The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-26
POWER GONE,
SIMMONS IS ILL
AND BANKRUPT
North CaroIinan, Once High
in Senate Councils, Is
Near Trails End.
sHORN OF HIS PRESTIGE
Southern Leader Pays Price
With Tom Helm for
Boiling Ticket.
GEORGE SANFORD HOLMES
Times stan Writer

WASHINGTON, May 26.-Ex-
senator Furniioid NJ. Simmons OF
North Carolina has filed a voluntary
petition IN bankruptcy and eX-Sen-
ator j Thomas Helm of Alabama
has wound up his affairs IN wash
ington and gone home, private
citizen.
This is the price paid by the two
southern leaders Who bolted the
Democratic ticket in 1923 and dared
the fetish Of Democratic regularity
below the Mason and Dixon line
For one. political isolation and
financial insolvency; for the other,
loss Of his senate seat and, for the
time. at least. forfeiture OF his mem
bership in the ranks Of the regular
Democrats Of his state, with all that
penalty entails.
There Is more than a tinge OF
political and personal tragedy in the
case Of Simmons, wartime head Of
the senate finance committee, for
thirty years dictator OF North Caro-
lima politics, and a factor in national
affairs.
Near End of Trail
Now well past 70 years of age. in
falling health, with impaired eye
sight and hopelessly involved in
debt. shorn Of his senate seat, his
political prestige, and economic
security in his declining years, he
presents today probably the most
abiect demonstration of the ruth
lessness OF party discipline displayed
by national politics in a genera
ton.
For Simmons was a power and a
patriarch OF his party. Oblivion
overlook him not because of any
lapse of personal probity or patriotic
conduct or neglect Of the interests
Of his state in congress, but because
he dehed the machine he had
erected in his own state.
He was crushed by the very Jug
gernaut he had built and guided
for more than a quarter century.
When former Governor Alfred L.
Smith was nominated by the Demo-
cratic party at Houston in 1928,
followed by the choice of John j.
Raskob as national chairman, Sim
mons committed the crime of crimes
in southern politics-he bolted MS
party.
Party Never Forgave
The result OF his insurgency was
that North Carolina went for Hoo
yer. The Democratic organization
perftcted by himself in the north
state never forgave Simmons. When
the primaries OF 1880 rolled around,
Simmons was buried under the
avenging avalanche Today, Josiah
w Bailey. one of his lifelong.
trusted. intimate lieutenants. sits n
his place in the United States SEN
ate.
Then came the depression. Land
poor and lonesome. the repudiateo
leader sits amid the ruins Of a life
time. with the pillars Of his politi-
cal temple piled above him. Efforts
10 provide an official berth for him
through tho kindness Of the present
administration failed, due to vari-
GUS causes, among them physical
disability.
And even the memory Of the man
who made the name Of North Caro-
lima synonymous with political
mishs and prestige went down in
the wreckagc OF mis- old age. For
there is little doubt but what parti-
san apostasy cost him the honor OF
having his statue placed in the
Capitol hall OF fame, as one Of the
two representatives Of his state
chosen for that distinction. His
punishment therefore will persist
through poSterity.
Heflin Also Passed
With him into enforced retirement
went that other arch-bolter. former
Senator Tom Hefiin OF Alabama.
but not until after a protracted and
determined struggle to regain the
scat now occupied by his success
ful adversary in the election OF 1890.
John II. Bankhead.
Heflin paid for his political heresy
in the same manner as Simmons.
but the punishment was meted ont
in a different way. Hefiin was read
out of his party in Alabama by the
central committee and denied a
candidacy in the party primary
That beat him.
For more than a year. Hefiin
fought to unSeat his rival and re-
gain his office. by attacking the
validity Of the primary and charg-
ing corruption in the election. The
senate decided against him.
Now. with his affairs practically
wound up. the contest over. the at
.orneyS and witnesses paid. Cotton
Tom" has left Washington. politi-
cally down, but. in the opinion Of
many observers. by no means out.
Like Simmons. he is paving the
price Of insurgency in the Demo-
cratic party. even though the ma
chimes. which disciplined both for
nonconformity, are declaring. at the
moment. that they will have no