Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-13
WATSON OUT FOR
GOVERNORSHIP
AppI cation for Appointment
Goes to President -eIeCt VIII
son Backed by Numerous
Strong Endorsements -, His
Friends Busy in Washington

Edward NJ. Watson. prominent at
tCrnry and veteran Democrat, is an
active candidate for gove rnOr Of the
territory. Mr.. Watson himself au-
thOriz2d this announcement yesterday
afternoon, adding that while he is not
seeker after public office Tor the
sake of office, he believes that tho
honor Of the gOvernorship OF Hawaii
is one to which any man may we'll be
ambitious TO acquire.
Il am candidate for the governor
ship" said Mr.. Watson to the Star
Bulletin yesterday. "Fof several
months | have had the matter under
consideration, and | say frankly now
that | am an active candidate. AT the
same time, have not made the posi-
ton a goa, to be reached at all haz4
ards and all costs. | shall make no
partisan fight, no bitter fight, Tor the
office. 1t is an office of dignity and
to be sought as such. | believe there
are conditions in the territory of Ha
waii that call for the best efforts of
men in public life, and the working
out Of orr problems here offers a field
for men ambitious. as | am, to serve
Hawaii"
While Mr.. Watson declines at this
time to make public those men here
and in Washington who have pledged
their support to him. it is known that
he has been given assurances of back
ing that are unusual not only because
of the prominence of the men who are
showing their. friendship for him and
belief in him. but because many Of the
inIIpfsenents he has received are from
Re Republicans 80 =,
p. Mr.. .WatSon's application for 4ap-
pointment has already gone forward
to President-elect Wilson. With it
went g long list of Endorsements from:
prominent citizens of Hawaii of both
parties. Democrats prominent in city
and county affairs and many Demo
cratic members of the territorial leg
islature have given their backing to
Mr.. Watson in strong terms.
Attorney WatsOn's friends here are
entirely sanguine of his appointment,
the more SO because of assurances of
support he has received from Wash
ingtOn. Among those who are enlist
cd in his support and whose influence
is to be counted in national affairs are
the chairmen of many important com
mittees of both the house and senate.
Returning here several months ago
suffering from the Illness that attack
ed him in Washington, Mr.. Watson
has improved in health rapidly. For
some weeks he has been hard at work
in his office, and now spends most of
the day in his prOfe ssional duties. He
has been informed by his physicians
that the Improvement in his health
will be continuous and that it will not
be long before he will be almost en-
tirely recovered from the effects of
illness. The fact that he is now able
to undertake much difficult work is
cited in some of the Endorsements, it
is said, because part of the opposition
to his candidacy has been openly stat
ed TO be based on allegations that he
is not physically able to carry on the
arduOuS duties of the governors Of
flee.
Mr.. WatsOns friends here are Civ
ing him the most faithful Of support
He is assured, they say, of stronger
local backing than that given any
other candidate, and they point to the
largely nonpartisan character of his
indOrst ments to prove that his Candi-
dacy is popular with representatives
of al, parties and all classes