The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
WATSON IN THE CITY
HE SAYS HE WILL NOT BE A CANDI-
DATE FOR A STATE OFFICE.
How the sMan Who Beat Holman"
Met n Waterloo I'm Fall
Creek Township.

fight against Henry U. Johnson for renom-
nation to Congress in the Sixth district,
recently attracted so much attention, was
in the city yesterday. Mr.. Watson's mission
here was not a political one: He was here
to consult with his associate counsel, Denny
& Mcbride, relative TO the suit brought to
set aside the viii OF John Heron, which
left something like $4,000 to the Indianap-
oils Art Association. That case is now in
the Supreme Court on a collateral issue that
Involves the question Of a cost bond and
an early decision is expected. In anticipa-
ton that the case will get TO an early
trial an attorney for the plaintiff will go
to California at an early date to take dep
ositions.
During his stay here Mr.. Watson was
congratulated on all hands upon the great
race he made in Henry county, coupled with
which were many expressions or regret that
he had not been successful. Mr.. Watson is
taking his defeat philosophicaily. He has
not yet made up his mind whether he will
withdraw from the contest and make 1t
unanimous or whether he will go through
the formality of a finish. Mr.. Watson wants
one thing understood, and that is that he
IS not candidate for any other office, and
any use that has been made of his name
in connection with the Office OF Governor
or Secretary Of State has been entirely I'M
authorized. He expects to return 10 Wash
ington Monday afternoon and unless he
should return to the Sixth district conven-
ton to be held at New Castle April 16,
he will remain until the end Of the session,
giving his entire attention to his Congress
sional duties At the end of his congress
sional term on the 4th OF next March he
will return to Rushville and resume the
practice Of law. He has accepted the sit
uation growing out OF the Henry county
primaries and his political future is not
causing him any worry.
THE MIDDLETOwN WATERLOO.
little investigation has resulted in the
clearing I'D OF one of the mysteries that
appeared in connection with the defeat Of
Watson. This was the disaster in Fall
Creek township. 1t Is in this township that
the town of Middletown Is located. The
Irondale mills are at Middletown. 1t was
among the employees Of these mills that the
blue book, containing matter likely to DAM
age the standing of Johnson with the union
labor element was circulated, and it was
here that Watson was expected to show
his greatest strength. His most sanguine
friends thought he might carry the town
ship by two hundred majority, and even the
opposition conceded that he would carry IT.
What was the CONSERVATION among the
Watson ranks therefore when the full re-
turns from Fail Creek showed that Johnson
had carried 1t by something like dozen
votes. The information had TO De verified
before it was believed, and when there was
no longer any doubt of it the friends of
Watson threw up the sponge. Mr.. Watson
says that the disaster that overlook him In
Fall Creek was the result OF trade ar,
ranged between the friends OF Johnson and
a candidate for place on the Henry coun-
ty ticket. The deal appears to have been
Cor Nfsaa ~ dol yTr0
mated by a margin of only few votes.
Had this deal not been consummated and
could Watson have carried the township by
even less than half the majority that 1t
was counted that he would. he and not
Johnson would have been the victor.
The Middletown enthusiasm for Watson
was of a fiery and ebullient character, rival
ing even that in New Castle. On the night
of Watson's closing meeting at New Castle
several special cars were attached to the
regular Panhandle train. and between three
and four hundred employees Of the Irondale
mills and other Watson sympathizers came
over to the meeting. with the excursion
came the Irondale Glee Club which sang
several excellent selections, among them
song to the tune of East Side, West Side,
which was that Watson would get another
term in Congress, and that Johnson would
he lost in the tureen. The song was com
posed by Mrs. l.. Il. Jackson, wife of the
superintendent of the Irondale mills and Mr.
and Mrs. jackson, with a party Of friends.
decorated one Of the boxes on the night OF
II.
an uncompromising DEMOCRAT up to the time
of the passage of the Wilson bill, and the
panic that followed it, but some time ago he
renowned Democracy, and since then there
has been more enthusiastic Republican in
Henry county than l.. Il. Jackson. Mr.. Wat
son conceived that it would be good card
for Jackson to make a few remarks to the
audience that crowded every foot of space
In the opera house. and at the conclusion of
one of his paragraphs. along. about the mid
die of his speech he made reference to that
splendid man there in the box" and told the
audience that thew would have the oppor-
tunity OF hearing him.
HE WAS 'DAMNABLY TWISTED"
In due time Watson closed, and jackson
was presented, being received with salvos
Of applause from the Irondale men, who had
been given places in the pit. Mr. Jackson
is not accustomed to public speaking, and he
was evidently embarrassed. Like other en-
barrassed speakers, he took refuge in a
story, the purpose Of which was to show how
he was at sea politically. The narrative was
OF an Irishman, who got drunk Saturday
night, and stayed drunk all day Sunday.
Monday morning the Irishman awakened to
find that he had only four minutes I'm which
to dress and get to the factory. In his hurry
and panic he got into his overalls backward.
and. running to the factory, got tangled I'D
and fell As he lay helpless, face downward,
him If he was dead Not dead" was the
reply, "but damnably twisted" Mr.. Jack
son was not sure that he had landed COM
pietely in the Republican camp, but he did
know that he was going to vote the ticket
at the coming election; that he was for Wat
son, and that his politics was "damnably
some other directions was shown when he
wound up his speech at the conclusion of a
merry and 1orid climax by proposing three
rtp-roaring cheers for Jimmie Johnson
The audience knew whom Mr.. jackson
meant, and three tremendous whoops re-
sponded to his request