Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-06
JOHN SHARP WILL 4.s,s.

JOHN SHARP WILL 1.MS.
 Those familiar with the political history of the United Sta es. par.icl- larly those more familiar with events in the periods immediately preceding and succeeding the Civil war, seem inclined to the belief that the past and not the present, was the era of ! the orator, the picturesque, dignified { Statesman, the typical American po- litical debater. One is quite inclined to wonder why the school readers, of today do not include within their pages the speeches of present-day senators and representatives in con grcss, as the books of generation ago, and of today, contain excerpts from the famous addresses of Web ster, Hayne, Patrick Henry and oth- CTS who followed them. Is is only be- cause of less clear prospective, due to distance, that we come to regard IS sages only those who have spok- en or written eonvincingly and force fully of events which transpired long ago? Must all partisan or personal prejudice be obliterated before fitting recognition can be given, by those who believe themselves opposed to their political policies, to those wno have proved their wisdom and the.r worth in the service of the people?
 Announcement was recently made or rather reiterated, by John. Sharp Williams, United Statss senator from Mississippi, that he would vol. uritarily retire from politics at the end of his present term. An undias- a appraisal of Senator Williama would probably result in the finding that the Mississippian is qualified to rank among those whose fame as statesmen and orators has been per- petuated in the school readers. In Mir. Williams even the casual observer will discern the unmistakable b1end- ing of the old school and the new Picturesquely, he supplies pleasing composite portrait of the statesman, thinker and orator of century ago in the United States, and the astu.e f0recful and resourceful politician
 In.nc mc fern times. Perhaps .,e time may come when it will rot he recalled that John Sharp Wi.l.a:n., in his years of useful service n both house. of congress was widely tFsgarded as democrat first, and as sttatesman in spite of that fac. o. @py, possibly. the handicap of part : ihh bias will have been removed 3pst as the world has come to eor- jlet, in sonl- degree that William lloyd Garr'sor and Wendell F: lli,s
 4re abolitionists. One barely j..
 <fils tae ..s:tys affiliations of Abra lhRm Linc...,. rr even noe. the one time intense partisanshia of 1heo, dpre Roosevelt.
 The fact ;s recorded that MT Vii hams was ienominated a-.i reelected tel the Un..ed States sena 2 l.y the Nipple of s state, for the term end sifg some th years hel,., w;tho our I9pposition. He had prevlous!., serv- itN one term in the sena e and eight 3frms in the house. Thr e has lie sbfen the cacdiuate of his party for tle speakersnip of the he .s ;, sn !..n- 9f which carried with it the leader. ship of the M,nority. In the coun- cils of his party, both in the state and in the nation, he has long held high rank. In his public and con eressional addresses he has been an advocate of reciprocal trade relations between the United States and Can ada. His record as legislator is Aotable because of its consistency. But there are other things which .Alsrk it. In debate he has proven 3ifnself the peer of the foremost of iAts senatorial colleagues, man of Afhe information, always fortified ,4hd prepared for even the most un- {kpected attacks. His extemporan- iepus speeches have shown his versat 1 i5ty and resourcefulness, while his pfepared addresses have been rec s0gnized as models of rhetoric. Sen ator Williams has made his place in the history of his countr-. One won &ers just how much of prejudice and .N p8rtisanship. and even of sectional |
 p, must De forgotten before tha.
 ace shall be generally accorded to ! m Christian Science Monitor.