News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-08-30
col WILLIAM E villa!
Sometb;oo of the Active an Varied
Career of Democrat Who OOsed W
j Bryan---A Descendant of th STURDY
V:lasos oF amnsIla c0unf.

| fiIdSeS OF LdmOlhe IOunty
[From Burlington Free Press, Al IS J
Col. William F. Villas and NJ. Villas
of Madison, Wisconsin, VIII have
been visiting Attorney Martini, Villas
and father, Harrison NJ. villa, uncle
of Colonel Villas, for few das went
up the lake yesterday morIDg on
their weyt to Boston from whio point
they return in a few days 70 their
J home. Colonel Villas went 10 his
present residence from Chelse8 when
II years old in 1851 with hisather,
the Hon. Levi b. Villas, at time
when Wisconsin was on the western
frontier, and with bis father helped
much to build up the state OF Their
adoption. His father took an IN
portant part in framing and securing
the adoption of the city charter OF
Madison and was it's first mayor.
For many years the Influence OF the
elder Mr.. Villas was active and power
full in shaping the legislation OF the
new commonwealth. He represented
the Madison district in the assembly
in 1886, 1868 and 1878 and was the
democratic candidate for most OF the
important state offices. He took a
deep interest in the development OF
the State University OF which be va.
one of the regents for y years. Al
this occurred after he had had TX
tended service in both houses OF the
legislature here in Vermont and had
been the democratic candidate toI
congress from the district which In
cluded Orange county.
Colonel Villas, the son, was admitted
to the tar before he was 81, after
graduating from the State UniVer'
sity raised a company at the out
breaking of the Civil War, was mus
tered in as it's captain and VI as mus
tered out at the close of the war lieu
tenant. colonel of his regiment. He
at once took up the practice of law
and became known within ten years
as one of the le aders of the Wisconsin
bar and in the 70's and SOS was re
garded as unsurpassed as trial law
yer in the northwest, having re-
mark able record as a winner of cases
During the number of years in whict
he served as attorney for the Chicago
& Northwestern railroad, he lost only
one case.
Colonel Villas early became active
as a campaign speaker for the demo
Gratis and refused the nomination tC
several important state offices. His
famous debate with ex-Gov. Wash
burn was one that WAS often recalled
in the northwest and his address de
livered before the Iroquois Club il
Chicago, welcoming President Gram
on his return from tour around TIT
world, has become known as one o
the most finished types of American
oratory.
Colonel Villas was temporary chair
man of the Democratic convention o
1884 which nominated Presiden
Cleveland and was chairman of tn
committee to notify Mr.. ClevefRd, il
performing which duty he gavA I'D
dress which was made the keYfd&e o
the campaign for the democrats. = H'
became post master-general and latei
secretary of the interior under Presl
dent Cleveland. On his retiremen
from the cabinet he was elected to tn
United States Senate, the only demo
crat that Wisconsin ever had in tn
United States Senate, where he served
with another VermOnter, Phlletu
Sawyer.
Elk Senator Villas is opposed to ire
silver and for that reason has no
been active in his party since the ad
vent OF Bryan. He took an impoI
tant part in 1896 in the formation
OF the party of gold democl ats an
was one of that famous party of cam
paigners, all noted veterans of til
Civil War, of which Gen. o. .. How
| ard and General Sickles formed
part, that Travelled over the countr
in special car with a cannon ON
fiat car in front as signal gun an
that did such a noteworthy serviC
against the heresies of Mr.. Bryan.
Ex-senator Villas gives much of hi
time to his large and varied bushes
interests which extend far outsid
Wisconsin. He always has retaine
a very warm feeling for Vermont an
meets with an open hand any natiy
of the Green Mountain State.