Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-13
He Figured in Dramatic
Scenes
BY John T. BOIFEUILLET

and had a splendid opportunity to witness
many evidences of his exalted craftsmanship.
His humol refreshing, and his wit sem
| tillating His fund of anecdotes and
! ineXhaustible. While waiting for quorum,
and at other times around the committee ia
BILE, l have often seen him convulse with
| laughter such impressively and stately dtgnI-
| fed senators Elihu Root and Henry Cabot
| Lodge.
1 have heard that when Senator Williams
was a student at the University of Heidel-
! berg, Germany, the kaiser was one of his
classmates. Williams also attended the Uni
versity of Virginia.
He never had senatorial colleague who
was his superior in culture, learning and
historical information. No living
passes him in the fulness of his knowledge
| of the science of government. He is learned
| in the whole science of political economy-the
+ science which embraces in its scope every
material interest, such as commerce. manu-
features, agriculture, the tariff and finances,
each of which is vast science of itself
Field for Display of Talent
The United States Senate is an unsurpassed
field for the display of geuine talent, and here
Senator Williams exhibited a stateliness Of
wisdom. There is no deliberative assembly
! in the world in which man finds his correct
place more unerringly than in the Senate,
the force of Williams intellect gave him in
slant prestige in that body, and he promptly
became a commanding influence, just he
had been in the House. and where he had
grown into a national figure of prominence
ana popularity before becoming a MEMBER OF
the Senate. He was pre-emlnent among his
colleagues in House and Senate, in all rnose
high qualities necessary to properly constitute
the lawgiver and ruler.
John Sharp Williams was a masterful par
Humanitarian and as Democratic minority
leader in the House for several terms his
genius and his eloquence and his sagacity
were in their first action. He aspired to the
speakership, but it so happened that during
this period the Republicans were in control
of the House.
Bitter Rivalry and Animosty
Bitter political rivalry and personal am
mostly existed between Williams and the tai
ented David A. DeArmond, of Missouri, grow
ing out of their mutual ambition to be speak
er. DeArmOnd had made three unsuccessful
races against Williams for the minority lead
ership, and hostile had the feeling between
them grown that they had a personal en-
counter, in which fists were used, in the hall
of the House of Representatives but not
while the House was in session. DeArmOnd
was a congressman of long tenure and excep-
tional ability, brave and chivalrous. SO bit
terIy antagonstic was Williams toward Dear
mond that when the former was elected to the
Senate in 1908, he determined that Dear
mond should not succeed him as minority
leader, and thus, perhaps eventually become
speaker, so Williams threw his influence to
Champ Clark, who was chosen, and later be-
came speaker. 1t was not long thereafter that
Judge DeArmond met the awful fate of being
burned up in his own house.
De
William B. Lamar, formerly attorney gen
eral of Florida and who married one of At
lantas handsomest and most accomplished
ladies, had red-hot exchange of words on
one occasion with Williams when they were
members of the House. Lamar made an eX-
ceedingly bitter speech against the minority
floor leader, in the course of which he called |
the brilliant Mississippian ga shriveled ape.
Williams replied sarcastically. The cause of
the animosity between these two men was due
to Williams removal of Lamar from member'l
ship on the important committee on interstate
and foreign commerce and giving him an in
ferior committee assignment. This was due
to the following circumstances:
When Williams was minority leader, |
Speaker Cannon allowed him to assign the
minority members to committee places. This
was quite power Lamar was given assign |
ment to the powerful committee On interstate |
and foreign commerce. certain New York |
Democratic congressman introduced sun0ry |
stringent bills for the regulation of interstate
railroads. which were referred to the commit |
tee on Interstate and foreign commerce. A
conservative measure reported by the |
majority of the minority Democratic commit |
teemen, while Lamar and Judge Dorsey w.
Shackelford, a Democratic representative |
from Missouri, reported the original measure. !
Judge Shackelford Also Angry Il
There were differences between Williams
and the author of the bills The action of La
mar and Shackelford incensed Williams, so
Williams denoted both Lamar and Shacke1- !
ford from the committee interstate and
foreign commerce. Consequently, Shacke1-
ford, like Lamar, turned the Walls of his
wrath upon Williams and deep hatred arose
between Williams and Shackelford. The Mis-
sourian was a skilled debater, a forceful
speaker, and very sarcastic. He was always
ready for parliamentary battle Largely in
order to deprive Williams of much of his
power as minority leader, well as strip
Speaker Cannon of his tremendous powers,
Shackelford made terrific and successful on
slaught on the so-called "Cannonism."
Williams Declined CannOn's Hand
Speaker Joe Cannon and John Sharp Will
liams were warm, close friends when they
were together in the House, though each was
a deeply partisan member of his own political
party. On one occasion, however, Williams
became exceedingly veXed with Speaker Can
non for ruling that he made and which Will
liams thought was unfair and unjust. When
the House adjourned, Cannon walked up to
Williams and cordially extended his hano,
which Williams refused to accept. But it was
not very long ere the passion of the MISSISSIPPI
plan had passed, and the 'old-time friendly
and intimate relations were restored between
the two celebrated men, which have continued l.
until this day, and have gone into their re-
tirement with them.
Mr.. Williams was chosen temporary chair
man of the Democratic national convention of
1904, which met at st. Louis, and nominated
Judge Alton B. Parker for president. Will
liams made notable keynote speech.
Coal or Whisky
Senator Williams has returned to his Mis-
sissippi plantation to pass the remainder OF
his days in serenity and contentment, except
as the clarion call of patriotism may summon
him from his calm retreat. There he Will |
again meet the old-time negro man of whom
I heard the senator tell that the darkey |
having done some special service for him on
the plantation, and wishing to reward him
with token Of 1OOrpCiatiOn. ask ed |