Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-15
WATSON VISITS Rome
Des Moines Man, On His Way
to Washington to See Pres
ident, in the City
a VETERAN OF THREE WARS
Thru the Efforts of Father-in-Law,
Ex-congressman Bingham, He Is
Discharged From Army During Civil
war-Has Served in Recent strug-
sles-He Asks for Reinstatement.

|
las a visitor veteran Of three wars
in the person of Maj. Wasson, of Des
| Moines. the story Of whose life would
make romance worthy of the per
of Gen Charles King, whose numerou:
4 stories have dealt with army life. Maj
/ WATSON spent the day Ill the city as the
guest of Veteran w. NJ. Barkhurst, OF
the Home, but among the members anc
officers of the institution are men whom
Mai. WATSON knew almost quarter
i Of a century ago. WATSON is on his
way to Washington to see Preslden,
Roosevelt and attempt TO secure a rein
statement in the United States army
In President Lincolns time he was
the victim Of circumstances that rob-
bed him of his army position and placed
him in disrepute in the service.
The story of Maj. Wasson's life dur
| ing the past forty years, while sounding
like fiction, is substantiated by men OF
with the facts. When in his early
twenties Mr.. WATSON graduated from
West Point and at the breaking out OF
the civil war was given a commission
as paymaster in the army in with
rank of major. Shortly after the COM
mencing Of ilostilities he married the
daughter of United States Congress
man John A. Bingham, of Ohio. Bling
ham was at this time one of the most
influential men at Washington and
welded no little power with the adj
lministration. He was bitterly opposed
to the wedding of his daughter with
young WATSON and used every means in
his power to prevent the match. The
young people We're married, however.
and in so doing WATSON gained the
Everlasting hatred ef his father-in-l law.
After the war had been In progress
some time certain officers in the army,
who were friends of Maj. WATSON were
badly in need of funds and prevailed
on their raymaster friend to advance
them. their salaries for month or
more. This WATSON did, and in some
unknown manner the news of the trans
action reached Congressman Bingham
and thru his influence WATSON was
tried and discharged from the service
and sentenced to prison.
After having served a portion Of his
sentence friends of the man, who We're
in the army, took up his cause and
brought the matter before President
Andrew Johnson, who investigated the
charges. AS the president found that
the offenses committed We're only of
technical nature, and as the govern
ment had lost nothing, he pardoned
WATSON. While the president could not
reinstate him to his former place in
the service WATSON was told that If he
again wished a commission he must
make for himself a subsequent wal
record. This WATSON has ever since
been endeavoring to do. He drifted
around the world and was in Japan
at the time war broke out between
that country and China. He at once
cast his lot with the smaller country
and as his ability as & civil engineer
was at once recognized by Japan gem
erals he was made chic. of staff to one
of them with a rank Of colonel He
served with distinction during that
short war and drifted back to the Uni
ted States just before the Spanish
American war broke ont He at once
enlisted as private and was assigned
to service with a regiment that was
sent to the Philippines under the COM
mand of Col. SCHUYLER. Col. SCHUYLER
was also a graduate of West Point. hay-
ing left the institution the year be-
fore WATSON entered. WATSON served
three years in the Philippines and was
discharged in this country. He arrived
in this city Tuesday and spent the day
here with Mr.. Barkhurst and other
friends at the Home, leaving last night
for Washington. where he will present
his claim for reinstatement in the army
before President Roosevelt. as he now
has the required war record. Mr. Was
son is now quite an old man, being SO
years Of age.