The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-09-27
THOMAS WATSON
WELDED POWER

Washington, Sept. 26. - Another
powerful and picturesque figure pass
ed from public life in the death today
of Senator Thomas E. Watson of
Georgia. His death, which occurred
at 2:40 O'Clock this morning, was sud-
den and unexpected, according to ply.
sicians, resulting from an attack Ct
asthma.
The senator had been sufferer for
several weeks from the disease and
only last Sunday experienced an acute
attackk. Two physicians and a nurse
were at the bedside when the end
came, but the widow, who is in i'll
health, and other relatives were at
the home in Thomson, Ga, for which
Mr.. Watson had planned to depart
today for the congressional recess.
For 40 years Senator Watson had
been active in politics, national as
well as state figure. He was nomi-
mated by the Populist party for pres
ident in 1904 after receiving its vice
presidential nomination in 1894. He
was a Populist member of the house
Of representatives in 1S81-1s93. In
1920 he was elected senator, as he
said, on "anti-Wilson, anti-league (of
nations) and anti-war measures"
platform, defeating former Senator
Hoke Smith and former Governor
Dorsey. He was 66 years of age Sep
tember 5 last, and his senatorial term
would have expired March 8, 1927.
The funeral will be held at Thom-
son, Ca, either next Thursday after
noon or Friday morning. Senate Off
cials are in charge and the funeral
party will leave here tomorrow at
a:15 o'clock for Thomson.
Because Of the absence during the
present recess Of congress of Vice
President Coolidge, Senator Cummins,
Republican, president pro tempore,
and most Of the senate membership,
there was difficulty today in arranging
committee to attend the funeral.
Senator's on the tentative list included
Hefiin, Alabama; Harrison, Mississip-
pi; Dial, South Carolina; Shields, Ten
nessee, and Fletcher, Florida, DEM
ccrats, and Brandegee, New Jersey;
New, indiana; Shortridge, California,
and Cameron, Arizona, Republicans.
Senate flags were placed at haf
mast for a period of 80 days out of
respect to The late senator and the
senate will adjourn out of respect
hg ~ sl
President and Mrs. Harding headed
those who preferred condolences
President Harding's letter to Mrs.
Watson follows:
81 have just learned of the sudden
and unexpected death of your. distin-
guished husband, Senator Watson.
This note is to express my sympathy
to you in the hour of great sorrow.
Mrs. Harding asks me to include her
in an expression of our most sincere
coincidence"
During the iirst 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 Gov. Hugh NJ. Dorsey, Sen
ator Watson gave no indication of any
impairment of the vigor 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 criticized
the administration for it's course in
connection with the rail strike situa-
tion. His previous attacks on the .ad-
ministration and most notably his
charges of illegal hangings in the
American Expeditionary forces, the
subject of exhaustive investigation by
senate committee, had made him :,
conspicuous figure in the senate bod,
during his brief service there.
Born in Thomson, Ga, in 1856, Sen
stOr Watson grew up 'and practiced
law there for some years beforeN en-
tering state politics. After serving
in the Georgia house Of representa-
tives and later in 1883, as Democratic
clector ct large FOR the state, he was
elected to congress in 1891 on the Pop.
ulist ticket. After being defeated on
that ticket in the next two elections,
Senator Watson was nominated es
the choice for vice president at the st.
Louis Populist convention, which in.
dorsed William j. Bryan for president
in 1895. Nominated for president BY
the Peoples party in, 1904, Senator
Watson conducted an active campaign
to revive the party.
About that time he began the publi-
cation Of Tom Watson's Magazine in
New York and year later undertook