Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-23

usual musical talent and his parents
encouraged it. A mishap that crushed
his left thumb, leaving that member
stiff, caused the musical education to
be abandoned, as the piano was his
favorite instrument.
a natural bent for writing developed
but even in this Mr. Watterson was
seriously handicapped as an illness in
infancy had affected his vision. His
first journalistic experience was gain
ed on Washington, D. c., newspaper
as musical and dramatic critic. His
father, Harvey NJ. Watterson, for
twenty years preceding the outbreak
Of the war between the states, was a
nessee. It was during this time Henry
Watterson laid the foundations for an
elaborate knowledge Of national af-
fairs.
War Interrupted Early Career
Watterson's course in letterss and
journalism in the national capital was
interrupted just as he attained his
majority by the outbreak Of war; With
his father, he opposed the secession
movement, but upon the declaring Of
hostilities, he returned to his Tennes-
see home and joined the army of the
confederacy. He served throughout the
war, except for period of ten
months, when he established and oper-
ated at Chattanooga, Tenn, THE
Rebel" semi-military paper.
Mr.. Watterson served first as an
aide to the famous cavalry leader, Cen
eral Nathan Bedford Forrest, and later
was on the staff of General Leonidas
Polk
During the campaign between Cen
erals Sherman and Johnston, Waiter
son was chief of scouts of the con-
federate army.
"The Rebel instantly achieved great
popularity The paper was outspoken
and independent, forecasting in many
things the Louisville Courier-J Journal,
a lineal descendant to follow it with
in few years.
Lincoln His Passion
Abraham Lincoln was said to be the
great passion of Watterson's life. His
lecture on Lincoln" was delivered in
hundreds of cities and it was his pride
to ten Of calling on Lincoln the morning
of his inauguration and of standing be-
side him at the ceremony.
Let no southern man point his fin
ger at me-" Mr.. Watterson said, "be-
cause I cannonize Lincoln, for he was
the one friend we had at court when
friends were most in need
When Watterson founded the Jour
nal, he made a plea for harmony in the
south. Thoroughly reconstructed HIM
self, he urged all to follow his course
in complete submission to the federal
government.
Mr.. Watterson always advocated
tariff for revenue only" phrase
which he coined, and which finally was
adopted by the Democratic party. He
was an ardent friend Of Grover Cleve-
land during the latter's first admins
tration as president, but opposed Cleve-
lands third nomination.
Served Part Term in Congress
His service as public official was
confined to fractional term in con-
gress. He accepted a seat there in
1867 at ths wishes of Samuel j. Til
den, with whom he was closely allied.
Mr.. Watterson refused denomination
for the full term. Frequently urged to
run for high office he always refused,
Il shall stay where I am, office is
not for me. Beginning in slavery to
end in poverty it is odious to my sense
Of freedom"
From 1872 to 1892, however, he sat
in all national conventions of the
Democratic party as a delegate-at-
large from Kentucky. He presided over
the convention that nominated Tilden
in 1876 and was chairman of the plat
form committee in those of 1880 and
1883.
Mr.. Watterson opposed William Jen
nings Bryan in his candidacy for presi-
dent in 1896, but in 1900 the Courier
Journal gave him lukewarm support.
In 1908, however, what Mr.. Watterson
denominated as the free silver her
esy" being "as dead as African
in the United States, he be-
came a warm supporter of Bryan.
When the storm OF the European
war broke over the world, Mr.. Waiter
son assumed an uncompromising stand
IN support of the cause and ideals of !
the entente allies, declaring his belief
that their cause was the cause of free
dom and democracy and that Of the
central empires that of autocracy.
His Slogan Against Autocrats
His attitude was tersely set forth in
a single sentence that appeared at the
end Of virtually every editorial he wrote
on the subject for many months: ITO
hell with the Hohenzollerns and Haps-
burgs." ,., ,
llB EQltOIidl dItcAllOA W ooSioA IuCS-
tions. He once made a savage attack
on New York society women, calling
them ''flock of unclean birds" He
accused them of fondness for display
that ruined the men, and love of
champagne and bridge that eventually
ruined their morals.
Bore Three Popular Names
His dashing style gave him such
nicknames as Light Horse Harry"
and Henry Of Navarro" He was more
popularity called plain "Marse Henry"
Of his career, Mr.. Watterson recent
" said:
II came out of the war like many
Of the young fellows of the south, a
very upicked bird, indeed. In order to
escape the humiliation of borrowing
from a northern uncle, whose politics !
I did not approve, / went with my
watch to an uncle" who had no poll
tics at oil and got $50 on it. Along !
with two blanket-mates who were as
poor as myself, / started, or rather |
revived publication of an old suspend
ed newspaper at Nashville. Nothing
,a..1a ~ tho aporCu opd or1nr