Stone County enterprise. [volume] (Wiggins, Stone County, Mississippi) 1916-current, 1922-09-28
TOM WATSON
DIED TUESDAY
Noted as Politician, Author and
Orator; Death Results
From Asthma

E. Watson of Georgia, died sud
denly at his home here early to
day. Death was said to be due
to an acute attack of asthma
from which Senator Watson haC
suffered recurrently for some
years.
Although failing health had
interrupted Senator Watson'S
attendance at State sessions
frequently in the last several
months, he was in his seat Fri
day when the Senate adjourn
ed, and his friends believe
that he was then showing i'm.
provement. He was strickel
suddenly after dinner las
night and passed away shortly
after 3 o'clock this morning
He was sc years of age.
During the first year and
half of his term in the Senate
to which he was elected in 1926
after receiving the nomination
over Senator Hoke Smith an(
Governor H. M. Dorsey, Senator
Watson gave no indication o
any impairment of the vigol
and activity which had marked
his long career in politics and as
a publisher. In his last speech
in the Senate, delivered only
week ago last Wednesday, the
Georgia senator severely criti-
cized the administration for its
course in connection with the
rail strike situation. His pre-
vious attacks on the administra.
ton, and most notable his
charges Of illegal hangings in
the American EXpenditionary
Forces, the subject of exhaust
i've investigation by Senate
committee, has made him a con-
spicuous figure in the Senate
body during his brief service
there.
Born in Thomson Ga, in 1856
Senator Watson grew up and
practiced law there for some
years before entering state poll
tics. After serving in the Geor-
gia House Of Representatives,
and later, in 1888, as Democrat
: ic elctor at large for the state.
In the senator's own language
as given in his biographical
sketch in the Congressional
directory, he conducted his cam
paign for the Senate as an anti
Wilson, anti-League and anti
war measures Democrat. After
defeating Senator Smith and
Governor Dorsey for the nomi-
nation, he was elected over
Harry S. Edwards, Independent
candidate, who favored Ameri-
can participation in the League
of Nations, by an overwhelm-
ing majority.
Senator Watson was one OF
the most famous figures in the
history of Georgia politics, and
during the past four years was
considered by observers as
welding the strongest influence
in the state. During the recent
Democratic primary in Georgia
his support was used in the in
terest of Clifford w. Walker,
successful candidate for the
gubernatorial nomination. His
position in this race followed
differences with Governor Tho
mas w. Hardwick whom he sup
ported two years ago when the
"two Toms" both were elected.
His career was one of stormy
political battles, dating back to
1890 VIXEN he was elected to the
ffty-second Congress. He ran
for reelection on he Populist
ticket, but was defeated. In
1896 Ne was Nominated for the
vice-pres1dency OF the United
States by the St. Louis Populist
convention, and in 1904 was
nominated for the presidency
by the Peoples party.
1t was during this period
that he started his publications,
which developed until they re-
ceived national recognition.
His first paper was devoted to
the promulgation of the Popu-
list party's views, and in 1895
he established the famous Tom
Watson Magazine in which he
attacked the Roman Catholic
Church for a number of years.
This publication was first is
sued in New York,