Albuquerque citizen., 1908-03-03

but with Irresistible logic.
His success as a lawyer was due
to the possession of a natural legal
mind, followed by good legal edu-
cation and training, and last but not
least an interchangeable capacity for
work in support of any proposition
which he undertook to champion.
Strong Character
A searchlight was never necessary
to ascertain the position Mr.. Childers
would take upon any proposition,
whether legal, political or social, and
when once determined that he was
right he would champion the cause
with all the zeal and ability he pos
sessed.
His record as United States attor-
ney for the territory of New Mexico
for over nine years stands above re-
proach, both as to ability and fidelity
to the trust which was imposed upon
him by virtue of the office.
In his death the bar of New Mex
leo loses one of it's ablest lawyers
and the city of Albuquerque loses a
citizen who for over twenty-seven
years has devoted both time and
money 10 her upbuilding.
His many friends in Albuquerque
and throughout the territory. some
OF whom have known him since he
became a resident of New Mexico In
1880, remember him only as a man
of the highest sense of honor and in
tegrity, not only in his profession but
among all men.
BY the death of Mr.. Childers the
city of Albuquerque has lost one OF
it's oldest citizens who had seen the
town grow from its infancy to city
and who had been interested in every
public enterprise that was ever sug-
gested to further the interests of his
| home town.
/ Every citizen feels a personal los:
at his untimely death.
Native OF Tennessee
William Burr Childers was born il
| Pulaski, Giles county, Tennessee
| March 20, 1854. He was the oldes
! of four children and was the produc
of English and Huguenot stock, hi
| father being of English and his moth
er of French descent.
Mr.. Childers received his prepara
| tory education In the local schools
| of his native town, from which II
September, 1870 he entered Washing
| ton college then under the presidenc!
of General Robert E. Lee, and from
which he graduated in 1874 with the
degrees of Bachelor of Arts AMI
Bachelor of Law. Only month aftel
Mr.. Childers had matricuated a
Washington college its famous ant
| greatly beloved president died, an'
the name of the institution wa
| changed In his honor, so that tn
! diplomas given at Mr.. ChilGers grad
uation bore the present name of tn
institution. Washington and Lee uni
versity,
Attorney From Manhood
Mr.. Childers was admitted to tn
bar at the age of 21 years and begaI
active practice in st. Louis, Mo
shortly afterward. He remained ther
but few years, however, going L
Santa Fe, n. NJ, in 1879. and in Jan
uary. 1850, to Albuquerque. He ha'
been a continuous resident here sine
that time. When he first arrived her
the railway had not yet been com
pleted.
From the time Of Mr.. Childers' ar
rival in Albuquerque he added to tn
practice of his profession most live
ly interest in every movement for II
expansion and development. Not onl
did he contribute generously OF hi
/, time and talents, but also of hi
, money whenever or wherever h
could see that anything of advantag
for his chosen home was to be gained
His unselfishness in this line is on
of the features of his characte
, which no wthat he is gone is mos
| frequently commented upon by thos
of his friends and neighbors who haV
known him longest and best.
2 Prominent In Politics
Early in life Mr. Childers bega
; that interest in political affairs whic
remained so strong in him during HI
: later years. He began his labors
p this line as member Of the Demo
cratic party, of whose territorial cen
7 tral committee he was chairman
= 1890. Four years later, however,
. 1896, upon the nomination of Williai
Jennings Bryan, and the declaratio
: of the party in favor OF free silver, h
= was forced with thousands Of otnt
r Democrats to make a fight again!
t what he firmly believed TO be a dar
: gerous doctrine and with this end /