Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-09-28
SENATOR THOS.
E. WATSON HAS
PASSED AWAY
Death Comes To Georgia's Junior
Senator At Home in Washington

| WASHINGTON, Sept, 26-Sena-
tor Thomas f. Watson of Georgia
died suddenly at his home, West Mel
rose street, Chevy Chase, Md, at
500 O'Clock this morning. Death was
due to acute asthma.
A week ago the Georgia senator
suffered a severe attack OF asthma. of
which he had been victim for the
past fifteen years.
At the final session of the senate
Friday he Occupied his seat, though his
attending physicians, Thomas K. Con-
rad and Grant S. Barnhart protested.
Sudden End
Sunday afternoon he dictated edi-
torlals for his newspaper, the Column
bia Sentinel, and was apparently in
improved health last night. He par
took OF hearty dinner, but soon after
suffered relapse and his condition be-
came critical. Mrs Watson who re-
turned to the Watson home in Thorn
son, Ga, last spring after severe ill
ness was notified of her husbands
death
The Funeral
| Senator Watson is survived by one
brother, w. A. Watson and one sister,
| Mrs. JUL Cliatt, both of Thomson,
Ga. Two grandchildren also survive
him.
Senator Watson was 66 years old
on September S this year.
Members of the Senator's family
and number of close friends were at
his bedside when the end came.
Last Speech
During the first year and half of
his term in the Senate, to which he
was elected in 1920 after receiving the
nomination over Senator Hoke Smith
and Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, SEN
ator Watson gave no indication of
any impairment of the vigor and ac-
tivity which had marked his long ca
reer in politics and as publisher.
In his last speech in the Senate de-
livered only week ago last Wednes-
day, the Georgia senator severely
CRITICIZED the administration with its
course in connection with the rail-
way strike situation. His previous
attacks cn the administration and
most notably his charged of illegal
hangings in the American expedition
Try forces the subject of exhaustive
investigation nv senate committee.
had made him a conspicuous figure
In the senate body during his brief
service thC"e.
Sketch of His Life
Thomas +. Watson was born in
Columbia County, Georgia, September
5, 1856. He was son of John S
and Ann Eliza Maddox Watson. He
studied two years in Mercer College;
taught school; was admitted to the
bar IL 1875; practiced in Thoms51,
Georgia; was a memnT of the Geo =
ga tCuse Of rerrcs tatr. eS in 1882
3; Democratic elcotoi It. large :;
1888 Member of SIND Congress
f89i-S). as Popu;ist was candidate
and claimed election Con honest COUNT
at elections in 1892 and 1894, but his
opponent was given the certificates.
Resumed practice OF law in 1895.
While in congress he secured first ap-
preparation for free delivery of mails
in rural istricts that Congress ever
passed. Nominated for Vice-P resi-
dent at St. Louis Populist convention
which endorsed Bryan for President
in 1896. For some tim, conducted
Popul1st paper at Atlanta Nominat-
cd Tor President by Peoples Party,
l9O', and made active campaign to
revive the party. Began publication
OF Tom Watson's Magazine in New
York, 1905. Published Watson's
|effersonian Magazine and the Week
IS Jeffcrsonian since 1906 Elected
Unite States Senator from Georgia.
for term l92l-27. He is the author
OF the Story of France, 1893; Life of
Thomas Jefferson, 1900; Life of Ma
poleon. 1902; Bethany, a Study and
Story OF the Old South, 1904; Life and
Times of Andrew Jackson, 1907;
Handbook of Politics and Economics,
1908; Life and Speeches of Thomas
Z. Watson, 1908; The Methods of
Foreign Missions Exposed, 1900; The
Roman Catholic Hierarchy, 1910;
Socialists and Socialism 1909. Or
Ranized the Jeffersonian Publishing
Company in 1911. Was prosecuted in
the United States Court for publishing
three chapters in the Roman Catholic
Hierarchy; bill quashed by Judge
Rufus f. Foster, 1914; second indict-
ment procured, based on the publica-
ton of the same three chapters; Judge
William M. Lamdin overruled motion
to quash; case tried and jury voted
ten to two for acquittal; tried again,
November 1916 and acquitted. In
i9l7 opposed conscripting soldiers for
service abroad and mails were closed
to Watson's Magazine and Jefferson
iian weekly.
Purchased the Columbia Sentinel
NA1