The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-07-09
OFFERED ZIG PLACE

ooM,llsl l,oSEE WATSON OFFER.
: ER POSITION.
Selected With Il Is ledge of So.
ncitation By Me Y ernment
to Fill Newly Great 6sition.
A special dispatch from Wrishts-
Vile, n. c., to The State says +.
J. Watson Wednesday made the fol-
lowing statement in answer to q
question as to all offer of federal
appointment: ---.
II really do not care to say any
thing about it, but I always try to
be frank, and since you ask the dir
rect question. 1 will tell you that
it is true that on Monday last, by
one Of the cabinet officers, without
any soliciting on my part, or, even
an intimation of the possibil-
ity Of such a thing until 1 re-
ceived a wire from Washington,
was rendered one %of the most at
tractive positions in the. gift of the
national government at salary
larger than the: assistant secretary
of any of the departments, larger
than any Of tho governors of the
States, save Tennessee and in effect
better perhaps than that of United
States senators.
Asked as to the position. itself,
Commissioner Watson said:
II do not feel at liberty to state
that exactly. However, the duties
would be in this nature Of those of
a special representative Of the Wash
ington government and Of a purely
constructive and non-political car
acter, being in execution Of re-
cenHly developed determination in
the part of the government to push
with especial vagor American trade
and commerce into the furtherest
sections of the world. The duties
would be in line with those to which
I have devoted my every energy IN
South Carolina. but with the world
for field, and would carry the
man discharging, them first for some
years to the Orient-China, Japan
and Mongolia-.-and then to South
Africa and other countries. The du-
ties of the position would be such
too, as to enable one to accomplish
much for the textile industry OF the
South as we'll Of the country at large
and perhaps to do great deal on
all matters pertaining to cotton,
which great American agricultural
product would receive, under the
policy adopted, most particular at
tention. The fullest exploitation OF
American manufactured products in
worlds regions wherein they are now
unknown would be leading line OF
duty
Asked still :urther about the Of
fer, Mr.. Watson said:
81 was totally in the dark that
I was even being thought of, and
had no intimation until a telegram
came to me last week, while | was
attending a farmers union meeting
and went to Washington, where
found that Representatives Burle-
son of Texas and Lever of this State
had suggested, my name in connec-
ton with the position when inquir-
les were being made about congress
as to man equipped for the SER
vice desired. After the cabinet
meeting on Monday, last, after very
brief interview with me, the cabi-
net officially rendered the commits
sion to me without regard to In
dorsements OF any thing else, and
was readily to make the appointment
then and there. I was allowed a
reasonable time to consider the mat
ter, at my request, owing to Its
far-reaching effect upon my own fu'
ture and upon the work which
have been deyoting my every energy
in my home State
"What are you going to do about
it," was asked.
Mr.. Watson said. THAT I can not
yet tell. The offer, coming in this
form and being an offer of posi-
tom Of grave responsibilities free
from the influence of politics, anc
being of the same constructive char
acter as work in which l have beer
engaged, is extremely altering, ant
the salary makes it alluring. Or
the other hand my whole soul il
wrapped up in the work of my own
State. This work is developing al
an astonishing rate, and I am mol
seeking the fruits of untiring labor
on every side. The work I have
wanted to DO In South Carolina il
not yet done. but it is on the high
rising tide, and ! should hate tt
abandon it. But I am a poor MAI
and the State pays scarcely a living
under present conditions, but ther
and there are many things to be
taken into consideration, and | an
giving them the most careful con
sideration Of my life. AS yet