The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-10-28
PAGE MORRIS.
The Gentleman Who VIII FIJI the Position
Now Held BY c. A. Towne.

Now Held BY c. A. Towne.
Page Morris was bornat Lynchburg,
Va, June 80, 1853, and received his
early education at a private country
boarding school kept by his uncle,
Charles Morris. NJ A, who afterwards
became professor Of Greek in the
university of Georgia. His college
education consisted of year at
William and Mary college, after
which he entered the Virginia mil
itary institute al Lexington, Va. and
in three years completed the regular
four years course, graduating as first
henor man in his class July 4. 1872.
He won the debating society medal
that year.
After graduating he became assist
ant professor OF mathematics in the
institute for one year.
In the fall Of 1873, when only 20
years Of age. he accepted the chair Of
mathematics and tactics in the
military institute Of Texas. He also
served three years as professor Of
mathematics at the agricultural and
mechanical college of Bryan. Tex.
During all this time he read law more
or less, and spent two vacations in
the Office of a pronlineA1 attorney in
Austin. Tex
He resigned his position az the
college and passed So ezaainat ion
and was admitted to the bar at St
Louis. No, but not liking the place.
be went back to Virginia, practiced
law there, and took some interest in
politics.
Politically Page Morris was Demo-
crat until he was % years OF age.
Then he became convinced that the
protective policy was the right one
for Virginians-
To advocate the Republican policy
of protection in Virginia in those
days meant 10 make d man decidedly
unpopular. if not something worse
II meant that he must constantly be
fighting Republican TO hold hisow
In the congressional campaign Of
1882 he took the stump TO advocate
the election Of John S Wise as cou-
gresham at large. and in 1884 was
nominated for congressman in the
Sixth district. and made a splendid
showing against Hon. john Daniel,
now United States senator from Viz
ginia. in a hopelessly Democratic dis
trict. this was done with the view Of
making a united front, and, if
possible. to carry the ELECTORAL vote
for Blaine.
He came to Duluth in December,
1886. and was not long in gaining
merited prominence, both as a citizen
and as a lawyer OF ability.
In March, 1889, he was elected
municipal judge, and served until
March. 1892. March, 1894. he was
elected city attorney, and served
until Sept. 1, 1895. when Governor
Clough appointed him 10 the district
bench, to fiji the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Judge Lewis.
1t was while Judge Morris was city
attorney that some of the most i'm
pertant street assessment litigation
in the history of Duluth came up,
under the new charter Of 1887. 1t
involved hundreds of thousands Of
dollars, and was carried by him TO a
successful termination in the supreme
court.
In the fall of SO he stumped the
legislative district for Colonel Graves.
and in each succeeding campaign has
been active except in the years that
he has been on the bench.
July Is, 1896. he was forced to ac-
cept the nomination for congressman
from the Sixth district, to which he
sacrifices his positiea en the bench,
which was not onl. 11ore lucrative,
but more to his taste, than would be
a congressional career.
Feb. y, 1887, he married Miss
Elizabeth Statham q Lgncllonrg