Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05
HIS CHARGES RESENTED
ACCUSED MEMBERS OF BEING
"EEELING DRUNK" ON FLOOR.
Identity Never Learned of the Man
Who Inquired of the Speaker
Where He Was cat"

notorlety and political fame the 18th of
July, 1892. Watson and 'Sockless" Jerry
Simpson of Kansas were among the small
nrmber of populists who at that time held
seats in the House.
Congress was at that moment wranging
over an appropriation for the worlds fair
at Chicago. and the members were not in
particularly good humor anyhow. The
heat of the summer and the various phases
of politics had made them ill-tempered,
and they were ready for any kind of a fray.
They soon got it.
General Joe Wheeler, who was member
of the House from Alabama for many years
before he was appointed brigader general
OF the United States army by President Nc
kinney, rose in his seat and having secured
the recognition of the Speaker, read from
the peoples party campaign book of that
year the following startling statements:
Tom Watson's Charge.
Drunken members have reeed about the
House disgrace to the republic Drunken
speakers have debated grave issues and
in the midst of maudlin ramblings have
been heard to ask, Mr. Speaker, where am
l at?"
General Wheeler as stated read this
paragraph out of the peoples party cam
ra1gn book fresh from the press bound in
pale blue cover, embellished with a por-
trait OF its author, Mr. Watson. Upon this
extract from that remarkable literary pro-
auction of the campaign of 1892 the atten-
Lon or the House was instantly fixed the
more SO because of the scathing words with
Which General Wheeler denounced it.
Mr.. watson, who was just pale and
Tim and sallow then as now, arose at once
TO his feet, flushed and trembling, not to
deny the accusations contained in the para
graph, but to repeat them.
Il stand here" he said, in his thin, nasal
voice, ito defend every line in this book,
and L will do it against all corners, whether
from the north or from the south
He was interrupted by Kisses that did not
mean anger. but We're apparently intended
to goad him on.
Il say" he almost shouted. that every
word in the book Is literally true and all
men wEo have been here and kept their
eyes open will admit that the facts are fair
ly stated"
The misses were renewed and confusion
prevailed.
''Sockless" Jerry Simpson of Kansas came
to his confrere's rescue Let 'em hiss" he
cried, addressing himelf more to Mr. Wat
son than to the House; lit is the privilege
of geese to hiss.
Retraction Demanded.
This only increased the anger of those
who had resented the accusations in the
paragraph, and several members were on
the floor at the same time demanding in
an imperative chorus that Mr.. Watson re-
tract the charge. Representa- tive Benton
McMillin of Tennessee, now governor of
that state, was one of the most indignant
speakers Mr. Watson" he said, has
made the graVeSt charges in the boldest
way that L ever have heard made against
the members of the House. 1t does not
seem to refer to any member of any par
ucular party. but to the whole House. If
false, it involves the gravest SANDER against
this body that could be made, and if true
it is the greatest disgrace to Congress"
By this time the Georgia member was
surrounded by not less than dozen men,
who insisted that he either make retrac-
ton or an explanation, and he arose to do
so. He left the subject for a moment to
exclaim: There is nothing new in that
charge. 1t has been made before by no
less person than the Nestor of the House.
Mr.. Holman. Because only ten representa-
uves of the peoples party nave seats in
this body the balance of the members of
this House, irrespective of party, seem to
wish to tyrannize over us, but /, for one,
do not propose TO permit"
The Charge Reiterated
He was allowed to proceed no further
along that line, but was stopped by the
Speaker upon the protest of several mem
bers, who reminded him that he had the
privilege of the floor merely for the pur-
pose of making an explanation, and not for
the purpose of continuing the spirit of the
paragraph in a speech. But Mr.. Watson
seemed determined to continue. Mr.. Boat
ner of Louisiana moved that the gentle
man from Georgia be denied the privilege
of the floor. Before the Speaker of the
House could even put the motion there was
storm of ayes in approval, in the midst
Of which Mr.. Watson sat down and the
speaker raped for order When restored
Mr.. Watson arose to his feet again and
announced that he would simply read the
entire paragraph referred to and then the
House could do with it as it pleased. He
read ii as follows:
This Congress now sitting is one illus
tration. Pledged to reform, they have not
reformed. Pledged to iegslate. they have
not legislated. Extravaganza is the order
of the day. AbSenteeiSm was never so
pronounced. Lack of purpose was never
clear. Drunken members have reeled
about the aisles, disgrace to the republic.
Drunken speakers have debated grave is
sues. and In the midst of maudlin ram
bings have been heard to ask. Mr.. Speak
err where am l at? Useless employees crowd
every corridor. Useless extravaganza per-
vades every department"
Now" said Mr.. Watson, commenting
upon the paragraph the only crime
charged in the passage l have read is the
charge that a number got drunk on the
whisky which this Congress allows to be
sold in the barroom situated in the base
nent of this building. You have planted
the tree. Why should you wonder at it's
fruit? You allow the contagion. Why
should you wonder at its sickness? 1 stand
upon the exact truth and deny proof to the
contrary.
With this charge Mr.. Watson sat down.
Nobody seemed to know just what to do,
and the regular business of the House was
resumed The matter was brought UP later
in the day. however, by motion from
Representative Boatner that committee
be appointed to investigate the charges
made by Mr.. Watson. The motion carried
and the Speaker appointed Messrs. Boat
ner. Wolverton, Buchanan, Grant and
Simpson on the committee which called
meeting that night, but at the hour ap-
pointed Mr.. Watson asked for a contin-
uance until he could get the witnesses to-
gether upon whom he relied to uphold him
and his accusations.
The Investigation.
The case was continued, therefore. until
Saturday, July 80, when Mr.. Watson took
the stand and made his statement He said
that the phrase drunken speakers reeIing
about the House" referred to one man only
whom he had heard making a speech and
seen taking whisky during the speech At
any rate, he said a cup and saucer sat be-
fore the speaker referred to, and that he
tWatson) heard him say to a page, In the
midst of his address. Bring me some more
of that whisky" whereupon Mr.. Watson
said. the page went away and shortly re-
turned with something in the cup. which
the speaker drank. When pressed to tell
the name of the gentleman mentioned, Mr..
Watson emphatically refused.
OF course, this conferred the interest of
af oil