The San Francisco call., 1896-07-27
The Young Orator Ridiculed as
a Party Darling" and a
Pretty Man"
RECORD OF THE GEORGIAN.
Once Created an Uproar in the House
by Accusing Members of
Drunkenness.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 26.-The
nomination of Tom Watson of Georgia as
a running mate with Bryan on the Popu-
list ticket is regarded with derision in
Washington, where Watson is best known.
1t is recalled that Bryan and Watson,
when members of the Fifty second Con-
gress, were often pitted against each
other in debate. Indeed, the Georgia
Populist seemed to feel an especial ami
mostly toward Bryan and vented his
spleen whenever opportunity offered. The
two men are as different as possible in
both physical and mental makeup. Bryan,
a gifted orator. man of commanding
presence and fine voice, always had the
sympathy of fellow members and of the
galleries, which greatly irritated his ad-
versarv. Watson is typical "corn-crack-
er." His physical appearance is utterly
insignificant and strongly reminds one of
"Ransy Sniffie," described in Judge Long
streets Georgia scenes as native OF
Georgia, who had been reared on diet of
red clay and blackberries.
Watson was an aggressive Congressman,
impetueus and intemperaue in his utter
ances and seemed never happy unless he
was fomenting trouble in the House of
Representatives. When the tariff bill was
being considered, he sought to show that
Bryan was insincere in his tariff-for-rev
enue professions. He paid his compli-
ments to Bryan in this fashion:
On the other hand, we have our handsome and
brilliant friend from Nebraska Bryan), who
was put forward as the darling" of the Demo
cratic side OF the house, the prettiest man in
all the bunch, and his entire speech, which
ranged from Tom Maoreh poetry TO Joe.
Miller's Jest book, was the.. ~ and substance
of the old Democratic posluon on the tariff
that 'Wc will practice what is wrong, while
we know what is right"
After. burst of laughter Watson pro-
ceeded to the serious features of the tariff,
but soon returned to Bryan. and con-
tinued:
He announced his ideal Democratic plat
form, not a platform you would have, but 8
platform you should have-a platform you
could have if man were sitting quietly by
his fire at night with his feet in his slippers,
cigar in his mouth, hot toddy by his side,
nothing to disturb him, and ideal Democratic
dreams in his heart. Now, what was that plat
form? Itwas very pretty. 1t has all the vague
charms of the underlined. 1t has all the bound
less beauty of landscape that has no limit
He says this phrase, tariff for protection" is
says, in effect: al do not object to il if it does
by indirection what the other says 1t should
do directly; but object 10 tariff which says
in plain words what 1t is meant to do"
There was much laughter on the Repub-
lican side. Watson quoted some of
Bryan's glowing sentences and then
added:
That is beautiful. 1t is like the old fish,
trap, with one mouth down the stream and the
other up, and it catches 'em comm and q
goin'. [Great laughter.l
Watson finally made himself odious to
his felIow-members by writing a campaign
book, in which he accused some of them
of incompetency, intemperance and venal-
ity. On one hot July day General Wheeler
of Alabama arose to a question of priv
lege and read from the clerks desk the
following paragraph from Watson's book !:
Lack of common business prudence was never
more glaring. Drunken members have reeled
about the aisles, a disgrace to the Republic.
Drunken speakers have debated grave issues
on the floor, and in the midst of maudlin
ramblings have been heard to ask, "Mr.
Speaker, where am I at?''
General Wheeler then proceeded to ar
raIgn Watson for his statements. Watson
tried to make an explanation, but was
howIed down. This angered him and he
beloved, loudly:
1 want it to be understood that no Repre-
sentative from New York can buIldoze me in
the exercise of my rights on this floor He
may as well understand that now / stand
here to defend every line in the book, and will
do 1t against ali corners, whether from the
North or South. IHisses.1 l say that every
word in that book is literally true. and ali
vi mn bqU hapu hair
and wanting to admit the facts will admit
these facts as fairly stated.
A scene of confusion followed, and Wat
son was Gale to order, but by a vote of
139 to 25, was allowed to proceed as
follows:
ask no grace from a Democratic majority
which seeks TO hiss me down when 1 am
defending my character on this floor I scorn
your grace. seorn your mercy. The only
crime charged in that paragraph, which a
Democrat takes offense ct, is that he got drunk
al the barroom this Congress allows to be run
in the basement, and the record shows that
members came up here on previous day and
admitted that they were drinkers at it. You
have planted the tree, why should you wonder
at its fruit2
Loud protests were now heard from all
parts of the chamber, and the House voted
against allowing him to proceed. Watson
frequently gave utterance to incendiary
sentiments. He was one of the strongest
advocates for an investigation of the
Pinkertons, and it was during the discus
sion of resolution to this effect that he
used the following language:
We are on the eve of social outbreak. We
are at the crisis of our republican govern
ment. In a few months it will be decided
whether we have a Government OF law and or
der, whether peace can be maintained by the
constituted authorities. or whether each side
will arm itself with the deadliest weapon of
destruction and fight out their grievances.
Such is the character of the man who by