Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-06-03
4 PR0DIGAL son OF DOUBTFUL
VALUES

1t is customary to welcome back the
Denitent with tears and every sign
of loving affection. But generally the
penitent comes back in sackcloth
and ashes But such is not the case with
the returning prodigal, Thomas Wat
son. He comes back into the fold
snorting defiance to the democrats of
the Northern states. He is once more
to be a sort of Big I Am" in the
democratic party. His announcement
of his determination to restore his al
legiance to the democratic party
breathes no sigh of regret for his ef-
forts to demoralize and destroy it. He
simply acknowledges that the demo-
cratic party in the South is too strong
for one Watson, that his efforts to
undermine and bring it to earth as
shattered political institution were
of no avail. Stern experience" he
says, has taught him that no other
agency except the democratic parry
can succeed in accomplishing any
ynfng in the South" Finding it fu-
tile to continue his efforts through
the medium of the frazzled fragments
Of the old popu!ist party he will con
secrate' himself to doing something for
the good of the country through the
democratic party" The first good ne
expects to accomplish is to defeat
Congressman MISUNDERSTANDING to
glu. his personal spleen against that
gentleman. If he succeeds in that
he will turn his arms, doubtless,
against any other democrat who has
awakened his animosity in the past
by pricking the thin skin of the
Thomson Observation-Disclosures.
1t is a very doubtful proposition if
the democratic party has gained any
thing by the return of Thomas
Watson to the fold More than likely
continuously disturbing element has
been introduced into the party. Eyery
staunch democrat who has fought Wat
son in the past now has an enemy in
the party seeking to unlermne and
destroy the confidence OF the people
in him. Tom Watson never seems TO
forget and apparently never forgives.
That is one of the impressions re-
ceiyed in this Hardwick instance. If
this is the spirit that is to dominate
him the party will do very well 10
ignore his advice, forget his presence
and go it's way, regardless Of his eff
forts
The return of Watson to the party
does not impress us as a good omen
for the party. Some may throw up
their hats and rejoice, but we cannot
see it that way. The democratic par
ty in Georgia has got along beauti-
fully without him in recent years, it
has survived his assaults and grown
stronger with every year 1t has
demonstrated, much to the surprise Of
Mr.. Watson, that it is too strongly
rooted in the affections of the people
for him to uproot it. We are inclined
to the belief that the friendship of
Mr.. Watson is going to prove more
dangerous than his avowed enmity.
He has too many old scores to settle,
too much desire to force his views on
the party displays too much eager
ness to use the party as a medium for
settling private accounts-as in the
Hardwick case. The party may very
well take cold and apathetic view
Of the return of this prodigal son. We
are certainly opposed to running olt
to meet him, falling on his should
ers, killing the fatted calf and maxi
ing feast for him. The mourners'
bench would be a most appropriate
place for him for some time to come,
rather than the role of leader and
chief adviser to democracy.