Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-10-03
ASENT MIR. WATSON.


district has acquired few personal
enemies within the party lines. Had
ae not done this he would have per-
formed miracle AS always hap
pens in such cases the few enemies
make more noise than all the friends,
and the outside world, not knowing
Soc true situation, is liable to be de-
sAived thereby.
Tnese enemies break out period
sally with impassioned manifestos,
apparently issued from different sec
Sons OF the district, but all bearing
She same ear marks and all breathing
she same spirit. Yesterday one of
shese appeared in the Indianapolis
News, parporting to come from Shell
syville. 1t had scare headlines such
as Supremacy threatened, " "Oppo-
ltion developing to denomination of
Watson" etc.
After virtually admitting that the
article vas inspired by personal
grievance, turning down of friends =
IS he calls it in stereotyped phrase,
she writer turns or returns to Mr..
Watson s record on the Porto Rican
matter and attempts thereby to make
political capital against him. Among
ssher things in this line he says:
n the very face of the convention
shat met at Richmond in 1900, Mr..
Watson changed his vote on the Por-
20 tdcan tariff question, after assur-
ing his constituents by letter that he
was opposed to the bill and would
rote against it, and making the same
announcement in newspaper in
teryi-W There was only one news
paper n she entire district that went
70 ar. Watson S rescue, namely, the
Shelby Republican, of this city, and
ali 1t asked was that time be allowed
TO hear Mr. Watson before he was
condemned At Richmond there was
strong movement on foot to have
Ehe convention adjourn until early in
sbe fall, in order to bring out other
sandidatl 5, but Mr.. Watson S friends
argued that such move was unwar
ranted, because factlonal lights
would be aroused that would forever
cause trouble in the district. The
niS ht before the convention a love-
least was held in the opera house. Al
most every candidate for state of
ice was present, and each was called
OF for speech 1t was an opportune
time, and the meeting was really
lin Watson S meeting, but such
vas the feeling against him that he
did not attend. Few of his friends
sven knew of his whereat outs, for he
quickly disappeared after reaching
Riehmond that evening from Rush
vile. Mr.. Watson understood that
If be attended the meeting he would
be asked to explain his vote on the
saxi1 question, and not being ready
10 speak be kept away.
Ar. Watson course on that Porto
Rican question has been so often and
20 thoroughly gone over that it
rculd seem unnecessary to say any
thiag more. But lest we forget
u may be we'll to recall a few facts
The position he ook at the first flush
Of the Porto Eican tariff question was
also taaen by President Mckinley
and probably nine tenths of the Re
publican party That President Me
al 4ley ; views Tere changed on the
sabiect very soon after his first ex
preston IS veil known. No reason
able person would now question his
honesty before or after the change.
Whether Mr. Watson's views were
rssrged as suddenly as The Presi-
dent were Is question of no i'm
pcrtance. His caa nge of position in
Difference to the views of the Presi-
dent and leaders of the party in
congress simply proved bin TO be a
loyal Republican and a man of broad
common sepse who, with compare
tiyely brief public experience, was
willir Z to press his OWE private
spsnion IN so Important matter
agains, the id gemeut Of the Presi-
dent and Republican statesmen OF
many years experience in public
affairs.
rnrty were not as promptly convinced
Of the propriety Of the Porto Rican
policy finally adopted by the admin
strasion and congress as were the
leaders in Washington. But it Is
uss as true that the rank and file OF
he party are now practically unani
nous N the view that the policy was
right, and it is also just as true that
the Republicans OF the sixth district
are practically unanimous in approx
rag Congressman Watson 5 course in
the Porto Rican matter