The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-10
The Watson Tragedy

There is something pathetic in the campaign
being waged by Senator James E. Watson for
election to his post.
After thirty years in congress- he asks to go back
the plea that in the closing hours Of the last
session, by parliamentary strategy which Senator
couzens called trickery, he secured the passage Of
the home loan bank bill.
That is his message. That is his song
The value of the bill may may not be debatable.
1t may do all that he says it will. 1t may prove to
be as futile to help the homeless secure home
its critics assert
But even if it be all that Watson says, what of
his plea that he should be returned because of his
activity in It's behalf?
That bill is now law Nothing that he can do
nor fail to do will make any difference in its opera
ton He finished when he secured some jobs on
this board for former critics and pached dissenting
elements in his party by this patronage.
The tragedy Of the situation that in thirty years
Watson can point to nothing but an eleventh-hour
effort as an excuse for remaining in Office.
The tragedy is that at the end Of his long career
he has but one law to which he has linked his name
with which he can point with pride
The comparison. for instance with the record of
the late Senator Beverage makes the situation even
more pathetic.
Beveridge was known because Of his courage in
fighting against child labor and goes down into his
tory as one of the great men Of all time in this ma
ton He made his fight against the influence Of great
wealth and powerful interests. 1t required no cour-
age to champion bank which had the backing
of very great aggregatons of wealth
And as long as Beverdge lived, Watson was found
fighting his presence in the senate, and politicians
accredt the attitude of watson with the final defeat
which Beveridge met when he attempted return to
public life.
Beveridge was great because he took stand with
the Progressives against the standpat Old Guard,
which represented vested interests and wealth. He
stood for men, Watson now appeals for votes be-
cause he took part in the establishment OF new
bank to loan money to other financial institutions
He is to be found fighting for higher tariff on
sugar Then the people discovered that he had been
sold stock in sugar company in return for his I'M
secured note He had the nerve to laugh at the
disclosure and declare that the note was worthless
and the stock worthless
But the hideous fact remains that Watson ex-
pected the stock to gain value by the tariff measure
and to gain money without risk.
In this campaign he deserted the sound plea that
he had opposed and would oppose the immediate pay
rnent of the bonus. On that question Watson stood
for the best interests of the nation helped to stay
tide of evils that might easily have wrecked the
credit of the country
His opponent Friedrich Van Mugs, has announced
himself in favor Of the bonus. There was clear
cut issue, not perhaps great enough to make the
people forget the long record of Watson but an issue
on which Watson was in safe territory.
Instead of that he prefers to play to the veterans
by recollection of vote in favor of the bonus over
the veto of two former Presidents and endeavor to
beguile the mistaken service men with weasel
promise that they will get their money "as soon as
the government can pay The inference is plain
that he expects time to arrive far ahead of the
date when the bonus is due.
Aside from a pledge to increase tariff rates, just
what reason does Watson give the voters for send
ing him back?
Is it the hope that in another thirty years he
may once more do something commendableP