Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-15
.NATI[RSON Wants D
The Noted Kentucky Editor After
the Democratic Nomination
for President.
Would Use Kentucky Governor.
ship as Stepping Stone to
White House.
watterson Now Working to Sc.
cure Harmony in Democratic
Party.
Would Use Kentucky Governor.


has overcome his antipathy to office
holding, and has quietly announced to
friends and few politicians that he
will not be averse to accepting the nom-
nation for governor Of Kentucky in
1903. Watterson has made no public
announcement of his candidacy. but 1t
is now generally known that he is will
ing to accept this office and lead the
Kentucky democrats out Of the wilder
ness into which 1t has wandered since
the rise and fall of the Goebel dynasty.
The Evening Post of Louisville made
the first announcement of the fact that
Watterson was receptive candidate
statement, in black type, on the first
page:
The most Interesting political event
of the past few weeks Is the announce
ment by Henry Watterson of his candi-
dacy for the democratic nomination for
governor. During the past week Mr..
Watterson has told number of gentle
men in this city that he Is already q
candidate for the nomination before the
next democratic convention, and has so
licited their support. So far his canvass
has been much in the nature Of a still
hunt, and 1t was doubtless intended to
keep 1t secret for some time longer.
The friends Of other aspirants for the
governorship were not slow. however,
in hearing of the work being done I'm
this city to pave the way for MI. Wat
terson's candidacy, and, upon making
inquiries. have learned that Mr.. Wat
terson is an avowed candidate.
Not only Is Mr.. Watterson a candi-
date for governor at the present time
but he la said to cherish the most pro-
found ambitions for future preferment.
He now desires to be the candidate Of
the democratic party for president 10
1904, and believes that If he can carry
Kentucky in 1903 he will put himself in
line for the nomination for president
enc year later. With this in view, he is
doing all in tie power to undermine the
power of Mr. Brayn in the party and at
the same time to ingratiate himself
With the men in this state. whom he has
opposed in the past. He is working
hard to induce the silver democrats of
the state to forget the past, and IS also
holding out the olive branch to the bus
mess men Of Louisville"
When Watterson saw this he smiled
blardly and remarked:
i"our afternoon contemporary. seems
to have what the boys call a SCOOP"
Then he smiled again, but not for long.
His telephone hell begansto jingle, and
his office boy to pass cards into hiH
sanctum. Reporters for rival sheets
and representatives of out-of-town pa
rers were on his trail.
TEL them Mr.. Watterson is not talk
ing" is all he would say to any one, and
secretary and others to make this reply
to all inquiries. He left for his homo
at jefferson at o'clock, and here he is
free from Intrusion. as there is neither
telephone, telegraph nor train connec-
tions at that place after that hour.
Altho he has been in public life near
ly forty years and has been considered
the man behind the throne" in more
than one national administration. Hen
ry Watterson has never but once held
public Office. and when he retired that
time he declared he would never again
accept an office of any kind. His one
experience wac in congress in 1876 wheE
the people of the Fifth Kentucky dis
trict Iouisvllle) elected him to fill out
the unexpired term of Representative
f. Y. Parsons. deceased. He accepted
that time on the request of Tilden. He
was made a member of the committee
on ways and means and his speeches
on the electoral commission were the
most noteworthy utterances on that
subject. This Tilden period was, in fact,
the most notable and picturesque in
Wattersonrs public career.
Since the seemingly irreparable split
in the democratic party over the money
question first, and then over Goebelism,
Watterson has felt that he might be
able to heal the breach, and he has de-
voted his energies in that direction. As
the leader of the Kentuck democracy he
can cement all breaches and bring
about united party in the state. He is
willing to make personal sacrifices and
sacrifices of ease and comfort to accom-
plish this. AS to 1.-THE presidency or the
platform, that is long way off. and
WatteIsor mas habit of not crossing
bridges until he reaches them.