Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1908 — Watson Tells of His Defeat [ARTICLE]

Watson Tells of His Defeat

f.. Rushville, Ind., Nov. 9.—James E. ‘Watson was at his home in north Morgan street today. No one entering that domicile would even idream that there was a defeated candidate in the company. Good cheer and happiness reigned and smiles and laughter were seen and heard on all sides. If some of Watson’s loyal friends who were pictures of despair, could have seen him, it would have at least lifted part of the heavy load off their hearts. Mr. Watson was elated with the big vote tendered him by his neighbors and friends in Rush county, and expressed his deepest gratitude for their hearty Support. “Are you satisfied with your campaign?” was asked Mr. Watson and he promptly replied: “I am entirely satisfied with my campaign. I made more speeches than any other man that ever ran for governor in this state, and my defeat is not due to any lack of effort on my part.” “To what do you attribute your defeat?” he was asked. “Wholly on the question of local option. The liquor Republicans were more in favor of liquor than they were in favor of their party. The temperance Democrats, on the other hand were Democrats before they were temperance people. The great majority of Prohibitionists care nothing about temperance, their only object being to defeat the Republican party, and they voted their Some temperance Democrats voted for me, and those Prohibitionists who really cared anything about temperance voted in the same way. The majority of the peop’e, however, have said at the ballot boxes that they were not in favor of county local option, and on that question I was beaten.” “Did you apprei end defe't at any time previous to the el’cticn.” In answer to this Mr. Watson said: “I can truthfully state that up to within three w.eks ago I ne er cn e entertained the idea that I could be elected. I told Senator Heme w>y and State Cha rman Goodri h many times that 1 was beaten though I made as game a f g£t as I ciu d possibly make solely on the standpoint to discharge my obligations to my party. Three weeks ago the cur e.its set in our way and the last wek of the campaign I became hopeful of success, though I was never satisfied that I would be chosen. I told my wife on Sunday Lefore elec ion that it was a turn of the hand and I really felt that way about it, though I knew that our gains had teen —material for the two weeks pre eding that day.” “How do you feel over ycur defeat?”

"Well,” Mr. Watson lep'iei, ‘‘l am a philosopher, and I am never unduly elated by success or unduly depressed by defeat. T. e f rit race I ever made was for H e nominati n of secretary of state, and I was beaten in the convention in the gp i g of 1894. I was nomina'ed and e ected to congress that fall, but in 18 6 I was beaen for renomimtion o congress, so I have twice bfore this time tasted the sorrows of defeat,L. am conscious of the fact that 1 did the best I could throughout my campaign and I have no i egrets wi a ever to express. I fought out my proposition straight from the shoulder in every secticn of the state. I had magnificent audiences everyw’ e e and most cordial and enthusiast c receptions. If I had the power to ■change any sing'e day in the entire ■campaign I would not consent to such a change.” “What effect did the lalor vote have in your defeat?” he was asked. "Very little,” Mr. Watson repl ed. "Yon will remember that in the sta’e convention I received the practical y solid vote of Vanderburg, Vigo, Tippecanoe, Delaware, Madison, Howard and Grant counties. These counties were all strong labor centers, and yet they practically nominated me. Since the local option plank was adopted these are the very counties that turned against me, so that it was not a personal matter, and not a question of labor, but a question of liquor. In many Instances the very men who went to the convenion to nominate me turned against me after the nomination and helped to compass my defeat. Except as the brewers could use some labor leaders and a few organizations, the labor question cut but little figure in my defeat. It was practically a liquor question and not a labor ques- , tlon. The same is true in the other : liquor sections of the state so that i I was defeated squarely on the prop- ! osltlon of county locpi option and the ] returns justify the assertion. I have 1 fought a good fight 1 have finished I my course, and rib man can say J that I did not keep the fa’tb ” Mr. Watson will be in Washington ! when congress convenes In December j and will be ready for business at the * opening of the session. I