The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-28
WATSON DESERTS.


ONLY one Interpretation can be placed upon the
sneech delivered by Senator James E. Watson in his
brief very brief appearance before the State Re-
publican convention.
Watson is today farther outside the ranks of the
Republican party than Is Brookhart, much farther
than even La Toilette went when he formed
third party.
Not the bold defiance Of Fighting Bob. Not the
declaration Of principles that inspired Brookhart-
But the subtle poisonous, venomous attack of the
man who is afraid strike boldly and courageousiy'
Watson came to humiliate Calvin Coolidge.
He did it cleverly. And in true Watson style.
He endeayored to hold the admirers of Coolidge
With fulsome praise Then he delivered the most
hateful of strokes when he apoogized for the Presi'
dent of the United States and endeavored to explain
that their differences were not differences at ALL
Every fair inference of his speech is that 1t
was a charge that the President OF the United
States Calvin Coolidge is insincere, trucker, q
devotee of the doctrine Of expedience and of prece
dent.
He charged, by every fair inference OF his
words, that Calvin Coolidge is not sincere be-
lever ia the world court which he championed but
that his advocacy Of thio court was prompted by a
deferred regard for the opinions of Harding
He charged, if the speech is taken In connection
and read together with the platform which he die
tated that the President betrayed the republic
when he advocated that court
He charged, IF there is anything in language,
that Coolidge is "a coward and that only Watson Is
brave enough to desert the national platform.
His praise of Coolidge the bodest of insults
and it cannot be interpreted in any other light,
either at the White House or elsewhere.
His explanation of the difference between the
Watson attitude on farm relief and that OF the
President, reduced to it's fundamentals, is a charge
- DIyob Dora oF all
dents,
More important than what he said was the brew
ity of the Watson visit and the conditions which
forced him to make it brief. IS
Watson knows that he Is the creator and the
creature of machine which has much 70 explain.
He knew that an extended visit would leave no
excuse for ignoring the group of independent Re-
publican editors who had asked his aid in effort
to cleanse their party from its pernicious control
He knew that the control of the party is in the
hands Of those whose selection he has urged-and
that the convention itself would at any opportunity
have voted to recommend different leadership
He came back to escape, if he could and he did,
the results of private bargains which he has not been
adroit enough to conceal
And SO he praised Coolidge as tight wad He
paid homage to his thrift. He sobbed about the es
sentia1 greatness of the President-Tand apoogized
for the only outstanding attitudes which the Presi
dent has taken in his term of office.
If Calvin Coolidge is Republican and stands
for the doctrines Of the Republican party, then Wat
son can call himself revolutionist if he prefers that
title to deserter,
The truth is that Watson, still trying to gather
to himself whatever glamour attaches to the tradi-
ton Of White House friendship, is no more in SYM
party with Calvin Coolidge than is Cole Blease.
They agree only when a high protective tariff is
proposed for the close friends of Watson, once
their lobbyist and always their special pleader.
Automatically the visit of Watson releases any
Republican who takes his politics from Coolidge, ttu
lar head of his party, from any allegiance to himself
Many bitter, oaustic and unknd things have
been said about Coolidge.
But never before has he been reduced to the
pitifrl condition of being the subject of apology
from Watson
Beyond that limit Of humiliation, nothing is left
to the imagination.