Josephine Williams

Josephine Williams.

Josephine Williams was a columnist for the Jefferson Times in the early twentieth century. In her column for 12 February 1921, she dismissed President Emiliano Calles as nothing more than a figurehead for Secretary of State Albert Ullman: "Mr. Calles resembles nothing more than petrified wood, not only in appearance, but in chemistry. Wood when placed in mineral solution changes gradually, as the wood molecules are replaced by those of stone. Thus, the appearance is wood, but the reality is calcium. President Calles seems the Hero of Chapultapec, but in reality he is the miserable professor from Kinkaid."

Ullman responded to Williams' criticism in an interview published by the Mexico City Times on 1 March 1921: "Miss Williams had better consult some good geology and chemistry texts before she pontificates so wisely!"