Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-02

Casting heueCIlOuS OPOA
Others Has Not Availed Him
Anything Except to Deepen the
Stigma Upon His Character-A
Very Unenviable Position.
Spsesdl Ts!.JraP1 10 ne Register.
WASHINGTON, d. c., August THE
conduct OF Watson, OF Georgia, who has
made sundry charges OF intemperance
against members OF the House, is evok-
ing no little criticism. Watson.has dur
ing the entire session made desperate
efforts to push himself to the front. he
has mixed in great and small questions
and In n strident voice, loudly debated
on matters with which he had
no acquaintance. He yearns for au-
other term in Congress. Notoriety Is
very essential TO political success In al
most every section OF the country, but
in no place is IL moro highly valuable
than Georgia. Watson came here as a
Farmers Alliance man, and came as an
experiment, His only hope 20 return
lay in the possibility OF his attracting
public attention to himself Person
ally he appears 10 be as unpopular
among his fellow members as he n po-
litically, and IL all has resulted in plec-
ing Mr.. Watson in state OF violent
defiance.
All fair minded men here assert that
this Congsess with especial reference TO
the House, ,the more frequently chang
ing body has been very decent one.
The time has been when intoxication
and dsorderly conduct were marked
features Of the session. This Congress
has baen singularly free from personal
scandals OF all kinds. Mr.. Watson may
have instituted system Of personal es-
pionage that has shown him q stf@{ OF
affairs no one else has been able 10 he,
but with several hundred keen-eyed
newspaper men about II is extremely
unlikely that Watson has seen anything
more substantial than an imaginative
picture. The charge that members have
gone 'reeing about the aisles" was so
msnifestly a lie that It's utterance at
lrst excited nothing but amusement.
Mr.. Watson stands practically alone
Ia this fight. He has no silent sympa-
thizers. The Farmers Alliance mem
bers support him, but IL Is an old joke
third party members IL better than
their friendship. The publication or
the book, a specimen OF very indiner-
ent English, by the way, and the gross
charges ID makes are such transparently
vulgar personal advertisements for
Watson in particular, and his
party friends 10 general, that
he IS being cut on all sides. The South
ern mem bers, who were az 1rst disposed
10 be friendly with him, are snubbing
him right and left on the streets, In tho
hotels and In the corridors OF the Capi-
tol. The ladies In official society are
not sparlng him. Their caustIc tongues
are discussing Mr.. Watson from phys
ical. mental and moral standpoints. A
general attempt Is being made 70 ostra-
cize him.
The special committee appointed 70
investigate charges OF drunkenness or
members resumed its sessions this
morning.
Half dozen witnesses testified that In
their opinion Representative Cobb was
not drunk when be delivered his argu-
ment in the Noyes-Rockwell contest
The witnesses generally testified that
in their opinion Mr.. Cobb was suffering
from exhaustion, incident 70 the delly-
cry, when In poor health, OF a long
speech. marked by many interruptions
and much badgering on the part OF 9TH
or members.
Mr.. Bynum testified that II was not
an uncommon practice for members 10
take bouilion, beef tea, coffee and
other stlmulants out OF cup during
long, continued arguments, and from
knowledge Of Mr.. Cobb's physical con-
ditlon, he was satisfied that that gentle
man could not speak continuously for
two hours without taking some btlmu-
liant
Representative Rilgore, OF Texas.
testified that he had seen one member
drunk on the floor OF the House during
this session, and perhaps one or two
members who be thought were under
the influence OF liquor. He could not
recall having seen any member reel
through the aisles. he recalled one
particular occasion when a member ad-
dressing the House seemed under the
influence OF liquor.
Mr.. Kllgore said that be was in the
chair during the greater part OF Mr..
Cobb's argument. IL never occurred 70
him that Mr. Cobb was under the ianu-
ence OF liquor.
O'Bren Moore. correspondent OF tho
ST. Louis Republic, testified that he
talked with Mr.. Cobb Immediately be-
fore and after bis argument 70 which
he had listed. and be knew Mr.. Cobb
was not under the influence Of liquor.
Andrew Deyine, one OF the oficial
stenogrsphers Of the House, produced
the manuscript Of the Official report OF
Dir. Cobb's argument. and testified that
he saw nothing in Mr. Cobb's conduct
70 Justify the charges made. Many
other witnesses testified 10 Mr.. Cooo's
behalf. and the committee adjourned.
1t Is very likely that two reports viii
be presented and that Representative
Simpson will fle minority report In
behalf OF his fellow Alliance MEMBER,
Mr.. Watson, Of Georgia, IL being prac-
ticslly assured that the majority will at
least make some structures on Mr.. Wat
son.