West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-11-20
HON. wIILIAM L. WILSON.

The subject Of this sketch ha-
just been reelected for the fifth
Nme MS y member of tho House, aud
is regarded as the ablest man in
Congress. He is n thorough stu
dent. familiar with parliamentary
law, and il is said that the best Gle.
ment of the Democratic leaders de-
sire him TO he the next Speaker No
better selection could be made. HIS
record is clean in every respect.
William l.. Wilson was born in
Jefferson county, West Virginia.
then portion of Virginia, May
3, 1s43.
Young Wilson commenced his
school education at the Charlcstowa
Academy and graduated at Colum.
bin College, Washington, d. c.. in
the year 1860. lie entered the Unl.
vorsity of Virginia the same year,
but suspended his studies in 1851 to
enter the Confederate army, in
which he served until the close of
the civil war.
In 1865 he was made Assistant
Professor of Ancient Languages in
Columbian College. and during his
connection with this Professorahip
studied law and graduated from the
law school Of that institution in
1867. lie continued Go serve as
Professor Of Latin Language and
Literature Mt Columbia College un-
I'll 1871 In that year the ''teAt
oath" laws, prohibiting persons
who had served in the Confederate
army from practicing in the courts
of West Virginia, were repealed,
and Mr.. Wilson resigned his Pro
fossorship and began the practice OF
law at Charlestown, in his native
county.
He rose rapidly as lawyer and
m5 continuous employment in his
profession for some time prevented
him from taking any active part in
political affairs, but he was close
student of political economy and
history in connection with his legal
researches. as wcll rs an interested
observer of current Political events.
y Democrat by conviction and
vigorous defender Of Che tcnets OF
his party, he was chosen in 1880 as
one Of the West Virginia delegates
TO tho National Democratic Con-
gentioa at Cincinnati, aud as State
e e'ector-at-large on the Democratic
ticket Of that year he
mA1e i brillimt and effective can
yas Of Ncst Virginia.
In 1892 SIR. Wilson was iByited
b. unanimous vote OF the Board OF
Regents OF the West Virginia State
Uniyorsity 50 accept the position Of
President Of chat institution. The
invitation was pressed upon him by
friends Of the University through
3Ut the State, and impellcd by such
pressure. az we'll as the desire TO
haze his children educated under
his own supervision, lie began his
.lutics as President Of the Univer.
sitY in September, 1882. Two
weeks later he was nominated by
lcclamation in the Dem ocratic Con-
gressional Convention OF the Second
District, as It's candidate for Repre-.
sentative in Congress. and was cleo
tod in the following November lie
continued his work az President Of
Che University, serving without sail
ary, from March 4, 1888. until he
took his seat as a member Of Che
Forty-eighth Congress in December
Of that year.
In the contest for tie Spoakcrsaip
in the Forty-eighth Congress, Nr.
Wilson aided Mr.. Csrlisles election
over Mr.. Randall for the reason
that hc con 8.aered the oxigencias Of
thc lime demanded clear cxpres-
sion Of Democratic opinion upon
the tariff question, and thought thc
election OF Mr. Randall would be
construed as O nero postponomout
Of such expression Ills own opin-
ions upon the questions Of revenue
reform and q protective tariff we're
summarized in an intorgiow pub
Iished shortly thereafter.
AS q member Of Congress Sir.
Wilson early took "a place which usu.
ally requires long service to attin.
Ills former residence in Washing.