NORRIS, GEORGE WILLIAM (1861— ), American legislator, was born on a farm in Sandusky county, Ohio, on July II, 1861. The death of his father and only brother while he was very young left the family in straitened circumstances, and Norris was required to work out among the farmers in the summer and attend school only in the winter. He afterwards taught school and studied law, and earned enough to finish his law course at Valparaiso university. He was admitted to the bar in 1883. In 1885 he moved to McCook, Neb., and began to practise. He was later elected prosecuting attorney of Furnas county, and in 1895 district judge of the 14th judicial district; re-elected in 1899, he was serving in this position when in 1902 he became a U.S. representative. He was re-elected for five successive terms and in 1910 was the leader of the insurgent group which success fully held out for a reform of House rules, and thus put an end to the autocratic control of the speaker. He also led the fight against secret committee meetings. He was elected to the Senate in 1912, 1918 and 1924. He was one of the few who voted against the entrance of the United States into the World War, against the selective draft and anti-sedition acts, and he denounced the Versailles Treaty. He fought for the direct election of
senators, and for presidential primaries. He was the author of a proposed amendment to abolish "lame-duck" Congresses. The Norris bill for retention of the Muscle Shoals power develop ment by the Government, which passed the Senate in March 1928, marked the first indication of success in his six year fight to prevent Muscle Shoals from being acquired by private power interests. He was a leader in the demand for farm relief legis lation, advocating a Government marketing corporation. He be came the accepted leader of the independent group in Congress. Though nominally a Republican, party ties have rested lightly upon him, his dictum being that the people "ought to be inde pendent of all parties." In 1926, outraged by Republican cam paign expenditure in Pennsylvania, he entered that State to speak in favour of the Democratic nominee. In 1928 he supported Mr. Smith and in 1932 Mr. Roosevelt for the Presidency.