Renfrew's Record (Alva, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, August 8, 1913 Page: 2 of 8
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PAGE TWO.
mKFKEW'S RECORD, ALVA, OKI A, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1818.
MEN IN THE PUBLIC EYEV™~,rSrl“’X;:
_ demanding a thorough grasp of the
fundamental principles of government.
R. L. Willinms, of the Supreme Court, A Judge of the Law and the lion s share of the work has fallen
A Man of the People. lo Justice Williams, and properly so,
| for he bore a conspicuous part In
........— ■ ■■ ii hi.......4 framing that constitution and he is
' most zealous in vitalizing the prin
clples thereof.
A f' w words about Judge William!.,
the man, will not be amiss. He is
' ery generally referred to as "Bob."
That in itself is pi^jof that he is a
real, red-blooded, companionable hu
man being. Off the bench be is a
man of affairs, a business man of
recognized ability, and lie takes a
leading part in the development of
the country in a business sense.
The judge has an absorbing interest
in farm life. He was born and raised
on a farm, and has always maintained
his Interest in the farming industry.
He has a farm now, and one of his
hobbies is the building of dams and
lakes and stocking the waters with
hah. lie insists that this not only
beautifies the landscape, but, that if
the plan were generally followed, It
would very materially increase the
rainfall.
R. L. Williams, the first Chief Justice Df the Supreme Court of Oklahoma.
Now that the legislature has ad-
journed the hotel gossip has turned
to the gubernatorial topic, and statea-
men and near-atatesmen are discuss-
ing who will be the democratic can-
didate for governor next year.
In connection with this talk no
name Is heard with more persistency
than that of Bob WIlllamB. Judge
Williams has held a center place in
the public eye since long before state-
hood. He fought valiantly for state-
hood long before that dream was re-
alised. He was a member of the
Constitutional Convention and left his
impress on every important section
in that document. When the state
was admitted to the Union he became
its first chief Justice.
Beginning with statehood every
time we have a big election, to choose
either a governor or a United States
Senator, or both, somehow the name
of Bob Williams bobs up. "What
about Bob Williams?” has growu to
be a familiar question when conver-
sation veers to some big question of
public honor or trust or when the
‘Slate Is about to adopt a policy, either
civil or political. Meanwhile Judge
Williams has gone serenely on. ap-
parently engrossed with his work on
i he supreme bench, modestly but firm-
ly deuling out justice ami laying down
a course of procedure which will be
followed by the generations to come.
Thus far hts work on the bench has
been of more lasting effect upon the
"people and the laws than It could
have been had he held any other posi-
tion.
The Judge has certainly made good
in spite of his early patches anil pov-
erty, and has uchieved a most lofty
position in his chosen state, lie
has always been a very hard worker;
a man of dynamic energy and posi-
tive opinions. He has the courage
to stand for what he regards right;
he stands out ruggedly for the honest
straightforward statesmanlike things
in polities.
Away back a decade ago, Judge Tt
L. Williams was an active factor in
Indian Territory politics, lie was the
democratic national committeeman
when a place on the national commit-
tee was practically the only represen-
tation the eastern part of the state
liad in the civil government of the
country. When the Constitutional
Convention was called he was elected
as a delegate. He became one of the
foremost leaders of that great body
of men, and his handiwork may be
seen by the student tn every vital de-
partment of the organic law of the
atate. As a member of the Consti-
tutional Convention he was placed on
the committees on Judiciary, revenue
and taxation, legislative department,
primary elections, legal advisory and
public service corporation, and of the
last two he was chairman He was the
author of practically all the construc-
tive provisions inaugurated in Article
Nine, including the two-cent fare, the
fellow-servant provision and the one
to the effect that every license issued
or charter granted to a mining or pub-
lic service corporation, foreign or do-
mestic, should contain a provision re-
quiring the submission of all labor
disputes with employees to arbitra-
tion—the first time such a provision
ever appeared in a statute or a con-
stitution. Judge Williams has been
referred to as the John Marshall of
Oklahoma. It sounds well, mid it real-
ly suits the case. Chief Justice Mar-
shall of the Supreme Court of the
United States, by his learned and
courageous construction of the most
progressive constitution up to that
time tn existence, hammered the loose
and discordant elements into a mighty
and indissoluble composite, drove the
rivets into the frame-work of the
world's youngest and greatest na-
tional government.
