Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-22

hAVs III NiR VI NACAO y
he held his ground unmoved, even when
the Burleson resolution declaring the
speakershlp vacant was introduced, ana
was among those who congratulated "Uncle
Joe" when the resolution was voted down.
ours was a battle for principle, not per-
sons he said.
Congressman Norris writes the Wash
ington correspondent of the Chicago
Record-Herald, was one of the original
insurgents. He entered the field in
the early days when opposition to Can
nonism was not as popular as it is today.
He was born upon a farm in sandusky
county, Ohio, f~orty-nine years ago. His
father died when he was a smell child
and his only brother was killed in the
civil war. Young Norris, in order to aid
his mother who was in Strengthened cir
c~umstances, went out among his neigh
bors to work by the day during the sum
mer. that he might help maintain the
family and attend school in the winter.
Later Mr.. Norris taught school and
earned money to defray the expenses Of a
higher education, and attended Baldwin
University at Berea, Ohio, and the North
ern Indiana Normal schoor at Valparaiso.
While teaching he studied law, graduated
and was admitted to the bar. He moved
to Nebraska in 1885. He served as prose-
cutting attorney and was elected judge OF
the district court for two terms. He en-
tered congress eight years ago, and has
since served continuously.
Judge Norris has a strong personality.
He is a ready debater, an excellent organ
izer and an able speaker. He has never
flinched under the self-imposed duty Of
opposing the speaker and the organization
Of the house, fighting it when occasion
required, Notwithstanding the ~unpopularlty
which attached and Il. jibs and sneers OF
those who by ridicule and sarcasm would
have rendered his position uncomfortable
and untenable. Personal pique has not en-
tered into the equation with him. He has
been striving for a principle.
HE is a mar of medium stature, round
faced and smooth-shaven, wearing his hair
in a slight ~pompadour. Deliberate and
judicial in speech and action he has been
regarded by his associates among the in
surgents as a safe man to follow, and
among the regulars as a dangerous foe"
The Washington Times dubs him 'the
Rupert of insurgency" saying: Mr..
Norris has been the real parliamentary
leader at almost every crisis when the
insurgents have won a point or gained
a real victory. He has proved himself
able, from the outside Of the citadel, to
discover weaknesses in the entertainments
Of the organisation, which the organization
itself did not suspect. In the present fight
"a fight, by the way, which was opened
exactly one year from the date when
Cannonism and T~ammanyism won their
disastrous victory Of March, 19Oo-he has
again proved his title Of the Rupert Of
insurgency"
The Cleveland Leader (rep1 is inclined
to be over-critical in interpreting the
Nebraskan's motives, reading into his
actions a purpose the congressman resents.
The Leader says: George William Norris.
representative in congress from the Fifth
district Of Nebraska, Is so situated at home
that he may easily be forgiven for feeling
that he must needs do something outside
Of his party and more popular than his
party, or even that he is bigger than his
party-in his W district.
In 1908, when Mr.. Norris was elected, he
beat his demo-populfst opponent by Just
% votes. and on the same day Bryan
carried his district by 55s plurality, With
h test Of public sentiment. in the Fifth
dteA4cf oP NohroaLa 70 hufd upon q Is