Evening star., 1922-10-05
Watson's Temperament Overshad-
owed His Genius and Ability.

The passage of Senator Thomas E.
Watson of Georgia eliminates from
public life a man who might have been
one of Americas greatest leaders, in
the opinion of many editors. There is
agreement that his genius was of the
highest order. but was always handi-
capped by his turbulent nature and
his intense and bitter animosities. AS
a United States senator he generally
is regarded as significant failure,
but there is complete acceptance of
his merits as an historian.
Watson, the Cincinnati Times Star
is convinced. should never have held
office. 1t was incompatible with his
temperament" and it points out that
his sole contribution. as senator. was
his charge Of cruelty against Ameri
can officers in France. (which was
proved by investigation to have been
the tigment of poor Watson's brain"
but also recalls that "he was an his
torian OF very real inertia latter
day Carlyle of less color and less
depth. Too bad that the state of
Georgia saw fit to pillory him with
Senate during the declining months
of a tempestuous life Watson was
picturesque. interesting and at times
exciting" as a national figure, the
Milwaukee Sentinel holds. and per
haps the IHirest estimate Of him may
be given as q man of deep, honest
convictions. of wide learning and un-
doubted brilliancy as a writer and
orator. Of indubitable courage, but
lacking in the solid wisdom and ball
anced judgment which appertains to
craftsmanship as distinguished from
"
Conceding this brilliancy and force
fulness, the question of whether his
program was for Georgia and the
country's good is altogether a differ
ent question" the Mobile Register
points out. and "all that. it seems
in a republic all things must be
done in order if the best results are
to be obtained, the Ishmaelite in poll
tics Is not to be relied upon, except
as a corrective of the negligence of
those who conduct public affairs: and
it's work, producing reaction that is
finally harmful rather than benefi-
cial'
Had he lived lone hundred years
ago he might have taken a high place
in history" the New Bedford Stand
Watson's tombstone should be in
scribed the words: His head was
never right and his heart was never
wrong" Watson was, "by nature
a radical. a fireeater. a mal-content."
says the Newark News. and exhibited
the anomaly Of a man, who. in the
throes of public life, was swayed by
passion and prejudice. quickly con-
ceived and made an integral part of
himself, heart leading head, and yet,
as an author. in the quiet of his study.
could be discriminating. temperate
was no gamer by his election" the
Cleveland Plain Dealer suggests that
"his death removes from the life of
the capital one of it's most conspicu-
Gus figures. Right or wrong-wrong
oftener than right-Tom Watson was
always an uncompromlsing fighter,
fiery southern crusader. frequently
nuisance and doubtless an honest
man." His faults will soon be for
gotten" the Jacksonville Journal
holds, and then 1.-The name of Thomas
E. Watson will live as one of the
greatest historians of the century.
udice But the world does not for
get the man who contributes some-
thing to the archive of literature.
Strangely, Thomas E. Watson immor-
talized himself in the American heart
in his earlier years" In addition:
regardless of his political beliefs, and
the apparent love of the iconoclas-
tic" the Little Rock Arkansas Demo-
crat feels that he was 1.-The kind of a
man a nation needs. He saw the
faults and foib1es Of government as
it is enacted and he asked permission
Of no one to call attention to these
faults"
Attention also is directed by the
Atlanta Journal to the fact that "his
veteran followers adored him; his
antagonists never forgot" and refers
to the general sorrow at home over
his passing, also remembering that
IL, he was the source or center of
much discord he was also the author
Of that goodly legislation from which
was grown the rural free delivery of
mails blessing today every country
side beneath the flag" He also was
"either hated or loved-there was no
footing in his character and career
for a midway purchase of indiffer-
ence from which to view him." says
the Knoxville Sentinel, and ''he did
not appear ever to feel happy or to be
in his element when he was not stir
ring up the animals, and in the thick
Of some polemic or political fight"
but the Manchester Union holds that
"here was one Of the men whose
careers furnish illustrations for the