Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-26
SENATOR THOMAS +, WATSON
OF GEORGIA DIED SUDDENLY Y
EARLY TODAY AT WASHINGTON
Was One OF Most Prominent
Political Figures In Geor-
/, gia; Career Has Been One
Stormy Political Battle
Since 1890; Asthma
Caused His Death.


Senator Thomas f. Watson Of Georgia
died suddenly at his home here early
today. Death was said to be due to an
acute attack of asthma, from which
Senator Watson had suffered recur.
rently for some years. Although fail
Ing health had Interrupted Senator
Watson's attendance at senate sessions
frequently in the last several months(
he was in his seat Friday when the
senate adjourned and his friends be-
lieved that he. was then showing inn
provement. He was stricken suddenly
after dinner last night and passed
away shortly after o'clock this
morning. He was sc years old.
Family at Bedside.
Members of the senator's family
and number of close friends were
at his bedside when the end canie.
During the first year and "a half fof
his term in the senate Senator Wat
son gave no indication of any impair
ment of the vigor and activity which
had marked his long career in politics
and as publisher. In his last speech
IN the senate delivered only a week
lgo last Wednesday, the Georgia sem
ator severely criticised the adminis-
tration for its course in connection
with the rail strike situation.
His previous attacks on the admin
istration and most notably his charx-
es of illegal hanging in the American
expeditionary forces. the subject Of
exhaustive investigation by the senate
committee, had made him a conspicu-
Gus figure in the senate body during
his brief service there.
To Move Body Today. I;
The body of the senator will be
taken to his home at Thomson.
Georgia, today at 3:15 o'clock. The
senator is survived by his widow and
two grandchildren.
Stormy Political Career.
Atlanta, Ca. Sept. 26.-(By The As
sociated Press )-Sesator Thomas, E.
Watson Of Georgia, who died suddenly
at his residence in Washington early
today was one of the most ,f,ro,f1i-s
nent figures In Georgia politics ana
during the past four years was con-
sidered by Observers as welding the
strongest political influence in rne
state ,A't
Senator Watson's career was one Of
stormy political battles, dating back
to 1890, when he was elected to the
52nd congress. He ran for reelection
| on the Populist ticket but was defeat
ed In 1896, he was nominated for the
by the St. Louis Populst convention
and in 1904 was nominated for the
presidency by the Peoples party.
tnS,- &C. Owned Several Papers.
1t was during this period that he
started his publications, which de-
veloped until they received national
! recognition. His first paper was de-
voted to the PRONUNCIATION Of the
Populist party's views, and in 1905 he
esta blished the famous Tom Watson
magazine in which he attacked the
Roman Catholic church for number
of years. This publication first was is
sued in New York.
The Jefersonian magazine and the
Weekly Jeffersonian followed as his
next publications. During the war
these two papers were ordered sus-
pended by the United States govern
ment owing to Watson's opposition.to
the draft law and vigorous attacks on
other war policies of the government
Some Of His Books. -.
AS an author, Watson's best known
work was The Story of France
which was used in the schools of
France. Among his other works we're
The Life Of Thomas Jefferson 1.-The
of Thomas .:!efferson,' "Bethany"
Andrew Jackson" Handbook Of
PolltlCs And Economies, and Life
And Speeches of Thomas f. watson.
THE Sage of McDuff1e.' as he was
known by his followers throughout
the state, built up his political
strength through his publications.
When the government stopped his
two papers during the war. he soon
was publishing the Columbia SEN
tinel
In his campaign in 1920. Watson
was opposed by Senator Hoke Smith
and Governor Hugh NJ. Dorsey. He
denounced the Wilson administration
During the latter part Of his cam
paign he was arrested and charged
with disorderly conduct at Buford.
Later the charge was dismissed
In 1914 Watson was indicted in
the federal court at Augusta on the
charge of sending obscene matter
through the mails. He appeared as
chief counsel in his defense and
charged that the indictment was the
result of his attack on Catholicism.
There were many stormy courtroom
scenes during the trial, which re-
in iu fol