Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-28
aMR. SPEAKER, WHERE WAS IATr
watson's tArraignment of the SD
Congress Gave Him Notortety.

ATLANTA Journai.)
Tho vice-presidential nominee OF the
PopuIist party, Hon. Thomas Il. Watson,
was a member as a Democrat Of the
Ffty-second Congress, from the Tenth
Congressional District OF Georgia. 1t was
while a member of this body that he
went over to Populism. took the reins
OF the party in Georgia in his hands. and
stood as a Popullst for reelection at the
next term against Major Back, the
Democratic nominee in the Tenth, and
was defeated. He has continuously OPP
posed Black at the polls since without
avail. 1t was as a member Of the Fifty
second Congress that he became especial
ly notorious by his Populist campaign
book. and secured for himself the en-
comium, Where am / at Watson" that
has followed him to this day and gave
to him at the time national notoriety.
When the book was issued, containing as
it did severe arraignment of the Con-
gress OF which he was a member, a wave
Of Indignation spread over the country,
especially among the Democrats, TO whom
he owed his election as national legis-
lator. The papers, east, west, and south,
took il up. The charges were reviewed
and discussed. The Populists defended
him. and the battle of words and sem
fences that ensued made Watson for a
brief time one of the most talked-of men
in America.
His arraignment OF Congress was severe
In the extreme. He charged drunkenness.
instability, the traffic Of votes and other
things that would naturally call down
upon him the revolt of every opposing
element. His reference to Where was l
at, ''purporting to show that members
appeared in the proceedings In drunken,
maudlin condition, was In the following
language:
THE Congress now sitting is one IL
lustration. Pledged to reform, they have
not reformed Pledged TO legislate, they
have not legislated. Extravaganza has
been the order Of the day. Absenteeism
was never so pronounced Lack OF pur-
pose was never so clear. Lack of COM
mon business prudence never so 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 WAS
ATT"
Honorable members made strenuous
efforts for a relief expedition 10 the
starving Russians. They hooted at the
idea OF relieving starving Americans.
Honorable members grew white in the
face denouncing the wrong we put on
the poor Chinaman' when we passed a
law requesting him to stay at home and
board at the same place But they
grabbed their able hats and went to lunch,
when the poor Americans were men,
toned. Distance lends enchantment 10
the congressi NAL view-on the poverty
question. They can see case OF distress
on the other side of the ocean-not on
have The grievances Of the laborers and
producers Of America have nothing to
hope from these men,
The appearance of the book produced
a profound sensation, and Watson stood
BY his text. The phrase where Am
At" has been widely quoted since, and
in many instances credited to Mr. Wat
son as an original expression. As a mat
ter of fact, the phrase was originated by
Hon. Thomas Cobb. of Alabama, and is
to-day one Of the most famous idioms In
the English language.
Mr.. Watson has used the subject mat
ter OF his celebrated campaign book from
the stump Ia Georgia on numerous occa-
sions. Whenever he arraigns the Con-
gress of which he was a member, and
uses the alleged expression Of an alleged
drunken member. he brings the house
down, whether the auditors are in SYM
patty with his views or not.