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AILEY, JOSEPH WALDEN, United States senator from Texas, is a native of Mississippi, born in Copiah county of that state October 6, 1863. Beginning his college education at Mississippi college, Clinton, Mississippi, he was graduated in the law from Cumberland university, Lebanon, Tennessee, and was admitted to practice at the bar of Mississippi in 1883. At the same time he took an active interest in political affairs, made himself felt by his youthful ability as a public speaker, and had the notable distinction of serving as a presidential elector in 1884, when only twenty-one years of age. In the following year he removed to Texas and engaged in the practice of law at Gainesville, in which city his office is still situated.

An ardent member of the Democratic party and a ready and incisive orator, he quickly made his way to prominence in the political councils of his new state, and in the presidential contest of 1888 was a second time chosen elector, this time as elector-at-large. Two years later, in 1890, he became a candidate for congress in his district and easily won the election, his victory being repeated for five successive terms. The keen and telling oratory of the new member soon made him a power in his party in congress, his leadership among the Democratic members becoming so marked that in the fifty-fifth Congress the party caucus made him its nominee for speaker and he was chosen as the minority member of the committee on Rules. In 1901 the brilliant and aggressive young Texan took his seat in the United States senate, of which body he is today the youngest, though not by any means the least considered, member.