VILAS, vi'las, William Freeman, Ameri can lawyer and politician: b. Chelsea, Vt., 9 July 1840; d. Madison, Wis., 27 Aug. 1908. He went to Wisconsin with his parents in 1851, and was graduated frorn the University of Wisconsin in 1858, and from the Albany Law School in 1860. He was adznitted to the New York bar, but returned to Wisconsin, was ad mitted to the bar there, and had just begun the practice of his profession, when he joined the Federal army (1862). He was promoted lieu tenant-colonel, and commanded his regiment during the siege of Vicksburg; he resigned from the army in 1863 and returned to his law prac tice. He was professor in the Law School of the University of Wisconsin, 1868-85; and was a regent of the University, 1881-85 and 1897 1905. After the Civil War he was an active member of the Democratic party; from 1876 to 1886 he was the Wisconsin member of the Democratic National Committee, and in 1884 was pertnatient chairman of the National Con vention; and in 1885 was elected to the Wis consin legislature. In the same year he was ap
pointed Postmaster-General of the United States, and in 1888-89 was Secretary of the In terior. His course as Postmaster-General was marked by an improvement of the foreign mail service, economy of management and the negotiation of postal treaties with Mexico and Canada. In 1891 he was elected to the United States Senate for a six years' term. In 1896, being opposed to the free-silver movement, he was one of the organizers of the National or Gold Standard Democratic party, attended their convention at Indianapolis, and was chairman of the committee on resolutions. He edited (with E. E. Bryant) the 1st, 2d, 4th and 6th 20th volumes of the (Wisconsin Supreme Court Reports.>