EXIT MR. WATSON.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 28, 28 October 1907, Page 3

EXIT MR. WATSON.

WHY THE FEDERA LABOUR LEADER. IS RETIRING. A BUSINESS REASON. (FROM OUR SriiCIAI, CORRESPONDENTS.) Sytiney, October 19. The Federal Labour Party will sulFcr a sorious loss in the retirement of its leader, Mr. J. C. Watson, whoso intended resignation is announced this week. It has been known to Mr. Watson's friends that lie has thought mon , than once, lately of giving up politics, which exact so much from a man and give so little in return; and before the Inst Federal election the rumour that ho was about to retire was again heard. There seems to bo no doubt about it thi3 time, however. A caucus of the party .his held this week in Melbourne, at which Mr. Watson announced that, owing to the state of his health, he proposed to give up the leadership. The Federal Labour Leader is not a robust man, and the control of a party moans a severe tax upon tho energies of any one. Air. Watson has always been moderate in his aspirations, and perfectly willing to take half a loaf when lie could not get a complete one. The attitude has not pleased tho more radical section of his followers,, and tho fast that ho has been quite willing to go slowly when they desired him to go fast has led them to criticise him rather freely more than once. Tliis circumstance, of course, does not tend to encourage a leader, though it is very unlikely that Mr. Watson attaches very great importance to it, for he is a level-headed man with moral courage enough to pursue the course he thinks right, irrespective of whom it may displease. It was at first supposed that Mr. Watson intended merely to give up the leadership, but his present intention is to resign from Parliament after this session. In addition to the fact that his health is not good, there are business roasons. inducing him to the stop he now proposes. Indeed, it is freely reported—though tho statement is not' confirmed—that he'is about to take a position with a bydnoy. nowspapor firm. It is probable that either Mr. Fisher, of Queensland, the present Deputy Leaderwho was Minister for Customs in"Mr Watson s Government, or Mr. W. M. flushes' the energetic advocate of the claims of labour—a well-known Sydney barrister and Minister for Lxvernal Affairs in Mr. Watson s Cabinet—will succeed to the leadership. It is a matter of much speculation as to how the retirement of Mr. Watson will affect his party. Ho has proved an admirable loader, a man of tact, deliberation, and sane and moderate .views. The retirement of such a man must bo a loss to any party, and especially to ono charged with the difficult duty of steering its course through the shoals and quicksands of the Labour movement. Tho spirit of loyalty and friendship with which he has inspired his followers is best attested by tho fact that in the seven years of his leadership, there has never been ovon a hint of rivalry. Ho has commanded, at the same time, the respect and admiration oven of his strongest political foes, not only by his honesty, smconty of conviction and determination, but, also bv the frank, unassuming, simplicity, good humour, and charm of his-manner. ■■

Tho• career of Mr. Watson is one of tho romances of Australian political history. He began life as a compositor, who had learned his trade in New Zealand;'and little more than thirteon years ago ho was an unknown omployee on an evening paper in Sydnoy. He was not able to find work always at "tho case, ' and, as all sturdy men "do under such circumstances, ho turned to other avocations, and for, a few days was employed as a groom in Lord Carrington's stables. In tho courso of a few years, it happened that ho went nack to Government House, not to seek employment as a groom, but to be sworn in as Primo Minister of Australia. Trades unionism gave him his first chance, as it has given it to many another able man among the workers. He went into tho New South Wales Parliament as member for Young in 1894, and achieved a notable victory when he' defeated Mr. R. E. O'Connor (now Mr. Justice O'Connor) on the Federal Bill issue. .His choice-,as loader of his party, when ho was elected for Bland; to the Federal Parliament was. amply justified, for by a singular combination of ability, tact, directness, and charm of ' personality, he stamped himself as one of Australia' 3 big men; He is not an orator, but he,.is calm, logical, and convincing—a man who knows oxactly what he wante to sny, and says not one word beyond that.