The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-25
Former Congressman States
That for the Future He In
tends to Keep Entirely Out
OF Public Life.
CUBAN MINISTRY TOO
EXPENSIVE, HE SAYS
President Taft Offered to Use
Influence to Increase the
Salary of the Post, But Jim
Declined.

Washington, March 25.-Former
Congressman James E. Watson an
nounced yesterday that his program
for the future will be to keep out of
public life and devote himself to max
ing money.
up to this good hour in my career"
he said, as he stood on the white
house steps after a conference with
the president. 81 have been stranger
to a bank account. and it never made
the slightest difference to me whether
had 80 cents or $500 in my pocket.
find myself, after long period OF
congressional service. as poor as a
church mouse. I have arrived at the
conclusion, calmly and deliberately,
| that owe it to my family to see II I
can not develop little talent as a
money maker. When a man arrives
| at my age with nothing saved up and
with numerous family. it is time he
should begin to think about making
| some money for the rainy day that Is
sure to come / have me lines out
which l think will help me to get a
start"
| Likely Will Practice Law.
Mr.. Watson is closing up his affairs
here preparatory to returning to Indi-
ana He will decide when he gets
home what place in Indiana offers the
best opening for him in the practice OF
lIAM- He has good offers -hoth ut In
dianapolis and Terre Hautl. but ~
inclination is to remain at Rushville.
Regarding his visit to the white
house today, Mr.. Watson said:
/ "The president sent for me to renew
his offer to make me minister to
Cuba He was kind enough to press
me for favorable answer and to say
to me that Of all the men in the Unit.
ed States he preferred me for that Of.
| flee. He said that he would hold the
offer to suit my convenience IL I would
indicate that would accept. OF course
/ his offer was very gratifying to me,
4 and thanked him. but told him that
he need not hold the offer open five
minutes for me. as had made up my
mind finally and conclusively that
would not take the place. 1 asked
him If he had not always been a poor
man, and he replied that he most Ger.
tainly had. Then l inquired how long
he thought man as poor as he or
would last as minister to Havana,
where the minister must furnish his
own house. must keep up high social
standard and entertain lavfshly ON q
salary of $4,000 a year. He smiled
and said:
Well, Jim, ! guess about as long
as the proverbial SNOWFALL in 4 warm
place
| President Urges Acceptance.
"The president then suggested that
| congress might increase the salary ia
$17,50O year II would accept, but,
of course, no such Legislation would
be possible at the special session and
1t Is wholly uncertain whether any fu-
| ture session would authorize the in.
crease. l told the president not to
consider me any further in connectiou
with the appointment and the incident
| is closed 50 far as I am concerned.
The ministry to Cuba 10 big enough
for any one. but at my time Of life /
have no business with an office that
would be a source of more expense
than my salary would amount to- For
that reason am going back to Indi-
| ana to devote my energies to the prob.
lem of getting something for my fam
| ily,