South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-01

against Ray p. Holland, United
States game warden, in which the
United States supreme court last
spring sustained the constitutional
ity Of the treaty with Great Britain
for the protection Of migratory birds
and the act % congress OF July 3,
1918, 10 carry this act into effect.
The preliminary work was done by
Mr.. Williams, then first assistant
solicitor In It's decision the supreme
court characterized the subject as
"a national interest of very nearly
the first magnitude"
Inspires Others Loyalty.
Government salaries are not par
ticularly attractive in comparison
with professional incomes in pri-
vate life, and with the hardships
and opposition, II would be difficult
to hold the personnel of the solicit
tors office up to standard except
for loyalty. Persons closest to Solic-
itor Williams say that his ability TO
inspire and hold loyalty ranks with
his legal ability, which has met with
increasing recognition.
Robert w. Williams is n red
blooded, whole-hearted, healthy
man. Ne is lawyer because of
the wishes of his father, who was
one of the leaders of the Florida
bar. He is a good lawyer, because
he does everything faithfully TO
which he turns his attention.
But when the paternal wish sent
him to Valparaiso law school at the
age Of II. 1t probably deprived the
public OF a great naturalist. Mr..
williams loved birds from the time
he could walk His paternal grand
father. a successful planter, had
been a devoted amateur naturalist
and left a library and collections in
which the boy reveled through
childhood. AS a schoolboy. the col
lection OF birds eggs and study of
birds was more than a fad with him.
and he continued his study as pas
time after his graduation in 1898.
Aided Bird Protection.
In 1901, the National association
Of Audubon societies became deeply
interested IN a bill in the Florida
Legislature to protect nongame
birds. and the enthusiasm OF the
young FlOridan, which enabled them
to have the bill placed on the statute
books. was the beginning OF a train
or events which led him to Wash
ington. He came first 10 prepare a
bulletin on state game laws for the
biological survey, and a little later
was called as game law assistant in
the bureau, being transferred 10 the
solicitors office in 1907.
When HIS brain becomes logged
with overwork on legal matters. he
goes back TO the wild and studies
his bird friends. He has a little
bird sanctuary around the ancestral
home in Tallahassee, and IS a mem
Der Of a club which owns a pictur-
esque wooded rocky island up the
Potomac from Washington where
every species Of wild life is encour-
aged. He is a member OF a num-
Der of national naturalists' societies.
and was elected a member OF the
Sosmos club OF Washington IN rec
ignition OF his attainments both In
law and natural history.
One remark recently made ~ Mr..
Williams perhaps gives key 10 his
character and 10 the reason for his
success as an administrative head.
L have always had peculiar
view OF mankind" said Mr. VII
/ liams. ~ man appeals 20 me much
| like a biological specimen and I rate
! him first as 10 his honesty and his
attitude toward his fellow men. and
second as 10 the manner IN which he
fulflls the duty which lies immedi-
ately In his way. whether Il be great
/ or small The man who sweeps the
pavement and does il well is just as
useful in his own sphere as the man
whose duty it is TO be the president
| OF the United States"