Saint Mary's beacon., 1903-07-02
lCosrMuSicArEp
wAsnlnaros. June .. le@.


Some time ago ! told the readers
of this correspondence that would
give them a few sketches Of some
Of the public men Of the nation,
whose names are seen in print al
most every day, and | viii begin
by saying a few words concerning
the Hon. John Sharp Williams. Of
Mississippi. Mr. Williams will be
the next floor leader Of the demo
cratic party in the national House
Of Representatives, and Ii is well
that the democrats Of the country
should know something Of him
Mr. Williams has been ia Congress
for the past ton years, but not until
the past four years has he asserted
himself and obtained the standing
in that body that he deserves 10 oe.
cupy. Ills brilliant intellect might
not then have flashed across The
horizon OF the House, beinga modest
man, had ii not been for the OK
tremely poor leadership suffered BY
the democracy during that period.
The leader Of the minority party III
the House is always the man 'who
receives the cancss nomination for
Speaker by that party That dis
tinction, for the past four years. has
been enjoyed byThG Tf0n. James b.
Richardson, Of Tennessee. Mr.
Richardson is a good man aud one
of the very best parliamentarians IL
the House, but he is 4 weak leader.
He lacks political courage When
the republicans would hit the dc.
mocrats over the head with q club.
instead OF hurling back brick and
scabbiug some one S head, Mr.. Rich.
andsog invariably would apologize
for being on the face .of the earth.
This Disguised and disheartened
the democrats, and we invariably
got the worst Of II until De Almond,
Of Missouri, or John SharpWilliams
came to the rescue and poured some
hot shot into the rank of the enemy
when they usually were willing
enough TO retire from the field
1t was just by such spurts as this
that John Sharp Williams came 70
known and appreciated as one of the
ablest men on the floor OF the House,
loved and admired by thedemocrats
and feared aud respected by the
republicans. IL was, therefore.
with great pleasure that the maiori.
ty of democrats greeted his announ.
winter that be would be
a candidate for the democratic eau
Gus nomination for Speaker when
the 58th Congress assembled. II
did not take long for enough mem
bers to enroll themselves under his
banner to assurehis nomination, and
thereby made him the titular floor
leader of the democrats during the
life Of that Congress. His leader.
ship viii put snap and vim and 20 |
INTO the democrats from the very |
outset. They will have confidence
n their leader who will always con
er with his colleagues. They know
hat when he hews out a line Of
policy that he seldom will make |
mistake. They also know that
when he gets after the republicans
he latter will be very charyin their |
stacks on the democratic party
They have tested the steel have no
lppetite for it. When In debate
With him they know thatthoir state
nents must be photographed in their
ccuracy or they will be badly trip.
'ed before he gets through with
hem.
In q professional beauty contest
ar. Williams would be selling
'later He would not be d good
undred-to one shot. His personal
'ulchritude is absolutely nil. but
here is no discount on the quality
gray matter under his hat. Be
as q fine, well-shaped head, cover
d with bushy curling brown hair,
fine eye and scraggy mustache
vt his body ii small and as thin as
stepchild's bread and butter.
'nt where be defaults IN comeliness
person, he makes good in intel.