from
his chosen state.
In 1887. Mr.. Bailey was rendered
the democratic nomination to the
| national house of representatives
but he declined to accept. However,
| at the next term he was a candi-
date from the Old fifth district
against Judge Silas Hare. of Sher-
man. who was rounding out an era
IF public service which included the
bar. bench and congress. Bailey
defeated Judge Hare carrying every
| county overwhelmingly. EXCEPT the
home county of his opponent. He
| refused TO enter the county, to make
a speech saving that the home
county of Judge Hare ought to sup
port him.
Judge Hare. while making a trip
to Texas from Washington where
he had established 2 law office. was
asked by a newspaper representative
what he thought Of the progress his
successor in CONGRESS was making.
The renlv was. when the people of
this district elected Bailey to sue
coed me I thourht they had made ?
Great mistake. but having watched
his career in the house since cleo
ton. I believe thet the Deorle Of
nv district are better iudgs of men
than ! am"
Bailey was elected s~uccessivelv to
the -fiftv-second through the fiftv-
| sixth congresses beginning in 1891
| and ending in 1901. when he became
? candidate for the senate opncsinc
Senator Horace Chiffon, am was
elected. While in the house. Bailev
became the leader of his rartv anS
was the de-rocretic rorninee for the
soeakership for the fif+v-fifth con-
~ress. He uas elected r. congress
when onlv %. the minir,rn1 age
limit when one may receive this
honor.
Mr.. Bailey was elected for two
terms in the senate. the first IN
1901 and the secord IN 1907. the last
tt run th-c-~h 1913. But he re-
sirrad in 1912.
It was frequently said that during
his career in congress. Mr.. Bailey
was the only democrat TO success
fnuv hold ct hav John G. Snooner.
Illinois republican. Tn the effort of
the senate TO Unseat the late Sen
ator Ben Tilman. South Carolina.
Senator BAILEY came to his defense
md won 2 cornrlete victory In face
Of q republican ma ioritv.
He was a steadfast defender Of
states rights, having never sur
rendered arv Of his convictions on
this principle.
This rernark Of Senator Elihu
Root is eulightenirr: Bailey is the
master Of the constitution and when
aroused in debating any feature. his
mind seemed to wcrk with the pre-
cision of an engine"
While in the senate. he made a
14~1.@,,,- e;-LA $1,000 49, vL@s
state Commerce Commission law to
include pipe line carriers, which Is
said to have aroused the enrnitv of
several large oil ~corpanies. He was
active also IN al te-iff legislation
aIwavs cnntending for protection
for raw materials where finished
products carried ~nrotection. re
contender that the farm and ranch.
should eriov the ssrne protection
from foreign competition as the
manufacturers. He always n-cosed
government ownership of railroads
relieving in an ecn-~rrv cf GOVERN
r1ent and strict adherence to the
federal constitution.
He resigned from the senate IN
1919 to- r>erJrne The private r~actice
e lo-r. re ras tran ~nre~ai1eN rron
~ f-ie-,Ie to h-c~r~e . eor|ida+e
for governor and w7e defeated nv
Governor Pat M. Neff in 1907. Since
in his deferse If states RIGHTS he
had ouoosed FEDERAL n~roh'bition.
thos,1h arrays > rra--oier ~ f-ofh
-~~-1 ontier o~] s+-te ~->h.rit.~~
--d cleo c~-si-t.-+Iv op---eN f-S-
e-a1 rcmsn's suffrage. these two
clements aligned themselves against
] him, causing his defeat.