The Washington herald., 1913-12-11

Clarence wayland Watson, late Sena-
tor from West Virginia, and as private
citizen probably the most powerful fig
ure in West Virginia today, has Just con-
| cluded a two-day visit In washington
without telling why the stay or what he
learned.
That is the Watson way and those who
know him never ask why he comes or
what he comes for. or even where he is
going hence. Rather they feel nattered
II he asks questions about the state OF
the Union, or pending propositions In
Congress 1t is considered a compliment
Ii Senator, Watson seeks for Information
and gives no sign as to how the fnforma-
ton impresses or fits in with what he
already knows.
One daring admirer did venture a ques-
ton as to the business conditions gen.
eral and the answer was given in one
word bad" This coming from Demo-
crat late in the Senate may be signin-
cant. but there was no amplihcation, ex-
PLANTATION or exculpatioa on the part of
Watson. Merely the one word bad" was
the summing up of business man
views on what has happened since March
l.
However much Senator Watson may IN
sist that he Is out Of politics, 1t is ap-
parent that his hand remains powerful in
he took pains to be home for some local
election which he would have overlooked
few years ago before the Senatorial am
bition was developed.
As a young man Watson Is watchful
and cannot but recall sudden shifts and
changes in politics during the last three
years in his own State. No one in the
year following Taft's election dreamed OF
West Virginia sending two Democrats to
the Senate, and four Democrats out OF
i've to the House. The Watson wisdom
had much to do with achieving that re-
suit in 1910, and he came to the Senate
with full assurance of q long term to
supplement the unexpired Elkins' term
that he had magnanimously accepted.
The unexpected happened last year and
Watson lost out, but not yet fifty years
old he can afford to wait and meantime
his watching must be chiefly within his
own party lines.
Prof Taft explained to old home
friends in Cincinnati last week that he
did not return to the practice OF law be-
Gauge he would have to appear before
Federal judges he had appointed to the
bench. Rather awkward, don't you
know. The old home friends recalled
however, that the ex-President never
practiced law five years in his whole ca
reer, thanks to officeholding. local and
Federal, from the time he left law school
First he was assistant prosecuting attor.
ney; then collector of internal revenue
then assistant county solicitor. and then
on the bench by Foraker's appointment
Next came appointment as Solicitor Gen
eral by Harrison: then the Federal bench
for life: next the Philippines, followed
by the Cabinet, and the Executive chair
What chance to even remember the law
Besides, the esteemed private citizen
saved over 100000 as he went along. and
return to law practice is net i'm
perative. Some remark that a practice
of politics during four years in the
White House would have given a differ
ent turn to things last November a year
ago, but that is an old story.
The Pennsylvania Society OF New York
will have a banquet this week and the
Congressional delegation is not especially
eager about II, possibly because the chief
theme scheduled for the orators is The
courts OF our country" No one Of the