The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-30
WILLIAMS TO
HE FRONT
Leader Of Minority in the House
Proved Himself to be Great
Commander Of Forces.
HIS ARMY WELL DRILLED
Pulled Democratic Organization
Together and Added Wonder
fully to Their Strength.
Special TO The Timer Dlspalch.)

Especial to The meI-DiSpatch.) sAt
WASHINGTON, y. ca April 29--The
condition OF the Democratic minority
in the House from the time of Charles
r. Crisp's death was that of a nerveless,
disorganIzed. undiscipined body, which
could hardly be united for anything
except the river and harbor bill.
Baileys nominal leadership lacked the
powers of organization, and under him
every man was for himself. Richardson
was recognized Us leader. but his work
and methods were a great disaPpoint-
ment. and when he retired from the
leadership the only names mentioned
for his place were those of John s. VIII
liams De Almond and Champ Clark.
There was little interest in the fight
on the part Of the country, for 1t was
assumed that whoever was elected, the
Democratic party would wrangle, and the
policies of the new leader would be
dissented from.
WILLIAMS AS LEADER.
| Williams was chosen. He was known
as an accomplished scholar and brill
liant and magnetic speaker. and that
was all. Simply an orator, was the
general comment. He had never had
any chance to do any leading, and no
one knew whether he could do 1t or not
1t look w IlldUlS i've 5uusa w ~ ~ ''iS
unframed minority into the army 1t now
is-an army better drilled and disciplined
than tho Republican majority.
Williams's methods are an interesting
study. He Is persuasive, not domneer-
Ing. He has n winning manner and he
isseems to be seeking light and help from
I you at the very time he is bringing
you around to his views.
To have transformed that which for six
years was the unrulF Democratic minor
ity in the House into thoroughly disct-
| plined and soldierly body is feat or
political generaship which must excite
interest in the man who performed IL.
That the person who did 1t was man
who never before had been suspected OF
Malents for leadership makes the event
tstand out boldly from all party reorgani-
cations OF the past.
Willlams's policies may be dlssented
from. but Of the fact that the Democrats
will follow him for those policies with
the GOODNESS and indomttableness of vet
erans, and that they cannot be shaken
for moment, there is nowhere any
doubt. Nor is there any doubt that they
are pressing those policies homo with
n sleepless vigilance and n tactical skill
worthy Of the best Republican days Of
Reed.
BRINGS HIS PARTY AROUND.
The five days above mentioned were the
days OF the only fight Williams had to 4
wage within his party. The Cuban reci-
procity problem confronted him. an issue
on which his party had been hopelessly
irreconcilabe. Williams had already de-
termined that tariff revision should be
the Democratic watchword, as far as he
could make It, and he determined that
the party must support the bill. This
determination evoked unspeakable dis
may among the Democratic senators, but
Williams gently and affaby conducted
his campaign until. for the first time
in years the Democratic minority vase
presenting a solid front.
II His Panama policy differed from that
OF many senator's, but the House minor
ity swung into limo for 1t like regulars.
They were all split UP about It when
they came to Washington, and half of
them were loaded to the muzzle with
speeches which will never be- delivered.
On the tariff his belief is that the Re-
publicans have injured themselves, es-
pecially in the West. by their open aban-
donment of the policies of Blaine and
NclSiraey. He deprecates free trada
talk; there is no horizontal reduction in
his programme. Moderate tariff revision,
the abandoned reciprocity treaties and
the flagrancy of the Dingley rates are
the burden of his song. These princi-
pies are hammered home at every oppor-
tCnlty, ana ne IHhheS opportunities. Ills
election to the leadership proceeded from
the fact that he was conceded to be the
best speaker on the Democratic side.
SARCASM HIS FORT.
His command OF sarcasm Is unequaled
In the House, except by De Almond.
Williams exposes the weak points of the
eneny's armor In such way that the
enemy laughs. though ruefully, while he
wr.thes
WILLIAMS FOR cIIAIRMAN
Bourke Cochran drew applause on Sat
urday, from the Republican, as we'll as
the Democratic, side OF the House, when
he declared IN an eloquent speech that
he noped John Sharp Williams would be
named on one or the other end of the
Democratic ticket at ST. Louis.
IT is generally believed by leading Dem
ocrats in Congress that Williams will
be made chairman of tho st, Louis Con-
venfon,
a newspaper man asked Mr.. Williams
earnestly tho other day what there was
in tic talk Of nominating him for the
presidency.
"My boy" said he, seriously, my