William Alexander Harris graduated from Columbian College in 1859 and the Virginia Military Institute in 1861. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, holding roles such as assistant adjutant general and Chief of Ordnance. After the war, Harris moved to Kansas, where he worked as a civil engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad and later engaged in agricultural pursuits. He held political office as a Populist, serving in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and was involved in railroad management.

William Alexander Harris's political identity is marked by an intriguing blend of agrarian advocacy and Confederate military service, which juxtaposes his support for railroad development with his Populist leanings. His legislative focus on agrarian interests and railroad land sales reveals a strategic alignment with regional economic development, while his military background adds a layer of complexity to his ideological positioning. Harris's career also highlights a surprising convergence with opposing factions on certain economic policies, suggesting a highly localized approach to governance.