The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-29

PeaEaHce as an attorney was made
ABOUT year ago when he appeared
before the city council to protest
against the street railway being grant
ed the privilege of hauling freight cars
lhrougn the main streets. He won his
point ana after closing a spirited de-
pate announced that his appearance
would be the last that he would ever
make in public capacity.
The body was removed from the
cottage at Mountain View. part way
up Plkes Peak. by special train over
the cog road and taken to Denver.
where 1t was the intention to take a
Union Pacific train for Topeka last
night. Connections were missed and
1t Is thought that the party is aboard
a train leaving there this morning
though no word as to the arrange
ments have reached this city, owing to
the telegraphers' strike.
Joseph G.. Waters. who has known
Judge Williams and his father for
nearly half century. writes of his
lifelong friend:
"I knew A. L. Williams and his
fathers family for nearly fifty years
1t was an illuStrious family; his father
was the foremost lawyer of Illinois
until he came to Kansas as judge of
the United States district court. He
was in ability. looks and life. the exact
counterpart of Abraham Lincoln, and
Mr. Lincoln obtained the nomination
to stand for United States senator, be-
cause the Republicans knew 1t was a
hopeless contest and they did not de-
sire to take to defeat the more promi-
nent Republicans. chief of whom was
Archibald Williams. This may be new,
but II is a fact
my brother in 1854 voted sixty
times in the Illinois legislature for
Archibald Williams for United States
senator. A. l.. Williams inherited his
talent as a great lawyer from his
father, and the many members or the
bar who were acquainted with the
lNflf Of hn cnT
regret that some persistent malady
chung to him for many years prior 10
his death. preventing him from active
ly pursuing his profession. ana 10 the
great loss of the profession ana the
greater loss of the state. He was con-
tinuously a sufferer from dyspepsia
and this made him something or
cynic. He was full of humor ana ne
piled 1t between twinges OF MS pam
that some times made 1T caustic, pep
perry. bitter and hot. AS an officer. ne
was self reliant able and unbending-
1 have told this on him before When
attorney general of Kansas, man
walked In his Office with an issue OF
100000 of bonds from Comanche, or
some other then wildcat county, and
wanted his approval as attorney gen
eral so he could get them registered by
the state auditor. The man informed
Mr.. Williams that he did not expect
him to do this for nothing and told
him that he would be as liberal as Mr..
Williams could ask. 1t was about
noon. The man was told to come
back that afternoon and get his bonds
AS soon as he left. Mr.. Williams. Itch
ing all over to get in his work. locked
the door and spread the bonds out on
the table-a pile six inches high. He
wrote a scrawly, irregular hand; he
had a poor pen. bad ink and was
miserable scribe. He dipped the pen
to the very bottom of the ink bottle
and dropping the ink in drops all over
~, 0f hi cot
hard, he wrote diagonally all over the
blue and gold of each bond. in and out
of its pictured vignettes. the pen on
sputter, the following words: This
bond is not worth damn. A. L. Will
iams, Attorney General
when the man came. he was hand
ed his package all nicely done up as
before and on fnQuirtng what the
charge was. he was told there was no
charge and the man took his adieu;
when the door shut Mr.. Williams in
dulged in his first chuckle over it. He
had real spine. Was an honest,
capable official and absolutely fearless.
It was no thought Of his what the
great populace in an excited clamor
might think. for he was his own man
at every turn of events and in all stu
atoms. His wife told him for two
days in succession to buy load Of
wood, and at last. in his extremity, he
went round to the wood wagons,
bought every load and marched on foot
at the head of the procession to his
home with them.
IT had offices with him for several
years. His eye caught sight of a large
number of new nickels exposed on the
trays Of the bank; he bought them all |
and poured them into a big box and
placed them on the hot stove. 1t was
the first ofthe month, and when he heard
some one coming with bill, he took
the box off the stove opened the lid
and several times during the day, the
man would say, believe 1 will help
and stuck his hand in among
the hot nickels. A. L. Williams and |
Ross Burns were close, life long friends. |
and they had the habit, continued for
years, OF celebrating the Fourth of July
together by sitting on the curb and fir |
ing off one pack of firecrackers between |
them.
In the western part of the state, a |
big Republican rally had been placard- |
ed, at which governors senators and |
generals were advertised to speak. They |
could not come and Mr. williams was |
sent to NIL the appointment for all of |
them- he was directed to the chair |
man, who was then building a large |
PLATFORM; he was told there was going /
to be a big meeting of big speakers and |
ne was making big platform. When |
Mr.. Williams told him that he was to
be the only speaker, the man eyed Mr..
all over, and then throwing
ais handsaw down in disgust, remarked,
Tor you.
In all the important litigation of the
Union Pacific, Judge Dillon depended
On the services of Mr.. Williams as in
in every emergency, and the
Eases in which he took part for that
Dad show that he was remarkably sue
Many times, during his ca
'eer, when he was on his feet, he an
'wered the appeal of the people and
poke on some living issue that was
hen or great Importance. His speeches
we're brainy, spicy, apt and original.
IND no speaker ever listened to in Kan
as, could more deeply interest an au-
Hence than Mr.. Williams.
For many years, he has been clois-
cred at his home struggling with his
Iilments.