Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-05-09
SOME REFLECTION ON THE PER-
SONAL SIDE OF WM. j. HARRIS.
(By Walter S. Coleman, Of the Cedar
town Standard)

1
after all, the best index to the mar
before the public eye An officia
necessarily stands upon the record he
makes, and this may depend upon his
equipment and ability, wholly apar
from any personal characteristic OF
the individual.
There is, however, lesson in the
| life of every man of affairs which
should be studied by every young man
no matter what his environments
The country boy or young man from
| the average town often has an as
| piration to do something in life worthy
OF himself and creditable to those
whom he would love to honor first OF
all The successful man in public life
is pointed to as a forcefu1 example
of what every young man can &C
complish by laudable purpose, per-
sistent effort and worthy desire to
do something useful toward his fell
lows and honorable to his country.
Yet the man, and not the official, is,
at least, the secret of the careers
CT so many men constantly before the
footlights.
The writer has been forcefully i'm
pressed with this vie wof life by a re-
cent visit to the national capital and
cannot refrain from some impartial
comments on the character and life
Of one of Georgia's most prominent
citizens at the present hour.
Spending several days in Washing
ton, where the tide of human affairs
ebbs and flows with wonderful rapid
ty and brings to public attention men
of every conceivable ambition. 1 am
impressed with a case in point that
should be of very general interest to
the young men of Georgia who hope
to become prominent in life or use
full to their people and their state
l observed the stream of callers at
the office of William J. Harris, OF
Cedartown, who holds possibly the
most important position of public
trust now committed to any official in
the life of the nation next to a cabinet
officer Immediately under the presi-
dent. AS chairman of the Federal
Trade Commission, the body over
which Mr.. Harris presides, his pass
ing upon the commerce. and trade
and the prices of every material con-
sumed by the people of the United
States or the hosts o the Allies en-
gagged in the great world war is wor-
thy of unusual notice. While sitting
in his office on a former visit, Presi-
dent Wilson made a visit to Mr.. Harris
to discuss some important questions
that demanded immediate determine
ton The rapidity with which these
momentous problems are solved by
the body over which Mr.. Harris pre-
sides gives a quick insight into the
/ large measure of service this Geor-
gian is rendering to the nation in
this hour of the gravest crisis in its
history.
The spectacle of personal friends
those seeking innumerable positions
in Washington and elsewhere, pub
i lie officials and prominent citizens Of
the country, all constantly trying tc
, get an interview with Mr.. Harris, Of
, asking his advice or his aid and In.
fuence-all this presents vivid pic
tire Of the public official in Washing.
ton life. But the most interesting side
/ to this picture is the man of the
hour" who receives everyone in hii
characteristic way without regard Il
The position in life held by either Mr.
Harris OF ! is visitor. All are treated
alike without regard to their station
in life and each is given the same con
sideration with no attention paid II
! the nature of his ambition. The cor
dial handshake, the same pleasing
' Kramer and the same assurance Of
| 1voloOr,a main thar uuiform iunnress