The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-09-20

10 demoanOf since old Bill Morrison
. left here For this he has been harshI,
criticised; but his career shows that ;
great man Is only the greater for
simplicity that makes him lovable.
i u was 10 December, 1908, that Johr
Sharp Williams was chosen leader Of th,
J minority In congress, succeeding to thu
place formerly held by Richardson
Bailey, Crisp, Mills, Carlisle and Nor
rison. Since the fist convocation Of
the Fifty-third congress the democratic
side has been mob. Crisp did not live
long enough to show how helpless bis
leadership would prove; but Bailey, an
ADLER man. failed lamentably, simply for
the reason that one having all the com.
bined genius Of Henry Clay, Thad Ste.
vens and Tom Reed could not have led
that squad. Richardson tried urbanity
that failed a. completely as Bailey's ar
rogance. Then came John Sharp in the
leadership, and he did admirably, all
things considered, for he had more envy
snarling at his heels than ever plagued
Bailey. His biggest sin was his resolu-
tion to make the party democratic. AZ
ter a tremendous struggle he has sue
ceeded In wedding out Of the democratic
end OF the ways and means committee
the Vandalism he found there. That is
the animus Of most Of the cussing demo-
Gratis have thrown at Jonn Sharp Will
liams. He has construed his office to
mean to lead, and he has led in the main.
No doubt he has made mistakes, but he
is the ablest man In the house and the
best debater on Capitol Hill. The envy
II exoites is the best test of superiority.
The home Of the "old south" was rich
In few books that were regularly read
and BEAUTIFULLY dlgested- the Bible,
"pilgrim's Progress, Herodotus, Rolin,
plutarch, Gibbon, Hume, Robertson,
Swift, Defoe, Fielding, smollett, Shakes
peare, Milton, Pope, Burns and Scott.
Dickens and Thackeray were read In
the periodicals Of the day, Macauley,
too, came by piecemeal. In such home
John Sharp Williams was reared.
Born at Memphis, Tenn, in 1854, his
mother died when he was child, and
his father fell at the head of his regi-
ment, the Twenty-seventh Tennessee,
at Shiloh. before his gifted son had told
his eighth year. Then 1t was that his
family sought refuge from the advancing
Union arms and took up their abode at
his mothers family homestead, in the
Yazoo delta, in Mississippi. He re-
ceived a better education than most
youths Of maliy and fortune at the
south Of his generation. He attended
the Kentucky Military Institute at
frankfort; he was at the University of
tho South at Sewanee; he was at the
University Of Virginia at Charlottesville,
and at the University of Heidelberg in
Germany. Subsequently he studied law
at the University Of Virginia, and in
the Office of leading law firm of his
native Memphis. In 1873, having been
admitted to the bar, he returned to
Mississippi and opened an Office at
fagon.
Mr.. Williams has younger brother,
. co-heir with him In the estate they
Inherited from their parents. The con-
tidence and fellowship between these
two are beautiful and ideal. There
was never a division Of their heritage,
never settlement of their accounts, If.
Indeed, there were such. The property
OF one was the property of the other.
What belonged TO both belonged to
each. Not only we're their lands and
chattles In common, but their bank ac-
counts and private purses were in com.
mon. When the elder brother was
manager the younger called on him for
money or supplies when he was in need,
and always received the full Of his re-
quests, and when the elder entered poll
tics and was returned to Congress- the
younger took charge Of the estate and
Tor fourteen years has been the purse
holder. Both are happily married, and
each the father Of seven children. The
between them are simply de-
|ightful. 1T is like the precious oint-
ment upon the head that ran down upon
the beard, even Aarons beard; that
went down to the skirts Of his garments.
As the dew Of Heaven, and rs the dew
that descended upon the mountains Of
Zion."
John Sharp Williams was elected to
The Fifty-third Congress, and has been
\ member Of the House Of Representa-
lives since March 4, 1893, the day Gro
YER Cleveland was the second time in
Augurated President Of the United
States. This young Mississippian, who
sustains to the Craftsmanship Of this
generation Of his state and his section
The relation Robert J. Walker sustained
70 former generation, was upheralded
upon his entrance to the Capital City,
md attracted small attention. He was
N extensive, an Intelligent and sue
,essiul planter from state whose ag-
ricultural interests were MANIFOLD all
IL other interests, and In consequence
y was but natural that he should be
assigned 70 The committees Of agriculture
IN the orsanisstlon Of the House. He
Intended strictly u his duties In that