The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-12-27

| in the military institute at Austin. In
1876 he was made professor Of applied
mathematics in the Agricultural and
Mechanical College Of Texas, near
Bryan, a capacity in which he served
until 1879, when he removed to st.
Louis, Mo-, and was admitted to the
bar in 1880.
"Returning to Lynchburg, Va, Judge
Morris was admitted to the bar there
and at once entered upon the practice
Of his profession. In 1884, he entered
upon his political career when he was
nominated by the republican party for
congress from the Sixth Virginia dis
trict, but met with defeat and, in 1886,
came to Duluth, MINI.
Gets Office in Duluth.
"In 1889 Judge Morris was elected
municipal judge Of Duluth, an office
in which he remained until 1892, and
two years later he was elected by the
city council to the office of city at
torney. In the following year he was
appointed by the governor as district
Judge of the Eleventh judicial district
of Minnesota and, in July, 1896, was
nominated for congress by the repub-
licans of the old Sixth congressional
district of Minnesota, resigning his ju-
dicial seat to enter the campaign.
"In the following election, one of
the most remarkable political campaigns
in the history of this state, he was
sent to that body and was twice re-
elected, in 1898 and 1900, his services
extending from March, 1897, until
March 4, 1903.
"Judge Morris was known as one
Of the most active, working members Of
congress. He was a member of the
Rivers and Harbors commission and
offered an amendment to the Hepburn
Nicaraguan canal bill and, while it was
not accepted, in the bill subsequently
introduced by Sen. Spooner, his amend
ment was practically embodied and it
was this that eventually brought about
the building Of the Panama canal.
"Judge Morris also was a member
Of the Special Caucus committee of the
Republican party, appointed to frame
the Gold Standard bill. In 1903 Judge
Morris was appointed by President
Roosevelt to the office of U. s. dis
trict judge for Minnesota. He assumed
the duties Of that high judicial position
July l, 1903, and has continued to serve
on the bench of that tribunal to the
present time.
Morris Is some Judge.
"Judge Morris has at all times
shown himself good lawyer, a sound
reasoner, and dignified, impartial jur-
list, his dignity and well balanced legal
mind commenting him to all who have
anything to do with his court. He is a
member Of the Episcopal church, the
Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and is
widely known in club circles, belong
ing to the Kitchi Gammi, Commercial,
Northland Country and Duluth Boat
clubs Of Duluth and to the Minneapolis
club Of that city.
ris was married to Miss Elizabeth Stat
ham, daughter Of Col. Charles w. and
Maria Statham, Of that place. Col.
Statham was a captain of artillery in
the Confederate army" but that s an
other story, too.
Thus endeth skeleton story of Page
Morris life as narrated by himself.
But corroborative evidence ever is
proper. J. Adam Betle belongs to the
same political faith and faction as Mr..
| Morris. The Bedean opinion Of his DO.
litical brother should, therefore, be cor
rect and enlightening. Read what Mr..
Bede said about Mr.. Morris in Febru.
airy, 1894; during the campaign in
Which the late Capt. Ray T. Lewis op-
posed John Jenswold for mayor of Du-
luth, viz: a-
What J. Adam Bede Said.
"Page Morris is a renegade from
Virginia who broke away from the
southern people and was overtaken by
the irony of fate two years ago in Du.
luth when he was denounced by a Me-
gro delegate in a republican conven.
ton. His own party turned him down
and, taking the floor, he scalped his
successful competitor, Judge West, and
danced on his political grave which,
even before election, was growing
green. Then turning on the shyster
leaders Of his party, he charged that
the poverty Of their intellects' alone
was his excuse for pleading his own
cause. No democrat in this campaign
has spoken Of the republican party of
Duluth with such fervent hatred and
contempt for its sordid worthlessness
as Judge Morris did on that occasion.
And all the time Capt. Lewis was an
undiscovered member Of that party.
"Later, the district judgeship came
up and the bar association decided by
about 100 to that Page did not possess
a judicial mind, in which he resembles
Doc. Barrett, the carpet-bagger.
"Now the local campaign is on again
and Page bankers for the city attor,
neyship which, on account Of Capt.
Lewis great head, can be filled by al.
most anyone, as legal advice will not be
needed for the next two years. All
Capt. Lewis will have to do to settle
any question, is to nod at law library
"But how Page, the renegade, Doc
Barrett, the carpet-bagger, and Capt
Lewis, the magician, can all be in Du.
luth at once without making the globe
tip up and the lake slop over, must be
explained in the same way as the other
Miracles"
Facts stated and implied in this
J Bedean expression do not square very
correctly with Mr.. Morris autobio
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