Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-23

frankfort, KY, the University OF the
South, at Sawenee, Tenn, the Univer-
sity of Virginia, and the University Of
Heidelberg, in Baden, Germany. Sub
sequently Congressman Williams
studied law under Profs Minor and
Southall at the University of Vir-
ginia, and in the Office of Harris, Nc
Kisick & Turley in Memphis. In 1877
he received license to practice in the
courts Of law and chancery Of Shelby
County, Tenn. In December, 1878, he
removed to Yazoo City, Miss, where
he engaged in the practice Of his pro-
fession and the varied pursuits of a
delegate to the Chicago convention
which named Cleveland and Steven
son. He was elected to the Fifty-third
Congress and has been reelected to
every Congress since, sometimes with
out opposition.
Williams methods as a leader are
interesting to study. He Is persuasive,
not domineering. He has a winning
manner and he seems to be seeking
help and light from one at the very
time he is bringing person around to
his views. Congressman who go into
his little room in the library wing de-
termined to let Williams know that
they will put up with no nonsense go
out pleased and fattered and inclined
to help him out. On the rare occa-
sions when it is necessary for him to
show his authority the iron hand
comes out of the velvet glove and the
insurgent knows what has happened
without having anyone tell him.
Williams is not an impressive man
to look at; in fact, he is homely in
face and careless in dress. A tangled
mass of matted hair falls down to
a point not far from his eyes. A
struggling mustache covers a mouth of
generous size and irregular outline.
His manners are as easy and unpre-
| tentious as an old shoe.
He would not be a rich man in New
York, but he is in Mississippi. He is
| lawyer and planter, whose father
left him fortune. He does not look,
however, as If he had dollar and all
| the advice Of his friends cannot make
him spruce up.
Williams has a remarkable voice. II
! is somewhat nasal and rather incisive
| but his command of it is as perfect as
that of a musician over a musical in
! strument. He plays on it like violin;
| it sweeps from high to low, from loud
to soft, in perfect tune with the modu-
lations of his theme. He need hardly
speak above whisper to attract the
close and strained attention of the
whole House in a moment.
His command of sarcasm is, 1t is
generally agreed, unequaled in the
House. 1t is not of the bitter sort
| but Williams exposes of the weak
points of the enemy's armor in such
way that the enemy laughs, though
ruefully, while he writhes.
Though a Southerner, Williams Is
exempt from the prejudices of his sec
ton. One of his striking speeche:
was that in which he defended Gen
sherman from the charge of violating
the laws of war in the march to the
sea. 1t was a remarkable address ant
was listened to with breathless atten
ton by the crowded House. One o.
his sentences was this:
''As an American citizen, as the sol
of a rebel soldier, as man who 4
intensely American, although he is in
tensely Southern. want the worl(
to know that when civilized men wert
fighting civilized men, upon the Amer
lean eontinent-one Of them in behal
Of the cause of the preservation of tn
Union, as he understood it, and tn,
ether In behalf of the cause of loca
independence, as he understood it
the watchword was chivalry and fai
fight"