The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-07-09
HE'LL ACCEPT ALL RIGHT.
T.. y. Watson Has Been Offered Job
With Bis Salary Attached--A Lit
tie Hot Air on the Side.

Wrightsville. N. c.. July &c. ].
Watson this afternoon made the fol-
loving statement in answer to
question as to an offer Of a federal
appointment:
Il really do not care to say any
thing about II. but 1 always try to be
frank. and since you ask the direct
question. will tell you that 1t Is
true that on Monday, last. by one OF
the cabinet officers, without any soli-
citation on my part or even an in
timation Of the possibility Of such a
thing until I received a wire from
Washington. was rendered one of
the most attractive positions in the
gift Of the national government at a
st-isry larger than the assistant sec
retary Of any of the departments,
larger than any Of the governors of
the States. save Tennessee and In
effect better perhaps than that Of
United States senator's"
Asked as to the position itself,
Commissioners Watson said:
'T do not feel at liberty to state
that exactly. However. the duties
would be in the nature of those Of
a special representative of the Wash
ington government and Of a purely
constructive and non-political char
acter, being In execution of a recent
ly developed determination in the
part Of the government to push with
especial vigor American trade and
commerce into the furtherest sec
tions 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 dis
charging them first for some years 10
the Orient-China, Japan. and Mon
golia- and then to South Africa and
other countries. The duties of the
position would be such, too, as to
enable one to accomplish much for
the textile Industry Of the South as
well of the country at large, and
perhaps to do a great deal on all
matters pertaining to cotton. which
great American agricultural product
would receive. under the policy
adopted, most particular attention.
The fullest exploitation of American
manufactured products In worlds
regions wherein they are now un-
known would be a leading line of
duty"
Asked still further about the offer,
Mr.. Watson said:
II was totally in the dark that /
was even being thought Of, and had
no intimation until a telegram came
to me last week. while / was attend
ing a farmers union meeting and
went to Washington, where I found
that Representatives Burleson Of
Texas and Lever Of this State had
suggested my name in connection
with the position when inquiries were
being made about congress as to
man equipped for the service de-
sired. After the cabinet meeting on
Monday, last, after a very brief in
terview with me. the cabinet official
rendered the commission to me with
out regard to endorsements or any
thing else, and was ready to make
the appointment then and there. 1
was allowed a reasonable time to
consider the matter, at my request,
owing to its far-reaching effect upon
my own future and upon the work to
which have been devoting my every
energy In my home State"
What are you going to do about
Il ?" was asked.
Mr.. Watson said, That / cannot
yet tell. The offer, coming In this
form and being an offer Of a position
OF grave responsibilities free from
the influence Of politics, and being of
the same constructive character as
the work in which I have been en-
gagged, is extremely flattering, and
the salary makes IL alluring. On the
other hand my whole soul is wrap
ped up In the work of my own State.
This work = developing at an aston
ishing rare, and I am now seeing the
fruits Of untiring labor on every side.
The work | have wanted to do in
South Carolina is not yet done, but
II Is on the high. rising tide, and !
should hate 70 abandon IL But I am