The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-03
WATSON ON HIS METTLE.
uu srICKS TO HIS CLAIM THAT
~ COBB WAS DRUNK.

watson aud Chairman boatner
u,zeee in Spirited Colloquy-lhe
caoreisn Becom ss Irritated and Ex-
,,,l,its a Little Spunkinese.
yv,suyGroS, Aug 2.-The committee
-, ;ag,lopvn wound uD its hearings this ef-
.srnoon with a hot cslloquy between
Cho,rman Boatner and Tom Watson, which
,a.rovad the feelings of the two sides OF the
controversy. The majority OF the commit
COO are prepared to report tomorrow MORN
80 that Representative Watson is all
4 ,.r,n0 and the House is all right. Also tnat
AZ. Watson should be severely censured, IL
,,ot expelIed: Jerry Simpson coming in, OK
n ooprse with his minority report sustaining
NJ Watsop's charges, but the inevitable
Isay in the printing Of the interesting tes-
tinony taken by the committee Will give
n tho majority time to consider carefully
q their report, as they have been
sdvised to do by Speaker Crisp and other
y caoroans who appreciate the desire OF Mr..
n Watson to be magnifed by severe report
n from, the committee. Some members of the
n committee, believing that the newspapers,
bv nublishinz the testimony, have already
exonerated the House and condemned MIR.
Watson, are willing to let the matter drop
altogether for this session, provided the ad-
iournment comes early enough to cut off
action naturally.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE.
Bv the Astocidted Press.
WASHINGTON, Aug To-day the House
committee investigating the allegations
made by Representative Watson in his book
OF drunkenness among the members of con-
cress. heard Mr. Clarke Of Alabama, who
testified in brief that the only instance of
drunkenness he had ever seen on the floor
of the House was upon one occasion during
the silver debate
Representative Cobb then took the stand
In his own defense. He denied the allega-
itons in Mr.. Watson's book that he was
drunk or In any degree under the influence
of liouor, or that he had told page TO
bring him whisky.
Mr. Watson then made q statement in
reference to the paragraph in the book
which has caused 80 much discussion, saying
that 1t could not be understood thoroughly
unless the whole chapter was taken into
consideration. He thsn paid a tribute 20
the character OF MIR. Cobb, and stated that
be had never meant to draw the gentleman
# into the 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 cam
paign snd political purposes. And he had
10 intention when he wrote IL of bringing
odum upon Mr.. Cobb.
INTENDED TO ARRAIGN THE HOUSE.
NOW. II you did not intend to reflect
upon Mr. Cobb. who did you intend to re-
feet uponM said Chairman Boatnsr.
To this pointed question Mr.. Watson gave
| aVas{ a hnG at last Mr. ROaE-
ner insisting that he oonfine mis- answers 20
the question Mr. Watson said he meant It
TO apply to members Of the House.
Did you mean TO arraigu the HouseP
said Mr.. Boatnsr.
"Yes, Idid," answered Mr.. Watson.
Mr.. Watson then proceeded to argue at
some length in explanation OF the para
graph in the book, the substance OF the
argument being that it meant to infer that
the House had not kept any Of the promises
OF the democracy, aud that IL had been vir-
tually derelict in its duty to the country.
A SHARP CoLLoouY.
His dissertation, however, was cut short
By coloquy between himself aud Mr..
Boatner, in which each accused the other of
diScourtesy in the course OF the investiga-
Iion. The bad feeling between them was
particularly manifest during Mr.. Boatners
cross-qusstioning TO draw from Mr.. Watson
statement that his paragraph referred
peIeJhdlAy 10 CODD or 70 kQS hOu66 III
general, and Mr.. Watson's seeming indispo-
sition to answer.
DO you mean for me to answer that
question: said the gentleman from Geor-
gia.
u certainly do" said the chairman.
WATSON GROWS VERY BRUsoUE.
Then" said Mr.. Watson, with much
emphasis and with evident feeling, 81 am
ready to answer you, right now, or any
other tmen
Mr. Boatner was apparently annoyed at
SuI W atson's sharp retort, and replied that
ne nad always tried to treat the gentleman
with courtesy
am glad to hear you acknowledge even
mat came back Mr.. Watson. "All
sssough this Investigation you have acted
tue part OF prosecutor"
But" said MIR. Boatner, az don't exactly
'avCq .S th9 drift Of your remarks"
A., -,or DO believe you have; and | don't
E tuiLE you want to, and | don't think you
VIII" said Mr.. Watson.
d. 30 % you mean to arraign the members Of
'ue aousef" said Mr.. Boatuer
M lou nave II, was the answer.
ihis ended the colloquy.
Concluding, Mr.. Watson, after testifying
S GO W lls admiration for Mr.. Cobb in an-
% el 70 question put by the chairman,
o,'SSsrted his belief that Mr.. Cobb had been
,a.IiAa65ng on the night of the debate, but
a1fW u's BJdG6ul60C somewhat Dy de-
~ ta. Ios that after all 1t might be q matter
g. - Vplnlon, and that it was difficult mat
5r,tVr d.. tot men to agree whether O man was
urGlk or not.
s,hue 1iere MIR Boatner interpose this question /:
catoi,' Uo you still believe Mr.. Cobb was intoxi-
'Idon
po.,s' Hr' wilson OF West Virginia and Judge
had ;'Gn ~. OF Indiana, both testified that they
yoth;nened t;isCened to Mr.. Cobb and had noticed
eau IN hls manner to indicate inuoxi-
tes,ia tue nearing was then ended and the
lin ti'aNony closed. As it will take some
in .To 70 print the testimony nothiog further
'1s matter will be done at present
coBB's STATEMENT.
3 tbo13Lore Mr. Cobb began his statement
booL ~ Ian boatner read charges from the
rnala " u question and requested Mr.. Cobb to
rrefooaiy aIy statement he saw at. Mr.. Cobb
,le i9l ins.s. ms statement by remarking that
,nst 'suoed TO quote from his address on
ms"a' 'g;ye9ing TO show that "he w6s not
NJ 10 q drunk or rambling in his talk. -
fror, Cobo read copious extracts
stsro.the o The original notes of the
tSa Saosrapher reporting his address and
Svra.. ioos questions put TO him and his an