Evening star., 1948-07-29
Watson
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! here. His tall, spare figure was a
: familiar sight around the Capitol
Y where he listened to debates, chat
ted with old friends and sat in on
sthe Senate sessions.
: Those trips became more frequent
after the Republicans returned a
majority in Congress last year. His
good humor and stock of jokes and
anecdotes were as well known to
the Democrats as the Republicans.
He was known as Jim" and his
sunny disposition and genius for
making friends endeared him to his
colleagues, Democratic and Repub-
lican alike
Praised by Jenner.
Senator Jenner. Republican, of
Indiana, paid tribute to him today
as leader who had been out
standing for a half-century in the
field of Government and politics.
From humble birth, he rose to
a position of influence in the af-
fairs not only of his home state of
Indiana and his Nation but of the
world" Senator Jenner said. For
more than 40 years he was power
in the national House of Repre-
sentatives and in the United States
Senate.
Possessed of winning person.
slity, a wealth of hunor and a keen
mind, he used these talents to the
advantage of his own political party
and in the interests of his country
His death leaves a void which will
be hard to fill"
Funeral arrangements have been
set tentatively for Saturday. The
details will be announced later.
Brough up in the turbulent poll
tics of Indiana, the former Senator
fitted into the picture when the Re-
publican party was dominated by
such figures as Matt Quay and Boise
Penrose of Pennsylvania, Tom"
Platt of New York and Murray
Crane of Massachusetts,.
Elected to House in 1895.
He first served in the House from
1895 to 1897, Defeated for re-elec-
ton, he was returned to the House
IN 1899 and served there until 1909.
In 1903 he ran for Governor of In
diana but was defeated by the late
Thomas r. Marshall who later be-
came Vice President.
In 1923 he sought the Republican
presidential nomination, but lost to
Herbert Hoover.
The Senator said he felt he de
served the nomination" but never
theless promised-and gave-his
support to the nominee.
When Mr.. Hoover was elected
Senator Watson was made Repub-
lican leader of the Senate. Carry
ing out his pledge of support, he
wore down his strength to the point
of exhaustion in the long, extra
session fight of 1880 over the tariff
bill. His friends said it took him
many months to recover his usual
yigor.
Was Strict Party Man.
He was often assailed by his oppo-
nents as stand-patter. But in his
memoirs published in 1886 he de-
scribed himself as progressive
conservative. He was above all
a strict party man and did his best
as Republican leader to see that
the party's policies were carried out.
AS a practical politician, Senator
Watson usually was able to tell in
advance the vote on important illus
tration. During the Senate debate
on the League of Nations, Senator
Watson, who sided with the late
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,
against the League, was summoned
to the White House by President
Wilson and asked how the vote
would be.
Mr.. President" Watson replied,
you are licked" Events proved
him correct.
Senator Watson knew several Pres
idents we'll but he was especially
fond of Warren G. Harding. He
believed that President Harding
and his administration were mis-
understood. He was one of the
political leaders that met in a
Smoke filled" room to pick Mr..
Harding for President in 1920.
In his active days in politics, Mr..
Watson was in much demand as a
speaker. He used strong and pic
tureSque language and as he "got
steamed up" he would frequently
discard his coat and then his vest,
throwing them at random toward a
chair
Was Vigorous in Debate.
With his oratorical powers he was
effective and vigorous in debate
especially when attacking the DEM
ocratic Party. Notwithstanding
this, he had warm friends among
the Democrats, including the late
Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri
and Senator Pat Harrison of Mis-
sissippi.
Mr.. Watson was born at Win
chester, Ind, November 2, 1852
His father. Enos L. Watson, was a
lawyer. He attended De Pauw
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