The Tupelo journal., 1905-04-21

and quick to grasp the ideas advanced
by the old lawyers. He was always
ready to learn, and, unlike many
young lawyers who had all the advan-
tages of the law schools, he did not
claim to know it all. but in the pres
ence of his seniors gave to their sug-
gestion and advice proper respect and
Difference. In his association with
them he found the Hyperian spring,
from which a stream of knowledge
flowed and from which he was ever
ready to imbibe a refreshing draught.
His courteous bearing made friends
of them and gained for him the friend
ship of all who knew him. His fine
sense of humor served him well and
made him welcome in every coterie of
the lights of the profession.
A Railroad Official.
After four years of the daily strug.
gle through which poor young lawyers
usually pass, Col. Russell was ten
dered the place OF assistant to Col.
George d. Stewart, who was then the
general counsel of the Mobile & Ohio
railroad, at a salary Of $3.50 per
month. He hesltated about accepting
the place, but those of his friends
who knew his ability saw in it the OPP
portunity for the promotion to which
they thought him entitled and pressed
him to accept it. In this position he
made a phenomenal record. and sus-
tanned the opinions of his close
friends. In the discharge of the du-
ties of the place he proved that he
was a lawyer by intuition. He was
entrusted with the preparation of the
most important papers in suits OF
great magnitude, and soon demonstrate
ed his capacity to occupy the position
Of general counsel for the road. AT
ter three years as assistant he was
appointed general counsel, and as
sumed the duties of that place on the
first day of April, 1876. In this high
position he met every duty and re-
sponsibility to the satisfaction of the
managers and directors of the road.
So signally did he succeed in this
place that in a suit in chancery in a
county in Alabama a few years since,
in which hundreds of thousands of
dollars were involved and which he
gained, the authorities of the road
gave him a complimentary fee OF $10,-
600, with which he purchased the
beautiful house on Government street,
Mobile, in which he now resides.
On the resignation of Col. j.. c.
Clark, who had been president of the
road for many years and who was a
man of great ability, Col. Russell was
unanimously elected president of the
road. with the proviso that he should
continue to act as general counsel.
In this position his usual success was
continued, and he adopted such poll
cies and rules for governing his ad-
ministration that the road was greatly
improved and it's business vastly en-
larged. In its management he was
liberal even to generosity and gained
the steady friendship Of all the people
along it's line. In its internal affairs
he so managed that every employe,
from the highest to the lowest, be-
came his loyal friend, and he is to-
day more highly esteemed than any
railroad official in the country. In
the great strike which the road sui
fered three years ago it was his Won
derful tact and influence that settled
it and restored the roads business
that had severely suffered from it.
He is now vice-president and gen
eral counsel of the road. 1t is not as
an attorney, nor as a railroad ofhclal
that Col. Russell stands pre-eminent
in the estimation of the people who
know him. 1t is as a man that he
stands without a peer. His influence
is unbounded. He is the only high
railroad official who is yet the idol OF
the people. amongst whom he lives.
Generous to a fault, XII ana patent
sympathetic and charitable, his ma
ture is the embodiment OF nobility IT.
self. His consummate tact is never
at fault, and he is a master OF the art
of gaining the confidence and CONTROL
ing the actions of men. Had he en-
tered politics in early life he would
have risen to the highest public place.
His wonderful tact would enable him
to placate a cyclone of opposition and
smooth the toughest political seas. In
the great State of Alabama he is i'm
mensely popular and his friends are
constantly trying to induce him TO en-
ter the political arena. He has been
a presidential elector for the State-at-
large. and in the last election OF a
United States senator from that State
was prominently mentioned as a suit
able mar upon whom to confer the
honor. He would doubtless have been
chosen as the colleague of Gen. John
T. Morgan had Gen. Pettus declined
reelection. His profound admiration
and generation for his venerable
friend precluded the idea of his con-
testing the field with him for the hon.
or. During the late presidential can
vass he was prominently mentioned in
connection with a cabinet position,
and had the Democracy succeeded in
electing Judge Parker he would have
doubtless represented the South in
his cabinet.
A Noble Man.
The writer of this short sketch OF
the life and character OF this great
man is aware of it's imperfections. In
the short space which the average
newspaper can devote to such a
sketch it is impossible to elaborate
many important facts which would be
interesting if properly written, 1t
will be noticed that there are some
omissions of points pertaining to the
life and character of Col. Russell to
which no allusion has been made.
His home life. his meek submission TO
bereavements in the loss OF children
and his noble wife, his personal IN
tegrity and honor. his constant devo-
ton to friends. his correct Judgment
of the men whom he trusts, his rare
devotion to his mother and sisters,
his public spirit and his broad and
beneficent charity are all beautiful
traits in his character, which join In
tic snlendid nobility and mark him as