Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-08-23
Senator WdtSOn'S Political Mis-.
takes.

'Se i" 'oeS iseuc vi tnc w dyue
News that you are defiantly cbal-
lenged to point out single politi-
cal mistake made by Senator Wat
son. You being of a different
political faith might regard all of
Senator Watson's acts and conduct
as being mistakes. 1t might be
more appropriate for Democrat to
review and criticise Senator Wat
sons political career as seen from a
Democratic standpoint.
To go back to the beginning, if
Mr.. Watson had been nursing the
ambition and plotting design to
break into political life through the
Democratic fences, he made a mis-
take when he opposed Democratic
tickets and repudiated Democratic
platforms. In 1896 and again In
1900 he threw the active force of
the great interests which he man.
aged in favor of Mckinley and the
State Republican tickets, as well as
the Republican tickets in the coun>
ties of Harrison and Marion where
he had several thousand voters in
his employment. 1t was especially
a grieyous mistake for him TO have
been the chief factor in changing a
safe Democratic majority in his
own county into permanent Re
publican majority of 1000. except
In such instances aud under such
conditions as his own personal and
business interest would be best
served by the election of a Demo.
crat. IL was political mistake
and an affront to the Democratic
party for him to carpetbag himself
back into this state where he had
not resided for fifteen years, and
had not shown his hand in politics
except TO fight the Democratic par
ty, without the shadow of claim,
and with no influence except money
and the support of corporations,
proposed to override the will of the
people by bribing their representa-
tlves in the Legislature. After his
election he made a mistake in ION
ing forces with Senator Chiffon and
smothering down the investigation
of the charges of bribery made in
connection with his nomination.
Instead of clearing his robes of the
stain and stencil of fraud and cor
ruption, he caused his hirelings to
still further stultify themselves,
bring reproach to the party and dis
grace on the state by being ina
fuenced by an elaborate ban quet,
from discharging duty which they
owed to themselves as well as to
their constituents. 1t is said of the
Demonstration that when his belly
is full he is perfectly harmless and
obliVIous to all things around him.
Some Democratic legislators seem
to be possessed largely of the same
animal instincts and characteristics.
The choking off of the investiga-
ton was proof conclusive to all who
were not already acquainted with
the facts, that the charges were true
and the guilty persons were afraid
that abundant proof could be found
to substsntiate them.
After taking his seat IN the SEN
ate, Senator Watson made a mis-
take in leaving the senate chamber
just as the vote was to be taken on
the notorious Ship Subsidy bill.
HIS absence left the senate a tie
and the vice president gave the
casting vote in favor of the bill. If
he had voted with the party this
great steal which Democratic plat
forms for years have denounced aud
the Democratic minority in congress
has exhausted every resource to
prevent, would have been defeated.
His absence from his post of duty
at this critical juncture when taken
in connection with the statement he
made to Democratic state senator
that ne was in favor of Ship Sub
sidy law, is very significant.
Senator'S Watson and Chiffon