The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-11
Incident I'm the House OF Representa-
preted by the Reporters.
MIR. JOHNsON's STATEMENT
HIS REASONS FOR REFUSING TO AC-
CEPT PROFFERED FRIENDSHIP.
Congressman Watson's Brief Commc N 4
Tho Fortifcntions Bill-Caucus
on immigration Measures.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 10.-Representative
Johnson sat at his desk in the House OF
Representatives yesterday morning reading
some letters. A voice at his side said to
him:
"Good morning, Mr.. Johnson
Mr.. Johnson looked UP and saw Repre-
sentative Watson standing by his desk. His
right hand was stretched to greet Mr.. JOHN
son. The latter ignored the preferred saluta-
ton.
Wont you take my hand?' said Mr.
Watson; do you refuse to shake hands with
me?"
II certainly do refuse" replied Mr.. john
son. Under no circumstance will / shake
hands with YOU"
Mr.. Johnson turned away from Mr.. Wat
son, but the latter sat down In a vacant
chair beside the man who had just refused
his friendship. Now let Mr.. johnson con-
tinue the story:
without any invitation from me, Mr..
Watson sat down by my side and COM
menced to converse with me. stopped him,
and then proceeded, without either passion
or levity. and in plain, straightforward
manner, to tell him exactly what thought
of him and the methods he had employed
against me in the canvass just closed, and
gave him my reasons for refusing to shake
hands with him. 1t is not necessary for
me to repeat what was said in the con-
versation. Indeed, regret to have to refer
to the incident at all. / should not have
done so but for the false coloring given to
it. 1t is probably wiser to let all such mat
ters drop. am not disposed to be vindic-
tive. but when have won my nomination
fairly and by the use of honorable methods
over the peculiar kind of fight that was
made against me, confess that 1 am in
dignant to hear myself falsely characterized
s minority candidate and have 1t er-
roneously reported that carrieA Fall creek
township, in Henry county. by a trade with
local candidates. 1 shall throw no obstacles
in Mr.. Watsons way, nor do I ask my
friends to share my opinion Of him; but I
cannot and will not permit him to pose as
my friends. nor put me in the attitude Of
condoning acts which thought despicable
when they were committed and which
recently denounced from the stump in the
county of Henry
No comment or addition is needed to these
words of Mr.. Johnson's. The Journal cor
respondent sought out Mr.. Watson for his
statement of the encounter.
There is really nothing for me to say
replied Mr.. Watson. 81 offered Mr.. john
son my hand and he refused to accept 1t.
1 have nothing to add to this plain state
ment of what occurred"
A curious feature of this entire episode,
which may find sequel at the district
nominating convention, when Mr.. Johnson
will be present to address the delegates
from all the counties In which the late cam
paign was waged. was the calmness with
which 1t occurred. Mr.. Johnson made
charge after charge, explaining to Mr.. Wat
son why any reconciliation between them was
forever impossible, ard yet the two men sat
side by side, apparently chatting SO dis
pass.onately that curious story was cir
culated to the effect that the two men had
met, shaken hands and were the best of
friends. As a matter of fact their differences
can never be reconciled.