Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1920 — WATSON AND LIQUOR [ARTICLE]

WATSON AND LIQUOR

On Sept. 29, Elwood Haynes, a Kokomo manufacturer, with trumpet’ and flaring newspaper headlines, “Prohi Leader Favors G. O. P.,” announced his intention of supporting the Republican ticket, and especially emphasized his support of James E. Watson for United States senator. ’ Mr. Haynes was himteelf the nominee on the Prohibition ticket for JJnlted States senator at the last /election against James E. Watsen. I Forb-4he enlightenment of Mr. Haynes and other Prohibitionists who may be considering the advisability of following Mr. Haynes’s footsteps it may be interesting, and is certainly appropriate, to have some additional sidelights thrown on the subject. In justifying his change of heart, Mr. Haynes gave out a letter he received from Senator Watson, under date of Sept. 22 last, of which the following in an excerpt: “Responding to yours of the 11th inst., permit me to say that under most discouarging circumstances I made the fight as candidate for governor for county local option lii 1908. I was beaten, but helped to sow the seeds of opposition in Indiana that have since that time been bearing fruit.”

Yes, it will be recalled that James E. Watson was a candidate for governor of Indiana in 1908, and his defeat that year is probably due to the fact of his own inconsistencies during that campaign. The writer was and stenographically reported* his keynote speech at Lebanon, Ind., June 13, 1908, which also served as the opening of the Boone county campaign, the occasion being the nomination of a Republican county ticket for Boone county. At that time and place Mr. Watson, touching upon the topic referred to in the above excerpt from his letter, said: “The Hon. Thomas R. Marshall, my distinguished opponent, was here j the other day. Mr. Marshall is a high-minded citizen, but he is treating the situation lightly when he said we do not mean it. Don’t mean । _ , it! Of course we mean it! । Boone icounty was as idry as a horn, as Mr. Watson well knew. In his elaboration upon the subject he made a suitable prohibition speech, and was loudly “ applauded. " Sixteen days later, at Gary, Lake county, Ind,, June 29, 1908, I was again privileged to hear Mr. Watson at Bizenhof hall. It was quite a contrast to the dry atmosphere in and about Lebanon, for he was then in a territory almost as wet as Lake Michigan, and in touching upon the same subject he delivered himself thus:' “What is this proposition? Some have said it is a prohibition proposition. My feltpw-cttizens, 1 want to be frank — I am not a pro-

hlbltionlst. The Republican party is not a prohibition party. It is not a prohibition measure.” On Sept. 5, following, after Governor Hanly had called the famous special session of the -.legislature and taken action on the temperance question, which, no doubt, is still fresh in Mr. Watson’s memory, Mr. Watson spoke at Bloomington, Ind. During the noon hour, on a street corner, surrounded by a number of his confidential friends, Mr. Watson denounced Governor Hanly to every thing he could think of for calling the special session of the legislature and 30 minutes later Mr. Watson, in his public address, In the Harris opera house, a distance of 50 yards from the scene of his street corner confidential chat, praised and lauded Governor Hanly in the highest terms for calling the special session of the legislature. —Walter C. Galbraith, in Indianapolis News.