Judge Williams great-grandfather
was Jonathan Williams, bom in Con-
necticut, in 1764, whither his father,
some years before emigrated from
Wales. Jonathan Williams enlisted in
Beardsley's regiment in the Revolu-
tionary Army. After the Revolution
he drifted to North Carolina, living
there until 1821, when he went to
Jones county, Georgia, with a view
of settling in the Creek country. This
he did in 1824, settling in Bike county,
Alabama. In after years the settle-
ment was known as "Williams' Set-
tlement,” and the two sons of Jona-
than Wllliahis founded what is known
as "Williams’ Church.” Jonathan left
two sons. Rev. Elisha and Rev. Simeon
Williams. Rev. Simeon Williams had
a son by the name of Jonathan Wil-
liams, who It the father of R. L. Wil-
liams.
Bob Williams was born on a farm
in the old Williams' Settlement. At
sixteen years of age he went to work
on his own account, working his way
through college to the degree of Mas-
ter of Arts in Southern University at
Greensboro, Alabama. He thinks now
he was probably handicapped by his
poverty and his shabby clothes, but
at any rate he plunged In and fought
his way to leadership in intellectual
activities in the college. Later he
read law with Judge William S. Thor-
ingtou, for some time dean of the law
department of the University of Ala-
bama, and a member of the Alabama
Supreme Court. Judge Williams was
admitted to practice in September,
1891, and hung out his shingle at
Troy. A few years later he went to
Texas because of the call of the wild.
Texas was too tame, and In 1896 he
The Old Williams Homestead—Birthplace of R. L. Williams.
Judge Williams, the first chief jus-
tice of tile Supreme Court of Okla-
homa, has wrought similarly in a
more restricted field. Two territories,
w'ithln the borders of each of which
but a few years ago the white man
was a trespasser, Hung together as a
sovereign state under the most pro-
gressive- or most radical, as some
critics would insist—constitution yet
came to the Indian Territory and fin-
ally settled at Durant, where he still
resides. He was the first city attor-
ney for the town of Durant.
As a citizen the judge lias always
taken an active part in every move-
ment for civic developments. Some
have criticised him for dabbling in
politics, but this is characteristic of
the man. No activity of his home city.
evolved; two territories markedly dis- oounty or Rta,e- which looks for the
betterment of mankind is too small
similar from the standpoint of pri-
vate law and governmental organiza-
tion, the Indian Territory having
never known the semblance of self-
government; a constitution bristling
with innovations, establishing as ax-
ioms propositions hitherto gravely
mooted—all this presented grave per-
plexities to Oklahoma's high tribunal.
For nearly six years R. L. Williams
and his associates on the supreme
bench have wrestled untiringly with
these problems, often with scant prece-
dent to light the way.
to claim his most vigorous attention.
His activity In all public affairs has
kept him in close touch with the peo-
ple, their conditions and needs. He
steps in and takes sides whether it
be the selection of the aldermen of
his home town or the president of the
United States.,
He has always been an enthusiastic
democrat, and he comes from a dem-
ocratic family. He lias unbounded
faith in the wisdom and virtue of the
people as expressed In elections, and
to a very marked degree he typifies
all that is best in western citizen-
ship. While Judge Williams lives mod-
estly, though amply able to afford lux-
ury, he is not wedded to the dollar.
His many acts of kindly helpfulness
stamp him as a man of broad charity.
Last winter he gathered all the news-
boys in Oklahoma City together at a
leading hotel and gave them a real
banquet. In Durant, where he is
known best, one hears most of his
benefactions.
The Williams Church, organized In 1824, the house built In 1868.
Whether Judge Williams becomes a
candidate for governor, retains his
place on the Supreme Bench, or re-
tires to prlvnte life, he will continue
to be n dominating influence in the
development of the state. He has a
great capacity for work and his grasp
of fundamental principles of govern-
ment Is exceedingly broad and clour.
He would make an ideal candidate
from a party standpoint, and as a gov-
ernor of the whole people and a rep-
resentative of the taxpayers he won’"
certainly fill the hilL
SOUTHERNER HAD NO STATE
Officer Was Born in Territory, Father
in District of Columbia and Grand-
father at Sea.
