Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-25
Bryan Likes Williams for Pressdeno,

Bryan Likes Williams for Presidency
In his Commoner, w. J. Bryan has
this to say of an Illinois congressman
of whom The Argus has hitherto spo-
ken in connection with the democrat
ic presidential nomination.:
! Continuing its policy of presenting
the names of democrats worthy of be-
ing considered as candidates for the
democratic nomination for president
in 1904, The Commoner this week of
fers the following concerning Con-
gresham James Robert Williams, of
Illinois, contributed by a personal
and political admirer:
James Robert Williams was born
in White county, Illinois, Dec. 81, 1850.
He is u graduate of the State Uni
versity of Indiana and the Union col
lege of Law, of Chicago, and since
1876 has been engaged in the practice
of law at Carmi, III. From 1880 to
1882 he was master in chancery, and
county judge from 1882 to 1856.
| "'In 1889 Mr.. Williams was elected
to congress to fill vacancy, and was
reelected to the Fifty-second, Fifty
third, Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh
congress. and is now a member of the
committee on insular affairs. His con-
gressional district includes the coun-
ties of Clay, Edwards, Gallatin, Ham
| ilton, Hardin, johnson. Massac. Pope.
Saline. Wayne and White. This dis
trict was carved out as a republican
! district by the apportionment of
| 1901, and State Senator Chapman, re
publican, is charged with having engi-
neered the gerrymander for the pur-
pose of himself securing the congress
sional election. Mr. Williams friends
Chapman was phenomenal, and that
| it gives correct estimate of the es-
TEEN and confidence felt for him by
those who know him best. Mckinley
carried the district by 2,252 in 1900.
but Mr.. Williams carried it by 800. In
1892, 1896 and 1898 the district was
carried by the republican candidates
for state office, but Mr.. Williams car
ried it for congress.
| 'i'In 1896 he was a delegate to the
| democratic national convention and
seconded the nomination of Richard
z. Bland for president He was
chairman of the Illinois delegation
to the Kansas City convention and was
selected by the delegation to present
the name of Stevenson for vice presi-
dent
He made a remarkable race in
1892 in a district gerrymandered 1920
against him, and was successful be-
cause he had the confidence of the
masses He is particularly strong
with the farmers and with union la
Dor men, and these rallied to his sup
port. He has long been recognized
as one of the strong men of his party.
| He has always been a democrat and
steadfast in his support of the party
platforms and candidates He is of
the plain people and has none of the
aristocrat in his makeup. He has
ability and is an incessant worker.
Mr.. Williams triumphant reelection
in 1902 recalls a prophecy made by
Congressman Champ Clark, of Nilsson
ri. few months prior to the election.
Mr.. Clark said:
1.-THE republican legislature of Hi
nois last winter gerrymandered the
state in Il most outrageous fashion.
a more unfair caper was never cut,
| but its fine scheme to disfranchise
thousands of democrats bids fair to
be defeated. For example, the Carmi
district, which j. r. Williams, popular
arly known as Bob Williams, repre-
SCENTS with so much ability, they ger
rymandered so as to give the republi-
cans 1900 majority, according to the
returns of 1900. but the democrats
Propose to overthrow their plans and
to reflect Bob with a whoop. He
was renominated unanimously and
with great enthusiasm, and enthusi-
asm is more contagious than small
poX, the measles or the bubonic
plague. Consequently there is great
fear and trembling in the republi-
can camp, for Bob Williams is one of
the best campaigners in the land and
one of the ablest men in the congress
of the United States. He is a man
with the courage of convictions. . :.
He is right politically, and a republi-
can legislature tried to steal his seat
in congress by a shameful gerryman-
der. 1t is believed on all hands that
he will win out. If he does, he is
presidential timber.'"'