The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-12

ton which had already decided the ques-
ton. The commission finally yielded to
his views, and thus rendered possible the
decision that gave the United States San
Juan and other islands. 1t Is not gener-
ally known that the part Judge Williams
bore in the solution of this question was
such an important one, but those familiar
with the case accord him the honor for
his wise stand in the adjustment of the
problem.
In 1871 he was selected as United States
Attorney General by President Grant,
and In this important cabinet post he
proved himself a keen, resourceful and
logical adviser, and demonstrated the
possession of high qualities of states
manship Many important questions were
brought to him. to all of which he gave
the same thoughtful attention so charac-.
terstic of him in earlier years and in his
private life. The sting left by the civil
war in the south had not yet begun to,
heal, and a great deal of tact was re-
quired daily of the Attorney General, to
whom were brought for solution intricate
questions arising from the conflict Sub
sequent events In the history of the coun-
try have demonstrated the fact that the
policy pursued by Judge Williams in these
various matters was eminently sagacious,
and In numerous instances he was happy
to be able, through his prudent counsels,
to restore peace to distracted communi-
ties
In 1874 the President presented Judge
williams name to the Senate as sue
cessor to Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase,
but the opposition to his confirmation
was so great that. to preserve harmony,
he finally withdrew his name, to the deep.
regret of President Grant, his warmest
and closest friend.
Home In Portland.
Since his retirement from public life,
Judge Williams has made his home in
Portland, among whose citizens he holds
an assured position of eminence and iniiu-
ence He is spending the twilight Of his
life in the administration of the city,
having been elected to the mayoralty in
1902 Occasionally he appears TO make a
brief speech at some social gathering,
and as an orator he has proved himself
pre-eminent. Not only is he strong
speaker on public questions, clear, pow.
erful and convincing in his arguments
but to a rare degree felcitous as post
prandial orator. In brief, he is giant
of intellect, totally devoid of the arts of
the politician, in the common acceptance
of the term The same honesty of pur-
nose and high-minded views of the duties
of a public servant which characterized
his record while filling some of the most
responsible offices in national affairs are
easily dscernible in his administration of
the city of Portland. The visitor to the
Lewis and Clark exposition may saunter
along Fifth street to the city hall and
drop into Judge Williams office without
interference from a corps of self-impor-
tant secretaries. and be received by him
with a hearty handshake and sincere
.IIow do you do sir? Have seat y
After a few moments conversation the
visitor cannot help but pronounce Judge
Williams "Portlands grand old man.
Note.-In referring again to my con-
versation with Judge Williams, in speak
ing of I.inceln's assassination, he stated
that on the night the dastardly deed was
committed he had retired early. Toward
midnight some one rushed into his room
and shouted:
Judge. President Lincoln has been muir
dered and Seward Is fatally stabbed"
IT did not arise until the next morn
ing, said Judge Williams when / left
the house Pennsylvania avenue was filled
with a great waving mass Of frantic peo-
Die. The throngs were SO dense that it