Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1892-08-11
Gkf GQleehlg Arpus,
Representative Watson.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2--ToHday
the House committee investigating
allegations made by Mr.. Watson
in his book of drunkenness among
member of Congress, heard Mr..
Clark, of Alabama, who testified in
the belief that the only instance of
drunkenness he had ever seen on
| the floor OF the House was npon
| one occasion during the silver de-
bate.
Mr.. Cobb then took the stand
in his W defence. He denied
the allegations in Mr.. Watson's
book that he was drunk, or in any
degree under the influence Of liquor,
or that he had told a page to bring
whiskey.
MIR. Watson then made a state
ment in reference to the paragraph
in the book which has caused so
much discussion, saying that it
could not be understood thorough
~ unless the whole chapter was
taken into consideration. He then
paid tribute to the character of
Mr.. Cobb, ard stated that he had
never meant to draw the gentle
man into a difficulty, nor had he
aimed at him individually in his
reference to "rambling or maudlin
drunkards on the floor" His book,
he asserted, was compiled for the
campaign and political purposes,
and he had no intention when he
wrote it of bringing odium on Mr.,
Cobb,
Nov, if you did not intend to
reflect upon Mr.. Cobb, who did
you intend to reflect upon?" said
|Chairman Boatner.
To this pointed question Mr..
Watson gave evasive answers, but
lat last, upon Mr.. Boatner insisting
THAT he confne his answer to the
| question, Mr.. Watson said ne
meant it to apply to members OF
the House.
"Did you near to arraign the
Houee?" said Mr.. Boatner.
ayes, did," answered Mr.. Wat
c son.
MI. Watson then proceeded tc
argue at some length in explanar
ton of the paragraph in the book:
the substance of the argument be-
ing that it meant to infer tbs
House had not kept any of tht
promises of the Democracy anc
that it had been virtually derelic'
in its duty to the country. His dis
%sertation, however, was cut shor
by a colloquy between himself ane
: Mr.. B~oatner, in which each &C
Gu ed the other of discourtesy il
the course of the investigation
Bad feeling between them wa
particularly manifest during Mr.
Boatner's close cross-questionln!
to draw from Mr.. Watson tn
statement that his paragraph re
ferred personally to MI. Cobb or t
the House in general, and MI
Watson's seeming indisposition t
answer.
"Do you mean for me to answe
1r that question:" said the gentlema
as from Georgia. 81 certainly do,
said the chairman. "TheD," sal
~ Mr.. Watson, with much emphas
and with evident feeling, 81 al
ready to answer you right now {
any other time"
Mr.. B~oatner was APPARENTLY al
noyed at Mr. Watson's sharp r.
ill tort, and replied that he had alwa,
tried to treat the gentleman wit
courtesy. 81 am glad to hear 20
acknowledge even that" can
back from Mr.. Watson. GA
ial through this investigation you haS
49, acted the part of prosecutor"
"But," said Mr.. Boatner, "Idon
on exactly catch the drift of your r
marks" "Nor do l believe "
have, and l don't think you wa
to, and l don't think you will
said NJ. Watson.
$50 you mean to arraign men
. bers of the House." said Mr.. Boa
- ner. "You have it" was the al
&c swer.
This ended the collquy. 20
ben ben GLIDING, MI. Watson, after testif
nth ing as to his admiration for N
Cobb, in ansl er to a question p
Nv by the chairman, ~reasserted his
and lief that Mr.. Cobb had been drin
ing on the night of the debate, b
modified his statement somewh
by declaring hat after all it mig
only be a matter of opinion, a
that it was quite a difficult matt
1ere for men to agree whether a IN
was drink Or not. Here \