The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
Mr. Watson and a Rnmnr.

| A story floats up this way from Dixie
concerning the Hon. Thomas E. Watson
and his prospective appointment TO the
French embassy when the next Presi-
Dental election shall have passed into
history a"d a readiustment OF far berths
be under way. There isn't anything in il.
IN all probability. more than a possible
desire upon Mr. Watson's part 70 occupy
/ that station but even the suggestion Of
such a thing opens a field of thought not
altogether unattractye
/ We have no doubt that Mr. Watson is
deeply interested IN France. as a student
Certainly. his story of France" is one
OF the most charming Of modern literary
/ productions; an evident work of "A scholar
and investigator of the highest order
/ Mr.. Watson is not possessed of the per
sonal fortune now thought Indispensable
! TO occupancy of the post at Paris referred
| TO. but that would make very little differ
/ ence to him, If il didn't TO the United
States; and, theoretically, at least, it
should make no difference TO either. To
/ French scholars. We have no sort Of
doubt Mr. Watson would appeal with
splendid force, even though he doubtless
would remain practically unknown TO the
smart set" of the great country TO which
he would be accredited
/ Why should not Mr. Thomas Z. Watson
aspire TO the French embassy? In point
/ of culture. he is eminently it; in point OF
Intelligence he is any mans peer. If he
/ hasn't the money with which to maintain
a number of fine automobiles and provide
lavish entertainment for the mere pleas
uTe that sort of thing furnishes physi-
cally, or is supposed To furnish. he has
the mind TO provide his associates food
for thought in abundance, and his pres
ence in France would be distinctly a gain
to those of that land who rate intelli-
gence first of all the qualities entering
I into the makeup Of a real man. Besides
a return to the idea that an Ambassador
need not necessarily be a wealthy-an ex-
tremely wealthy-man would work
healthy reform. Mr. Watson would main
tain the dignity OF the United States
through sheer force OF brains; he would
be an Ambassador, We truly believe In
whom the country would be we'll pleased
Those who know Mr.. Watson viii agree
that he possibly would stand forth in
much more compelling light in the quieter
held Of diplomacy than he has stood IN
the fields of bitter and partisan politics
/ The real worth Of the man has been so
persistently belittled because Of the strife
/ i'm which be has so often found himself
| that very few people understand him al
( all We have no doubt the very sugges-
| tion of Mr. Watson is startling 10 a large
number of people-somehow his name IS
rarely ever mentioned except as tom
/ Watson. and that with something of a
snap But there isn't anything snappieh
about him. save when some one augers
/ him. or provokes him; then he snaps.
/ We are entirely sincere when We say this
country might go a great deal further
( I'm searching for a suitable Ambassador
/ to France than Mr. Thomas T. Watson,
and fare very much worse when we had
found his substitute Removed from the
vicinity of rank partisanism and active
politics, we believe Mr. Watson would
round out a career Of distinguished com
/ pleteness.