Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-08-11
Brilliant Man Is
Senate Leader
From the Boston Transcript.

From the Boston Transcript.
John Sharp Williams-who rs of course I
democrat-was born OF the Both day Or
July, 1854, IN Memphis, Tenn. Shortly
thereafter his mother died, and his father,
who was colonel Of the Twenty-seventh
Tennessee volunteers, confederate states
army, was killed at Shiloh. Memphis waa
being threatened with capture by the fed
eral army, and there was nothing for tho
family to do but to carry the baby sena-
tor to his mothers ancestral homestead in
Yazoo county, Mississippi. There the boy
grew UP. He was educated at private
schools, at the Kentucky military insti,
tute, at the University of the South at
Sewanee, at the University of Virginia,
and later abroad at the University OF
Heidelberg Germany. Coming home hd
studied law in Virginia and Tennessee.
Learning this profession he turned again
to Mississippi, and in that state he has en-
gagged in the practice of his profession
and in what he describes in his own
words as ''the varied pursuits Of a cotton
planter" Entering politics, he was a dele
gate to the Chicago convention which
nominated Cleveland and Stephenson,
Then followed his term in the House q
Representatives. AS far back as August,
1907, Williams was chosen by the people,
of his state at a primary election to be tho
party candidate for the Senate The
following winter the legislature elected
him to succeed H. d. Money, and on April
4, 1911, he took his seat. He will keep il
til March 8. l917-and probably will be-
asked TO take il again; or we miss our
guess.
John Sharp Williams is a picturesque
figure. Two things make him so. One is
his deafness, which is considerable and
which they say is growing upon him. AS
a result OF it he continually keeps his
hand followed to his ear and frequently
has to ask to have a question repeated to
him. The other is his habit-a result,
probably Of his deafness-of moving about
the Senate during debate. He does not
like to sit still. He ~walks-softly and
gracefully from his chair toward the
man whom he is talking at. with his right
forefinger extended and accusing his OPP
ponent and with his left hand helping him
to hear. Apparently he never for a mo-
ment thinks that he is conspicuous or pic
tlresQue, nor would he, in all likelihood,
change his manner If he suspected this
awfu truth, But he is one of the few who
is pointed out by admiring democratic
bridegrooms to would-be admiring demo-
cratic brides when they visit the capital Of
their country for a good summer honey
moon.
John Sharp Williams is attractive In
speech as well as picturesque In garb and
manner The press gallery, that collcc-
ton Of cynjcs and expert listeners, usually
fills up when the rumor passes around
that Williams Is on his feet. Williams.
you see, knows how to debate. With him
debate is not merely contradicting what
other fellow has said, or else appeal
ing to the constitution Of the United
States as the bible Of all political and eco
monte philosophy. He debates with deft-
ness and style. He uses his tongue-and
his mind-as a fencing weapon, and the
man who is off his guard is sure to get
pinked.
John Sharp Williams speaks with vigor
humor and sense, three qualities not al
ways found in working harmony. His
style is a running one-it carries you and
his ideas swiftly and pleasantly along on
it's current. Especially brilliant have been
his gibes at the throes of protection which
ave been writing all this hot summer
long in the Senate. Mr.. Williams attend
ed nance committee hearings pretty
faithfully, and in a minority report rec
ommending the bill he said: When I
want two things, I want both, but if /
cant have both, then l want the one I can
get. Not only is it true that / would, as
original propositions, favor most Of the
amendments Ito reciprocity offered, but
] could easily write down several thou
sand others that I would like to put upon
the statute books, reducing the burden
of tariff taxation upon the people. But I
see no particular sense in refusing to
shoot a rattlesnake because / cannot at
the same time shoot an anaconda. This is
especially true If the anaconda is not