New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
were opposing him. and they succeeded In hold
ing the convention in deadlock for seven days.
HIS FIRST ORATORICAL SUCCESS


Patrick Walsh Of Augusta, one of the "discov-
erers' and leading hackers of Bryan at the re-
cent Democratic National Convention. was in
charge of General Coquitt's canvass, and one
day declared that his candidate would be nomi-
mated by the Convention IF it took till Christ
mas" Watson. young. beardless and weazen-
| faced" as he is described by who saw the
scene, rushed to the platform to reply to Walsh.
and delivered a speech (Which made him, at
the age of twenty-six, known all over Georgia
The young orator dashed himself into rhetor-
| ical fury and hurled anathema and defiance at
the Augusta editor and his supporters As a
| climax. he quoted a stanZa from Holiness poem
on the proposed dismantlng of the frigate
/ Constitution in true hoy orator style
Nail to the mast her holy flag
Set every threadbare sail.
And give her TO the God of storms.
The ghtn!ng and the gale!
1T a brilliant impromptu effort" says
one Of Mr.. Watsons bographers, "and set the
Convention wild"
Nevertheless and Notwithstanding as Senator
Vest would put it, General Colquitt was noml-
mated On one Of the succeeding ballots In
1SS2-S3 the Boy Orator" served in the Georgia
Legislature and secured a further lien on fame
by drafting measure which became known
subsequently the Watson Dog law. In lSSS
he was made an Elector-at-Large on the Demo-
cratic Presidential ticket. and stumped the state
for Cleveland and tariff reform He was or
course, elected and voted though uselessly for
Cleveland and Thurman In the Electoral Col
lege.
IN THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Two years later when the Farmers Alliance
movement began to develop surprising strength
In the South. Mr.. Watson seized thu opportunity
to drift into Congress on the rising tide of Wild
eyed and irpracticable sentiment He an
~ he
and entered the field for the Democratic nomi-
nation for Congress in the Xth Georgia Dis
Democrat who enjoyed the distinction of
greater physical bulk than any other states
then in Congress Watson carried all the
country districts against Barnes and won the
nomination. AS lawyer Mr. Watson was not
eligible to membership in the Alliance. so he
melodramatically gave up his practice, sold his
law library at auction and became nominal, If
not horny handed, farmer. for the sole purpose
of entering the new and powerful Alliance or
ganizatiOn. AT indianapolis in 1871 the Ma
tional Alliance, by resolution. Instructed men,
bers Of Congress claiming utilization with it to
refuse to enter the caucuses of either of the
old parties
Mr. Watson. alone among the Southern Demo-
Gratis who had coquetted with the Alliance and
owed their election to its support, accepted this
injunction in good faith When the Lid Con-
gress assembled he refused to enter the Demo
cratic caucus or to vote for his colleague, Judge
Crisp. for Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives. Instead. he allied himself openly with the
western
Simpson and became their party candidate for
Speaker. On the rOcall for the choice of a
Speaker on December s. 1891. he received votes.
against DDS for Crisp and 50 for Reed, his own
vote not being recorded for any candidate. His
refusal TO support Mr.. Crisp and his subsequent
attitude in the House on party questions carried
him completely out Of the Democratic organza-
ton. and he obliged TO seek a reelection in
1872 as an Out-and-Out POpulst. His opponent.
an anti-Alliance Democrat. j. c. c. Black. of Au
gusta, defeated him in that year on close vote,
and off oh, IIof cd ont m
the ground Of fraud. he could not get his case
heard by the House Of Representatives which re-
manned strongly Democratic.
THE "WHgRE-wAs-T-AT?' EPISODE.
His career in the LID Congress was a rather
stormy one and he figured conspicuousy in at
least one Of the sensations Of the long session.
Early in the spring of 1892 in the course Of the
debate the Noyes- Rockwell election case. Mr..
Cobb Of Alabama. had propounded his famous
query Mr. Speaker, where was at?' Mr.. Wat
son, In preparing political handbook for Popu
list use during the campaign of 1872. had made
this widely celebrated incident the basis Of some
sweeping charges against the membership OF the
House. In the preface to his campaign volume,
over his own signature, he had drawn this bitter
and pointed Indictment Of the Democratic major
ity in Congress:
Pledged to reform they have not reformed.
Pledged TO economy, they have not economical.
Pledged to legislate, they have not legislated.
EXtraNaSance has been the order OF the day.
Absent eeism was never so pronounced. Lack or
purpose was never clear. Lack OF business
prudence was never so glazing. Drunken MEM
berS have reeed about the aises, disgrace 10
the Republic. Drunken speakers have debated
grave issues on the floor and in the midst of
maudn ramblings have been heard TO ask Mr..
Speaker, where was | at :? "
The attention of the House was first called to
this scathing criticism by General Wheeler. Of
Alabama who had got into personal contro
versy with Mr.. Watson on the accuracy OF some
OF the votes recorded In the campaign book.
General Wheeler's proposition TO punish Mr..
Watson for his sins Of rhetoric was allowed TO
drop after some perfunctory discussion. A com
mttee appointed TO investigate the charges Of
Congressional drunkenness reported subsequent
ly that Mr. Watson's representations were UNI
true and a'"grave assault on the integrity of
the House" But there the matter ended.
The Populist Vice-Presldential candidate, as
has been said, IVES defeated for reelection in
1892. He again for Congress against the
gross frauds were perpetrated by the Demo-
cratic managers that the Representatives,
Major Black. hesitated TO accept tainted GER
ticate, and finally of his own motion resigned
the seat in order to allow fairer test Of public
sentiment He was again elected at this special
trial but by reduced majority. and Mr.. Wat
son once more entered n contest and carried 1t
to Washington. This last appeal has not yet
been passed upon by the House
OPINIONS OF BRYAN AND sEWALL.
Mr. Watson's nomination for the Vice-Presi- |
dency came to him apparently unsolicited. For |
the last year two he has been serving az the |
editor Of Populst newspaper published in
Atlanta and in its editorial columns he gave |
notice shortly before the St Louis Convention |
met that he should not be considered candl- |
date for either place on the National ticket. |
SympathiZing however, with the "Middle-of- |
the Road" Populists In their desire to defeat
the nomination of Sewall for the Nice-Presi- |
dency and thus preserve a semblance of party !
integrity. he yielded to the representations or |
his Georgia friends at st. Louis that he was /
the most available candidate on whom the anti |
:. he
lowed himself to he tagged as a prudent party |
makeweight to the tail of Mr. Bryans Presi- /
Dental kite. Mr.. Watsons opinion OF Bryan |
as running mate has been rather frankly /
stated In some editorial paragraphs from his |