Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1907 — ELOQUENT SPEECH BY JIM WATSON [ARTICLE]

ELOQUENT SPEECH BY JIM WATSON

Eloquent to the point of ’being dramatic, and impressing all with the utter sincerity of every expression he gave utterance to, “Jim.” Watson, Representative in Congress from the 6th Indiana district, held the closest attention of the vast audience that gathered in and about the Fountain Park tabernacle Sunday. Mr. Watson did not arrive at the park until about 1 o’clock. He came overland from Lafayette in an automobile with George Haywood and Henry Overish in Mr. Heath’s car, and suffered a couple of punctures enroute. The second one occurred just on the outskirts of Remington and the speaker was able to get out. by haek. The inconveniences of the automobile trip did not interfere with Mr. Watson’s entertaining qualities, and from the time he began his preluding re marks until he concluded his speech every auditor was keyed up to the highest pitch of pleasure. His speech was from the optomist’s view of life and dealt with the conformation of life and character according to the trend of .bought and desire. He did not claim that the optomist should disregard the existence of evil but that he should not admit that it portended disaster, but with willingness and assurance of success set about to rectify it. “Jim” said that every one in th s life finds just what he is lookirg for. If he wants beauty and happiness and self satisfaction and starts out to establish these qualities by right living and by trying to create the same conditions for other peo pie be will get it, and if be finds fault and sees unavoidable trouble and distress ahead for the country and every person in it, he will sour his soul and wreck his life. “Jim” W atson is a politician and admits it. He has established it as a plain proposition that he fights according to the tactics adoptei by his opponents and he does not hesitate to recommend the plan. “Some times you have to get right down to the hog plane to do it*” he said. “Why, you couldn't stop a pig in a lane by standing on the fence and reading the 23rd psalm to him as he came dashing along. What you would do is to get right down to the hog’s basis and establish yourself at one end of the lane with a club.” There were about 4,000 admissions sold Sunday, rivaling the greatest attendance the park has ever had in a single day.