Just before the Civil war, when the
mutterings of secession were heard
throughout the south, a number of
j West Point officers came together at a
military station, among them one
of whom we will call Captain H-,
and who afterward served with dis-
tinction in the Union army. The
southern officers, one by one, declared
their intention of "going out,” as it
was then familiarly called; that Is,
of resigning their federal commissions
to throw in their lot with their several
states. II-, In relating the inci-
dent that follows, said that great pres-
sure was brought to bear upon him
to Join them.
“Why, don’t you go with us, Cap
tain H-?" said one of his acquaint-
ances.
“Why should 1 go with you?" said
■ H-, who had a certain southern 1
swarthiness of feature and softness
! of speech.
"Aren’t you going to go with your
| state?”
| "Why, I haven’t any stale," he re- I
plied; “I was born in a territory.”
I "Oh. thunder!” said another. “Why
don't you go with your father's state,
then?”
"Can'S,” protested H-; “he hadn't
any state; he was born In the District
of Columbia."
“Oh, hang It!" broke In a third; "If
that's the case, why don’t you go with
your grandfather’s state?”
“Just as difficult,” said H-; "my
grandfather hadn’t any state: he was
born at sea.” And then he added: "Oh,
no. boys. It's easy enough for you fel
lows to go with your states, or”—fix-
ing his eyes significantly on one of
the party—"with your wife's state; but
as for me, I Intend to stand by the old
I flag.”—From the Century.
| HEAD PIERCED bV A BULLET
Though Thought to Be Mortally
| Wounded James Buggle of Chicago
Lives to Tell of War.
James Ruggie, who is the assistant
custodian at Chicago headquarters of
I the Grand Army, stopped three Con-
| federate bullets before he had reached
j the age of sixteen. The last one
nearly brought about the close of his
young career.
"I enlisted In November. 1862," he
said, "and I was not fifteen years un-
til December 22. I was under fire
less than a month after I had been
mustered Into the service. My regi-
ment, the Sixty-fourth Illinois, was
at Decatur. Ala., in March and April,
and then went into the Atlanta cam-
i paign. I was wounded first at
Ileseca, again at Kenesaw mountain
and agnln at Atlanta.. A ball struck
me in the forehead, went through my
head, blinding one eye and injuring
the other, and came out behind the
right ear. It broke both Jawbones,
too.
“The battle of Kenesaw mountain
was the hardest I was in. Our com-
pany went into tt with thirty-six men !
and came out with five, and they were j
all wounded. We had to climb a
steep slope. Tn that battle General
McPherson was shot by some men In
amWush. We caught them and took
from the knapsack of one of them the
field glasses and private papers he had
taken from the general’s body.”
The Limit.
| An Irishman at a magazine explo-
i slon was picked up unconscious. The
doctor decided he had no bones brok-
j en and had only been knocked sense-
less. As he came to his senses the
doctor was holding a glass of water
to his lips.
"Phat happened?” he asked.
"The magazine exploded, and you
had a very narrow escape, and I’m
: giving you this water to revive you,”
I replied the doctor.
I "Givln' me wather after bein' blow
I ed up?" said Pat in disgust. "Tn
Hlvln's name what would have to hap-
pen ter git er drink of whusky?”
“Mustered In” With Real Muetard.
The boys of the 117th N. Y. tell of
n real "mustering” In of a darky at-
tached to that regiment, who became
fearful he would he deprived of his
pay unless he joined the service. A
1 huge mustard plaster was applied to
his back, and under the belief that all
soldiers were thus “mustered” in he
wore it until tt began to get pretty
hot. Then they took It off and he
j was formally declared "muBtered In ’’
according to the law. If that darky
didn't get his wages It was not be-
cause he was not "mustered” tn good
and plenty.
Grim Humor.
Even on the field of battle the sol-
died Is humorous, sometimes grimly
so. A soldier was seen tn the trenches
holding his hands above the earth-
works. His captain asked:
"What are you doing that for?"
He replied with a grim, as he
worked his fingers: “I'm feeling for
a furlough (just then a rifle hall
struck him In the wrist, and a queer
commingling of pain and humor
passed over his face), an’ 1 get a dis-
charge "
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Renfrew, J. P. Renfrew's Record (Alva, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, August 8, 1913, newspaper, August 8, 1913; Alva, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1075547/m1/2/: accessed July 5, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.