Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-09
Simmons Defeated.

Furnifold M Simmons, for nearly
thirty years Senator from North Caro-
lima, has been defeated for renomina-
ton and defeated on one issue alone,
that he declined to support the Demo-
cratic national ticket in 1928 headed
by Alfred E. Smith. Although North
Carolina in 1928 was carried by Presi-
dent Hoover with a lead of approx
mately $4,000 votes, Senator Simmons
has now been defeated in the Demo-
cratic primary by Josiah w. Bailey, who
remained faithful to the Smith ticket
two years ego. When Mr.. Hoover car
ried Ncrth Carolina. however, he did
Republican votes as we'll as with the
aid Of the anti-Snith Democrats. while
Senator Simmons on Saturday was
battling again the element in his
own party which stood by Smith in
1928. He was without the Republican
support which made the Hoover victory
possible in North Carolina. 1t has
been obvious that if all, or a good
share, of the Democrats who voted for
Smith in 1928 should vote for Bailey
this year, Bailey would win and Sim
mons would be defeated.
The Simmons Bailey contest was
watched with interest throughout the
country. Senator Simmons was one of
the few outstanding Democratic leaders
in the South or elsewhere who declined
fatty to support the Smith ticket two
years ago. 1t was believed that his
leadership in this matter had much to
do with the failure of Smith to carry
North Carolina. The pro-Smith DEM
ocrats have been bitter in their de-
nunciation of Mr.. Simmons. The pres
ent defeat of Senator Simmons will
raise the hope in certain quarters that
possibly there may be change In senti-
ment in North Carolina and other parts
of the country which would make pos
sible the election of their idol, former
Gov Smith, in the event of his nomi-
nation again by the Democrats.
Also there was a question in many
minds as to whether the break in the
solid South" made when President
Hoover carried four States-North Car
DINA, Virginia, Texas and Florida-was
an indication of probable Republican
success in those States in the future.
The defeat of Senator Simmons, how
ever, has encouraged the Democrats in
the belief that the whole South is safely
Democratic again. A year ago the anti
Smith Democrats, in alliance with the
Republicans in Virginia, went down to
defeat in the gubernatorial election
There have been other happenings
which indicated that Republican victory
in these States of the South was mere
fleeting incident. And now the su-
premacy of the regular Democrats" in
North Carolina has been re-established.
The outlook for Republican success
south of the Mason and Dixon line has
become more and more clouded. Baileys
chances for election in November are
accounted more than good.
Senator Simmons has been a promi-
nent figure in his party for years. 1t
was he who defeated Marion Butler, a
Populist Senator, in 1900. Butler az
fiIiated with the Republican party
thereafter During his long service in
the Senate, Mr.. Simmons has been
popular with his colleagues, and his
retirement at the close of the present
Congress will be matter of regret to
men on both sides of the chamber. The
North Carolinian has always been known
as q man of the word. He has been
for years the chairman or ranking
Democratic member of the Senate
finance committee and recognized ex-
pert on tariff and revenue matters. In
his opposition to the candidacy of Gov.
Smith for the presidency Senator Sim
mons had no thought of shifting to
the Republican party. 1t was merely
the status of Smith as national leader
of his party and candidate for the ONCE
of Chief Executive against which Sem
ator Simmons rebelled. He abandoned
his old principle of party regularity,
and his action in 1929 has come hack