Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-01-14
Mississsppfs Contribution
TO Democracy.

and service to furnish to the dem
ocratic party and the present
democratic administration their
ablest exponent and their strong
est defender, excepting of course
President Wilson. With that
one notable exception, Senator
John Sharp Williams is the best
single asset of the democratic
party. In every way his SER
vices are p|re-eminent. SO much
does he do and so ably does he do
it that a plain account Of his SER
vices unaVoidably takes on the
semblance of panegyric. To one
who follows at all closely the sem
ate debates and considers the
burden he bears there in uphold
ing the party measures and de-
Tending the administrations pol
icy and course, it seems that
without Mississippi's senior SEN
atOr impotence and failure would
certainly be democracy's portion.
SO much is he called upon to do
and in so many directions are his
services required, that he de-
cllned, with the approval of his
colleagues, the Guardianship of
any important committee; he is a
general-in-chief and not bur-
dened with the especial command
of any single corps or division.
1t is said that formerly when
Senator Root, and now when
Lodge or Borah or any Of the Re
publican heavy artillery get into
action, if Mr.. Williams happens
to be out of the senate he is sent
for to reply to them. On him is
always placed the burden of meet
ing the strongest attacks of the
enemy And well he meets them.
On questions of inter rational and
constitutional law he was fully
the match Of Root, reputed the
ablest laWyer in this country. In
scholarship and craftsmanship he
is well the equal of Lodge, re-
puted the most scholarly states
man ever in either house of con-
gress. 1t is unnecessary to com
pare him with lesser lights.
And SenatorWilliams strength
lies not alone in his ability and
learning, his strong common
sense and breadth of view that
give a characteristic quality to
all his speech and action: it lies
deeper, inihis own conviction ard
in the knowledge of others that
here is a man who speaks what
he does honestly believe and
whose course is not influenced by
any self-seeking or by subservi-
ence to other men or other things
than duty. 1t is this moral force
backing his other qualities that
makes him the powerful inhu-
ence in America that he is.
We of Mississippi are too apt
to look on Mr.. Williams as a Miss
lsslppl senator, instead of a Unit
ed States senator from Mississ-
ippi. His work is national as his
fame is, The leading newspapers
and periodicals recognize the ma
tlon-wlde size of the man. With
these the views of no one have
greater authority or given closer
attention. And this, too, wher
ne has no great political align.
mentS to give him or his views
added weight. He comes from 3
state and a section that is Ger.
tam to go democratic whatever
candidate is nominated or what.
ever platform adopted. His
strength is largely his own, in.
trinsic and individual. His views
gain no greater consideration be.
cause they represent the wishes
of the business interests or the
opposite, or hat they will gair
votes in the West or the East OF
the South; they have great
weight, but they have that quail.
ity because they square with rea.
son, common-sense and the right.
To mention the particular in.