Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-15
SENATOR WATSON
WILL Be MISSED IN
THE UPPER HOUSE
West Virginia Senator Won Es-
TEEN of Associates.
DID MUCH IMPORTANT
WORK ON COMMITTEES

Selected BY Reason of His Conspic-
uous Business Ability to Deal With
Far-reachlng ouestions--His Depar-
ture From the Senate Regretted by
Party Leaders.
Washington, Nov. 9.--Senator Clar.
ence w. Watson, of West Virginia
who retires from official life on March
d. 1918, as result of the Republican
victory in his State, will be missed
from the Senate as few senators Of
his length of service have been missed
During the two sessions of Congress
in which he sat he developed wide in
fiuence among his colleagues by con
sistent committee work, by tireless
study of the issues before the Senate,
and by an application of practical
business experience to matters of leg
islation.
On important Committee.
Perhaps the most substantial recog-
milton given to Senator Watson by his
friends in the upper house was his
election TO the powerful Committee on
Interstate Commerce This body deals
with all railroad corporation and bus
mess legislation. A new arrival is
rarely ever assigned to work on that
committee, but when the Democratic
minority was casting about at the be-
ginning of the Sixty-second Congress
for a Senator qualified to handle the
large legislative problems before that
committee the West Virginian was
chosen.
The late Senator Stephen B. Elkins,
also of West Virginia, and man of
vast affairs, had until his death been
chairman of the committee, being the
nominal author of tht last railroad
regulation bill to pass Congress and
become law.
Senator Watson was also named by
the Democratic caucus to sit on the
Committee on Conservation of Natur-
al Resources, Cuban Relations, Indian
Affairs, Mines and Mining, Pacific Is
lands, Porto Rico, Public Buildings
and Grounds, Railroads and Transpor-
tation of Meat Products,
fFOHOuHCGu arm nCNloiOH'SSs
In spite of his interests in coal min
ing, Senator Watson was one of the
most pronounced tariff revisionists in
the Senate. He was Just as willing
that the protection on coal and iron
should be lowered as that the duty on
raw materials in which he had no in.
vestments should be reduced.
The most effective speech delivered
by the West Virginian during the last
session of Congress urged tariff re-
form. 1t was purely tariff speech
and attracted the attention of the
whole Senate at the time. He declar-
ed that the business interests of this
country were not dependent upon a
high protective tariff for their prosper
ity and that such tariff therefore was
burdensome.
Prominent in Antitrust Inquiry.
Senator Watson took leading part
in the antitrust investigation prosecut-
ed by the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee last spring. This inquiry took
place under a special resolution of
the Senate and will result in recon-
mendations for sweeping amendments
to the Sherman Antitrust law. These
recommendations will be presented at
the short session next winter.
The West Virginian during his Sen
ate career did not waste his time
drawing general bills. He preferred
to take up the bills of his colleagues,
go deep into them and to urge amend
ments here or eliminate there. That
was the most effective way, in his
judgment of getting results.
The Senator was the author of
number of special bills. He proposed
a removal of all duty from potatosH
the removal of all duty from potatoes
imported into this country; he asked
for numerous appropriations for pub
lie buildings in his State, and he was
instrumental in amending the laws
safeguarding miners.
Would Not Receive Charges.
The high esteem in which Senator
Watson. and his associate. Senator
Chiffon, are held in the Senate was
shown when that body refused to re,
ceive the eleventh-hour charges filed
against them by West Virginia Repub-
lieans on the last day of the past SEES
sion.
These charges, alleging that Watson
and Chiffon were not properly elected
to the Senate, and so obviously filed
for political effect at home, were dis
carded by the Senate without an in.
curry. They were stuffed into pig
eonhole of the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections and will die
there.
Senator Watson's brief career as a
legislator has been fruitful He has
faithfully represented the Democracy
of his State He has in very short
time established himself in the conf
dence of his associates and, If he had
been returned he would without doubt
hnya hpcOma one nf the big factors in