The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-05-26
SAMUEL WARDELL WILLIAMS.

tegrity of Judge Samuel w. Williams,
by instrncting ineir delegation u use
all honorable means to secure his nom
tnation for president at Springfield.
The Independent Is ple2sed to. give It's
readers q short sketch OF his life.
Samuel Wardell Williams Is ma
tive Of Mt. Carmel, Illinois. and was
educated for the Presbyterian mill
tstry.
Before he was I vo.er he was ap-
pointed deputy clerk Of Wabash couli-
ty, Illinois, and while IN that position
determined to become lawyer
In 1870 he located at vincennes, Ind,
and has resided there ever since.
He read law with the FIRM of Cau-
thorn and Boyle and vas admitted TO
the bar in the supreme court OF Ind
lana in 1874 and is recognized az one
Of the strong lawyers Of Indiana
He organized the Knox county Bar
association and has been it's president.
Flemming Williams, mis- father, was
a democratic orator and officehOldCr,
we'll known in southern illinois Ia his
day.
Mr. Williams advanced rapidly both
at the bar and in politics. Mr. Cau-
thorn, his preceptor, be;Lg speaker OF
the Indiana house of representatives,
go to the legislature and he was elect
ed in 1882 and reelected III 1884 and
was there noted both for industry ara
ability and was chairman OF the dem
Ocratic caucus which nominated HCn.
Daniel w. Voorhees, far the United
States senate in 1885. He was chair
man of the committede on benevolent
institutions and a member OF the Ju-
dietary committee.
He was the author Of many OF the
practice acts aud probate laws now q
part of the Indiana cods
He was recognized as man OF SIG
nal ability on the stump and was q
special representative OF Samuel ,.
Tilden in Indiana in 1875.
He stumped the state for the demo-
cratic ticket in 1872. 1875, 1880, and
1884, and for the peoples party ticket
in 1892, 1896, and 1906.
( When Cleveland, after his first In
auguration in 1885. issued his cele-
brated statement that the election OF
a democratic president would no. re-
suit in any change in the fiscal pol
icy of the government, MI. Williams
felt that he had been deceived as to
what the real intent Of the demo-
cratic party was, and he SURRENDERED.
the brilliant prospects Of political adj
vancement which he taen possessed
and left the democratic party an
burned the bridges tehind HIN.
lH- 1856 he stumped the state CT
New York for Henry George, when the
latter made his indepenl dent race fer
secretary of state against Cook aid
Grant, and spoke from the same plat
form with Father Mc,slynn OF NV
York and Congressman Mcbride of
California under the aispices OF TIE
Anti Poverty society.
Mr.. George polled more than &c.
900 votes.
Mr.. Williams was a delegate to the
union labor convention. which, nomi-
mated Streeter for president at CincjT.-
natl in 1888.
In 1892 Mr.. Williams became char
ter member of the peoples party and
was chairman OF its lnciara state con-
vention In May of that year and cnai :
man of the Indiana delegation at the
Omaha convention. whore he supported
General Weaver as against Judge
Gresham for the presld nomint- :
tion.
At the invitation of Mr.. Williams.
and as his guest. General Weaver
opened HIS campaign July 20. 1899. at
vincennes and II was grand de,l-
onstration. being In fact the largest
political meeting ever held In vin-
cennos.
In 1896. at 81. Louis. Mr.. Williams
favored tho nomination OF Donnely
Of Minnesota and opposed tire indorsc-
ment Of Bryan.
IIe wrote and secured tho adoption
of tho minority report of tho commit.
too on rules which changed the order
of business and brought about the
nomination of vice president nfhl.
Thia resulted In tho nomination u
Mr.. watson and prevented tho indorse.
mcnt of Mr.. Sewall.