The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1920-10-15
Record In Senate Shows He Missed"
1e5 important Roll caIIs-op-
posed War Ban on Liquor.
VOTED AGAINST PREPAREDNESS

the Indiana publicity Bureau.
Watson is shown to have acted
largely in accord with Senator Hard
ing, whose primary campaign in In
diana was managed by the Watson
headquarters and whose nomination
was brought about at Chicago
through the influence Of Watson and
other members OF the famous "cabal."
On many important measures, par
ticularly those relating TO prohibition
and patriotic measures, Watson
found II convenient to be absent and
he Is credited with not voting on 165
out Of 500 roll calls.
Opposed War Prohibition.
For instance the Indiana senator,
along with Harding, voted against an
amendment regarding the use OF
liquor in military establishments and
both voted to table an amendment
offered by Underwood which would
have included members OF Congress
within the provisions Of the army
prohibition act. He failed to vote
when the Reed amendment prevent
ing the sale OF intoxicating liquors
was passed on.
Harding and Watson supported a
motion to strike out the provision
preventing the use OF agricultural
products in the manufacture of in
toxicating liquors, and both opposed
Sheppar6s amendment to have the
Reed bone-dry law apply to the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Watson, of course, supported an
amendment offered by Harding to
make the constitutional prohibition
amendment imperative unless adopt
ed by the required number OF states
voted for a measure that would re-
quire the government to pay damages
to property employed in the manufac-
ture of liquor.
On patriotic measures the Indiana
senator opposed the administration
preparedness bill before war was de-
clared, although since he has had a
good deal to say about what he terms
was the lack of preparation for war
He also voted against the establish
ment OF a National Council of De-
Tense, the creation of the United
States Shipping Board, the bill to
erect a governmer' plant to manu-
facture armor plate and the wire con-
troll bill
Failed on War Vote.
For some reason Watson failed to
vote when the United States declared
war on Austria Hungary. He sup
ported a resolution authorizing the
President to prescribe rules for the
censorship of the press during the
war, and voted against An amend
ment to prevent disclosure Of infor-
nation regarding military operations,
and also opposed that part Of the
espionage act that placed heavy fines
upon persons guilty Of disloyal and
seditious acts and utterences.
He was absent when bill was in
troduced giving all soldiers, sailors
and marines who are permanently
helpless 500 a month and he opposed
a
civil service examination should be
required Of wives Of military men ap-
plying for positions with the govern
ment during the war. He also failed
10 vote when Senator Smoot made
motion TO proceed to the considera-
ton of a bill increasing the rates of
pensions for soldiers and sailors Of
the Civil war
The senator's antipathy to labor
was evidenced by his vote for the
antistrike clause In the Esch-Cum-
Minis railroad bill and his support OF
the stop-watch system in government
plants. He failed to vote on the
Adamson eight-hour law along with
Harding.
Ne was again absent" when the
child labor law was passed and also
did not vote on bill designed to
protect the lives. health ald morals
OF women and minor workers in the
District Of Columbia and to provide
for the fixing Of a minimum wage for
such workers"
Opposee sugar 6rant.
Watson is having . good deal to
say 10 the farmers and in particular
Is criticiIing the administration for
the high price OF sugar. Yet when
President Wilson asked congress for
authority to purchase the Cuban
sugar crop Watson voted against
con sid ering the grant
He also opposed government relief
In the shape OF small loans TO farm
ers in drought-stricken regions and
failed 20 cast his ballot on bill de-
signed 10 create standard form Of
investments on farm mortgages
He stood by the Lodge reservations
TO the league OF nations. but opposed
others that meant substantially the
same thing. Since taking the stump
Watson. along with Harding. has
"scrapped the league" and Is bas-
ing his rlea for re-election On n sepa-