The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-08-19


time" said Watson, a.,
"well, I'll explain to you," said the
railroad man.
"He stuck close to that valise. 1t con
tanned 500, 900 in actual money-bills OF
ordinary denominations!
Cool 100000 Ready.
Gle was sent from New York to Co
| lumbus aud authorized to give you that
amount in cold cash to withdraw the
suit against the Standard Oil Company.
If that was not enough he was author
| izad to give you as much more as you
might want.
'I knew all about this when he started,
and my suggestion was that they might
as we'll save travelling expenses know
human nature.
81 had a notion to telegraph you to be
on your guard, as they might make you
the offer with some compromising trick
attached"
All this brought back to Watson the
events of an afternoon in his office at
Columbus
The LAWYER mentioned by the railroad
friend had called informally, put down
a valise with an apology about stopping
over between trains" had talked about
wealth and politics and then asked about
the Standard Oil suit.
Watson was asked if anything could
be done" and he answered NO"
The visitor seemed regretful, changed
the subject, and picking up his valise,
went out.
When this incident was rehearsed to
Watson's railroad friend in New York he
said:
"That man went out with that money
to buy you. He expected you to ask a
question when he asked if anything
could be done. He hoped you would
ask, What do you mean" or something
like that.
"Then he would hove looked around,
locked the door, got out of window
range and opened that valise. He would
have shown you the fortune of lifetime
in nice packages-$l 100000 in clean, actu-
al money-and would have left it with
| YOU had you consented to withdraw the
suit or postpone it."
Watson Bitterly Attacked.
Nor was this the only assault attempt
ed on Watson's personal and political
virtue. Newspapers dominated and con-
trolled by the Standard Oil Trust im-
pugned his methods and motives.
They openly accused him of bringing
the suit at the instigation of the railroads
who were hurt by pipeline competition:
| There were sneers among Standard
agents and lawyers that it was another
shake down." or squeeze" suit, and
would end as all other such attacks upon
the monopoly had ended, i'll a buying
up"
Letters like that of Hanna-some of
them more vicious came to the Attor-
ney-General. Although he resented most
| forcibly these insinuations, he kept reso-
| lutely on, hired eminent counsel to as
sist the State and won the suit.
The great lawyers of the Standard,
with Joseph II, Choate and Counsel
Dodd in the lead, were beaten.
At that time Charles Foster, former
Governor of Ohio, was interested with
the Standard Oil Company in the North
western oil and gas fields. He was also
interested in the affairs of this nation as
Secretary of the Treasury i'll the Cabinet
of President Ben jamin Harrison.
Foster and Watson had been warm
| friends for years. Foster undertook to
| have Watson withdraw the suit, but did
it wisely and diplomatically. Fosters
plan was to give Watson place abroad
"a paying place as Minister to some for
eign court. In this way it was supposed
Watson could be got out of the Attor-
ney- Generals Office before the suit was
| brought to trial, and the Standard could
arrange with his successor to withdraw
| the case.
OF course, President Harrison did not
know Of the scheme, and no doubt on
Fosters suggestion the appointment
would have been made.
Fosters Plan Failed, Too.
But Fosters plan did not work. Wat
son would not even take this easy
method of getting away from a lawsuit
which threatened him with political dis
aster.
Fosters friends who were Watson's
friends did all in their power to per-
suade Watson that he had nothing to
gain and all to lose by fighting the
Standard. D. ]. Ryan, then Secretary of
State of Ohio, advised against the attack
on the trust, though not doubling its
righteousness. Allen T. Brinsmade, of
| Cleveland, United States District Attor-
ney for Northern Ohio, also advised
Watson that it was foolish to oppose
|
Hanna seemed for the time to forget
his threat to destroy Watson's political
ambitions. In fact, Watson's prestige
after winning the suit was such that the
Standard and Hanna did not dare oppose
him. Besides, Watson was always a con-
sistent adherent of the Mckinley faction
in Ohio. When Mckinley was Governor
| Watson was a confidential admirer and
adviser.
At the request of Mckinley in 1894
| Watson made the race for Congress in
the Columbus district, and was elected
although it was considered reliably
Democratic.
Mckinley had promised Watson to
take care of him If he failed. McKin.
ley's idea was that with Watson's help
the Columbus district would elect Nc
Kinley delegates to st. Louis.
In 1896 Watson ran again and was
beaten by 49 votos. This result was due
in great part to the carelessness or stu
pidity of certain managers who were
close to the Mckinley throne.
McKinley's Promise Not Fulfilled.
Watson's defeat under such circum
stances and by such a narrow margin
gave him much sympathy, and President
Mckinley promised that he should have
some good appointment.
| Watson wanted to be Interstate Com
merce Commissioner, but some mysteri
Gus influences were put at work II
Washington to prevent his appointment
to this place, and he is still waiting fol
Hanna and the President to pick ou
something equally as good"
l., Il