The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-18
WILLIAM L. WILSON DEAD.
The Former Postmaster General
Passes Away Mt Lexington, va.


LEXINGTON. Va. Oct. 17.-Presdent
William Wilson. of Washington and Lee
University. died at 800 o'clock this
| morning. His serious illness. which
caused sudden and unexpected death. was
due to congestion of the lungs, which be-
gan Monday afternoon. His decline for
| some time, which has been gradual, was
due to pulmonary tuberculosis, and. with
| the congestion, has.ened the end. Con-
seriousness was retained until death.
| The funeral services will take place in
| the university chapel tomorrow morning.
and ON Friday morning at 10 o'clock the
remains will be taken to Charlestown, w.
va, for interment. Messages Of con-
| doience have been, received from promi
| nent people throughout this country.
William Lyme Wilson was known as the
Scholar-Statcsman' of West Virginia.
ana he was one of the most popular and
ievel-headed men of that State. He was
born in 1Si3 in Jefferson County, and was
educated at the Charlestown Academy at
Columbian College. at Washington, and at
the University of Virginia. Although but
youth in his teens when the war broke
out, Wilson enlisted in the Confederate.
Army and rendered excellent service.
years professor in Columbian College,
during which time he graduated In its law
school. and on the overthrow of the law
yers' test oath In West Virginia resigned
and entered upon the practice of law at
Charlestown, where he had ever since re-
sided. His growth in public estimate as
a careful lawyer and forcible speaker was
rapid. Like a large proportion of the
members of the legal profession, he grad
ually drifted into politics. In 1880 he was
a delegate to the National Democratic
Convention at Cincinnati and an elector-
at-large on the Hancock ticket. SUISSE
duently he was chosen president of the
West Virginia University, and entered
upon the duties Of that office September
4. 1882. but on September 20 was nomi
mated for seat in the Forty eighth Con-
gress and was elected as a Democrat. re-
ceiving 11,466 votes against 1885 votes
for f. w. Mason, Republican. He re-
signed the presidency of the State Uni
versity with the beginning OF his Con-
gressi0nal term.
Mr.. Wilson entered Congress at the time
when the revenue reformers proposed to
make one of their number Speaker of the
House of Representatives. The contest
was between Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Randall.
1t was assumed that West Virginia was
protection State and that its Represen-
tatives would vote for Mr.. Randall. Mr..
Wilson disappointed this expectation by
voting for Mr.. Carlisle, and induced his
delegation to follow him. Then he be
gan to hear from home.'' but he proceeded
steadily in the way he had chosen, voted
squarely for the Morrison bill, and was
reelected without difficulty In Decem-
Der, 1887. at the opening of the Fiftieth
Congress. Speaker Carlisle appointed Mr..
Wilson to a place on the Committee on
Ways and Means. Mr.. Mills, of Texas, be-
ing chairman. He lost his place on the
committee when the Republicans secured
the Speakership in 1882 but was reap
pointed by Speaker Crisp in December,
1891. standing fourth on the list of men,
bers He secured the charmanship in 1893
after only four years service ON the COM
mittee.
In the campaign OF 1892 he was very
prominent and was sought after from all
parts of the country. When the President
called Congress in extra session to repeal
the Sherman Silver law Mr.. Wilson was
chosen by his associates to prepare and
introduce a bill, which he did, carrying 1t
through the House by majority that was
surprising to the country. to which his
speech on closing the debate was adjudg
ed the most effective contribution. Speak
er Crisp appointed him chairman OF the |
Ways and Means Committee, and he pre- |
pared and carried through what was known |
as the Wilson Tariff. bill. but it was |,
amended almost out of recognition. Soon |
after the passage of the bill he was strick-
en- down with typhoid fever and when he |
recovered he concluded to retire from poll
tics and took trio to Mexico.
He later ran for Congress, but was de-
feated, and he was appointed Postmaster |
General by President Cleveland and
promptly confirmed by the United States
Senate. Resting for few weeks after
the termination Of his Congressional |
terms, he entered upon the discharge OF
his duties as Postmaster General, and dis
charged them with credit to- himself and
greatly to the advantage of the public,
instituting numerous reforms and advance
ing the efficiency of the service. Before
his term expired he was chosen to the
Office of President of the Westinghouse
at Lexington, Va. which place
he held until his death.
Prof Wilson was during two Congresses
regent of the Smithsonian Institution on
the part of the House, and was q member
Of quite a number of learned societies.
and received the degree Of doctor of laws
from Hampden- sydney College and the
Columbia University In 1890 he was
offered the presidency OF the Missouri
and in 1891 that of the Rich
mond College, Virginia, both of which he
declined Mr. Wilson was married in 1859
10 Miss Mamie Huntington, daughter OF
The Rev. DR.. Huntington, of the Column
oian University, and had family of six
children.