The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-09-27
Powerful and Picturesque Figure Is
@4 Removed From Political Life
of Nation
BODY TO LEAVE CAPITAL TODAY
Funeral Will Be Held at Late Home
In Georgia Thursday or
Friday

OF Senator Thomas e. Watson, of
Georgia. His death, which occurred
at 2:40 o'clock this morning was sud-
den and unexpected according to ply
sicians, resulting from an attack of
asthma.
The Senator had been sufte, er for
several weeks from the disease and
only last Sunday experienced an acute
attack. Two physicians and nurse
were at the bedside when the end
came, but the widow, who is in i'll
health, and other relatives were at
the home in Thomson, Ca, fir which
Mr.. Watson had planned to depart to-
day for the Congressional recess.
For forty years Senator Watson
had been active in politics, national
as well as State. In 1920 ~ was
elected Senator as, he sail, on an
"anti-Wilson, anti-League of Ma
tions) and anti-war measures" plat
form, defeating Former Senator Hole
Smith and Former Governor Dorsey.
He was &c years Of ago September s,
last, and his Senatorial term would
have expired March 8, 1927.
Body Returned to Thomson
The funeral will be held at Thom-
son, Ga, either Thursday afternoon
or Friday morning. Senate officials
are in charge and the funeral party
will leave here tomorrow at 3:15
o'clock for Thomson.
r Because of the absence during
the present recess Of Congress of
Vice President Coolidge, Senator
Cummins, Republican, presiding pro
tempore, and most of the Senate
membership there was difficulty
today in arranging a committee to
attend the funeral. Senators on the
tentative list included Heflin, Ala
bama; Harrison, Mississippi; Dial,
South Carolina; Shields, Tennessee,
and Fletcher, Florida, Democrats
and Brandegee, New Jersey, New In
diana; Shortridge, California, and
Cameron, Arizona, Republicans.
Senate flags were placed at half
mast for period of thirty days
out Of respect to the late Senator
and the Senate will adjourn out of
respect when it reconvenes. A day
also will be set for memorial serv-
ices.
Vigorous as Ever
During the first year and half
OF his term in the Senate to which
he was elected in 1920, Senator
Watson gave no indication of any
Impairment of the vigor and activi-
ty which ha dmarked his long ca
reer. In his last speech in the Sen
ate, delivered week ago last We'd
nesday, the Georgia Senator severly
criticized the administration for it's
course in connection with the rail
strike situation. His previous attacks
on the administration and most not
ably his charges Of illegal hangings
in the American Expeditionary Forces,
the subject Of exhaustive investigation
by Senate committee had made him
a conspicuous figure in the Senate.
Born in Thomson, Ga, in 1866,
Senator Watson grew up and prac-
ticed law there for some years before
entering State politics. After serving
in the Georgia House of Representa-
tives and later, in 1888, as Democratic
elector at large for the State, he was
elected to Congress in 1891, on the
Populist ticket. After being defeated
on that ticket in the next two elections
he was nominated as the choice for
vice president Of the st. Louis Popu-
list convention which endorsed Will
liam j. Bryan for President in 1896.
Nominated for President by the Peo-
pies Party in 1904, Senator Watson
conducted an active campaign to re-
vive the party. About that time he
began the publication of Tom Watsons
Magazine. in New York and a year
later undertook the publication of
Watson's Jeffersonian magazine,
which was continued under the name
of the Weekly Jeffersonian. The pub
lications begun in that period were
suspended during tho Wilson admins
tration when denied transmission
through the mails after attacks ap-
peared in them against the draft act,
the espionage law and other war