The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-09-26
DECE:DE:NT
UNIQUE
FIGURE
Once Candidate for Presi
dent of U.S.. by POpu-
list Party
INTERNATIONAL NEWS srRyIcr,

WASHINGTON, Sept. Ex-senator
Thomas E. Watson died suddenly
| early today at his home in Chevy
Chase. Md, following a weeks seri-
Gus illness with asthma. with which
he had suffered for fifteen years. He
was ee years old on Sept. g.
Coming to the senate on March
| 4. 1921, as an anti Wilson, anti
league and antt-war measures DEM
| ocrate," Watson became one Of the
national capitals most picturesque
figures. His services here had not
| prevented him from continuing as
| the publisher and editor Of his
newspaper, the Columbia Sentinel.
and on Sunday night. apparently in
improved health. he dictated edito-
| rials for the next Issue.
WAS IN POOR HEALTH
Although his poor health during
the past few weeks had kept him
from some sessions of the senate.
he insisted upon being in his seat
last Friday during the closing hours
Of the sixty yseventh congress.
He remained throughout yester-
day al his home, W. Melrose place.
Chevy Chase, and ate a hearty din
ner last night. A few hours later
he suffered a relapse and his condi-
tion became serious. Death occur
red a 3 o'clock this morning
Senator Watson Is survived by
his wife. who returned to the Wat
son home IN Thomson, Ga. last
spring after severe illness, one
brother. W. A. Watson, and sister.
Mrs. Julia Cliatt. both of Thomson.
Ga. Born in Columbia county. Ga,
Sept. 5. 1856. the son of John S and
Anna Watson. Tom Watson studied
two years at Mercer university.
taught school and was admitted to
the bar in 1875. prasticing in Thorn
IN. Ga
He served in the Georgia house OF
representatives. in 1928 and was
Democratic eiector-at-large in 1883.
ON POPULIsT TICKET
Tom Watson first appeared in
Washington In 1891. when he was
elected to the fifty second congress
as Populist. He was a candidate
and claimed election in 1892 and
1894. but his opponent received the
certificate.
While in congress. watson secur-
ed the first appropriation for the
free delivery OF rural mails.
The st. Louis Populist convention.
which indorsed William Jennings
Bryan for president in 1895. elected
president He was at the time con-
Quoting a Populist newspaper at
Atlanta, Ga. and in 1901. the Popu-
list party decided to run him for
president. He made an active cam
paign TO revive the party.
In 1905, he began the publication
OF Tom Watson's Magazine in New
York. and in 1906 established Wat
sons Jeffersonian Magazine and the
Weekly Jefersonian.
WAS ANTI-CATHoLIC
Watson was for many years an
out-spoken opponent of the Roman
Catholic church and his book. The
Roman Catholic Hierarchy, pub
lished in 1910. caused him to be pro-
secuted in the federal courts. This
incident in his career was described
by Senator Watson in his biography
in the Congressional Directory as
follows:
Prosecuted in the United States
court for publication of three chap
ters in The Roman Catholic HER
archy; bill quashed by Judge Rufus
E. Foster. 1914; second indictment
procured based on publication CT
same chapters; Ju i g William
Lambden overruled motion to quash;
case tried and jury voted 10 to for
acquittal; tried again, November.
1916. and acquitted"
Senator Watson was the author
of a number of books, most OF them
of an historical character. His op-
position TO President Wilson. the
conscription law. the espionage act
and similar war measures resulted
In orders from the post office de-
partment withdrawing mailing priv
ileges for his magazines. It was
then that he established the Colum-
bia Sentinel at Thomson. Ca.
NEARLY ANTI-EyERYTHIN
Watson entered the race for the
United States senate in 1920 as an
anti Wilson, anti-league and anti
war measure Democi at" He receiv-
ed the nomination over Senator
Hoke Smith and Governor Hugh NJ.
Dorsey in the Democratic primary
and was elected in the fall over
Harry S Edwards. a league of ma.
tions independent.
Although he participated actively
in discussions of most OF the i'm
portsnt questions that came before
the senate since March, 1921. Sena-
tor Watson had an especial interest
in those questions growing out OF
the war His sensational charges
relating to the mistreatment 81
American soldiers IN France led TO
= rnna4nrial investigation.