The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-26
TAKES
TOMWATSON
,oFGE0'RG|A
Asthma Kills Famous
Fiery Southerner; Was
Sixty Years Old.
.

washington, Sept. l0.-unlteo
States Senator Thomas E. Watson
of Georgia died suddenly at his
home here early today. Death was
said to be from an acute attack of
asthma, from which Senator Wat
son had suffered recurrently for
some years.
Although, failing health had in
corrupted Senator Watson's at
tendance at senate sessions fire.
quently in the last several months,
he was in his seat Friday when the
senate adjourned and his friends
believed that he was then showing
improvement He was stricken aft
er dinner last night and passed
away shortly after O'Clock this
morning. He was 60 years old.
Members OF the senator's family
and a number of close friends were
at his bedside when the end came.
Conspicuous Senate Figure.
During the first year and a half
of his term in the senate, to which
he was elected in 1920, after receiv-
ing the nomination over Senator
Hoke Smith and Governor Hugh M.
Dorsey, Senator Watson gave no in
dication Of any impairment of the
vigor and activity which had mark
ed his long career in politics and
as a publisher. In his last speech
in the senate, delivered only q week
ago last Wednesday he severely
criticized the administration for its
course in connection with the rail
strike situation. His previous at
tacks on the administration and
most notably his charges Of illegal
executions in the American expedi-
tionary forces, the subject of ex-
haustive investigation by a senate
committee had made him q con-
spicuous figure in the senate body
during his brief service there.
Elected to Congress-
Born in Thomson, Ga, In 1862
Senator Watson grew up and prac-
ticed law there for some years be-
fore entering state politics. Aftel
serving in the Georgia house o1
representatives and later in 1885
as Democratic elector at large fo1
the state, he was elected to con.
gress in 1891 ON the Populist ticket
After being defeated on the ticket
in the next two elections he, was
nominated as the choice for vice
president at the St. Louis Populist
convention, which endorsed William
]. Bryan for president in 1896
| Nominated for president by the
Peoples party in 1904, Senator
Watson conducted an active cam.
paign to revive the party.
Enemy Of Wilson.
| About that time he began the
publication of Tom Watson's Maya
zine in New York and year later
/ in 1906, undertook the publication
Of Watson's Jeffersonian Magazine
which was continued under the
name of the Weekly Jeffersonian
The publications begun in thai
period were suspended during thu
Wilson administration when denied
transmission through the mails aft
er attacks in them against the draf
act, the espionage law and othel
war measures. Mr.. Watson ther
began publication Of the Colnmbis
Sentinel, at Thomson, of which b,
was proprietor up to his death. II
the senator's own language as Civ
en- in his biographical sketch il
the congressional directory, h
conducted his campaign for tn,
senate as an "anti-Wilson, anti
League, and anti-war measures
Democrat.
! After defeating Senator Smitl
and Governor Dorsey for the nomi
nation he Was elected over IHarr,
S. Edwards, Independent candidate
who favored American participation
in the League of Nations, by al
overwhelming majority.
| The body of Senator Watson will
be taken to his home at Thomson
Ca, today at 3:15 o'clock. He ha,
already made reservations on
train leaving at that time to spen'
the congressional vacation at hi
home. The senator is survived b,
his widow and two grandchildren