The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-22
MINISTER WILLIS.
4 Sketch Of His Career by Representa-
tive CaTuth.

The Way he Made His Way in the
World-The Story Of How He Lost
His Place in Congress-He Tried to
Keep Woman in offce-The Reasons
That Led to His Appointment to
Hawaii-A Man Well Suited for the
Position.
Washington, Jan. 21.-It was a petty
postofice row which took Albert G. Will
lis out of congress and gave him the op-
portunity to be the United States minis
ter to Hawaii If it had not been for that
row Willis might still be numbered
amoug the quiet men of congress, instead
of being a center of attraction in two coun-
tries-the United States and Hawaii-as
well as an interesting figure to the world
at large. Postoffice rows have bothered
good many congressman and have de-
feated not few of them, but the partieu-
lar row which fell to the lot of Willis was
an i'll wind which eventually blew him
into national and international promi-
nence he never would have achieved in
congress.
I got from the witty and popular blue
grass SbdbGSLudus CONGRESSMAN ASQGf Ii.
Caruth, of Louisville, the circumstances
of Willis summary retirement from con-
gress, and good deal more of this inter-
esting figure who is handling our affairs
in Hawaii. Caruth represents the Louis
vile district, having beaten Willis for
the democratic nomination after Willis
had held the place for ten years. OF
course, Caruth knows Willis very we'll
and was. able to tell all about him from
hOvbO00 iOnl1lHiDcp tho
fight which retired Willis and made
Caruth his successor.
There was a woman in the case said
Caruth, land If there hadn't been, l
would not be sitting here as Willis sue
cessor"
The trouble dated way back to the
Tilden-Hayes campaign. Kentucky was
red hot for Tilden and no one doubted
that Tilden was going to be President.
Mrs, Virginia c. Thompson, of Louis
vile, who was highly connected, was
among those certain of Tilden's election.
Her husband had died after doing good
service in the campaign, leaving Mrs.
Thompson with scant means of sup
port. She was the daughter of Alex
ander Campbell, the founder of the
Campbellite faith, and had such strong
political friendships that she decided to
be a candidate for postmistress of Louis
Vile That was when Tilden's entrance
TO the white house seemed certain. so
Mrs. Thompson got up huge petition to
Tilden asking for her appointment She
was equal to the emergency when HAYES
was counted in, for she struck out the
heading to President Tilden,n and made
il to president Hayes"
WHERE WILLIS CAME INTO THE CASE.
cat that time Garfield was prominent
in congress and a close friend of HAYES
n1a ~.
when Mrs. Thompson appealed to him
she found an active supporter. The result
was that she became postmistress of
Louisville. Mrs. Thompson held the
place under Hayes, Garfield and Arthur
and up to the time of President Cleve-
lands election.
1T was just here that Willis came into
the case. He was then the Louisville
representative. in congress. and Mrs
Thompson applied to him to indorse her
for reappointment. He had no sooner
done so than trouble began Indignation
meetings were held the claim was made
that Mrs Thompson had contributed to
Jay Hubbell's campaign fund. l made
the run, and it resulted in Willis defeat
at the convention. The postoftice row had
done it all, and it was the sole cause of
my nomination and election"
Private John Allen, the congressional
numorist, happened to hear Caruth's mar
rative.
And So" said Allen, willis efforts
to keep Queen Lii on the throne are not
the first attempts he has made to keep a
female in Office"
Caruth went on to tell of the charac-
teristics of Willis. He had started
as poor boy in Louisville, had gone
through the public schools, and had then
worked in law office until admitted to
The bar. He became prosecuting attor-
ney' which gave him much local promi-
nence in criminal trials Then he made a
specially of personal injury cases, always
taxing the side of the injured plaintiff
against some of the wealthy corpora tons
he was not an eloquent advocate, but he
had tuency and directness of speech
mat made him very convincing.
WILLIS METHOD OF LAWSUIT.
Mr. Crutchfeld, of Louisville, journal
clerk of the House of Representatives re-
Iates an incident of Willis popular
method of trying lawsuit He was at
lorney for young woman in a case
against prominent and wealthy con-
tractor of Louisville. The case attracted
much attention and the court room was
crowded when the trial was on The
contractor took the stand and being of
an easy conscience, tried to swear the
case out Of court. Then Willis
arose IN behalf of the young woman. He
qld not seek to cross-examine the witness.
de turned to the great crowd of specta-
tors and at random singled out a man on
the front row.
Stand up and be sworn where you
stand, said Willis to the astonished
spectator.
.Do you know the defendant" asked
Yes"
DO you know his reputation for truth
and yeracityl"
Yes"
rs it good or bada"
Bad
mo"
Then Willis called on another spectator
70 stand up and be sworn, with similar
results Thus he called on spectator at
yer spectator at random until he had
sworn fifteen or twenty of them. They
az agreed that the contractor could not
ue believed under oath 1t was proof
positive to the jury in impeaching the
contractor for it was clear to every one
thdu the witnesses had not been sum
Woned for the purpose of impeachment.
w Ills won the case, and secured a YER