Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-08-01
Congressman POund-G0Od Rea-
SONS Why he Ought to be Re-
elected.

fall:
The Eighth Congressional District
IS the largest in territory in the State
Of Wisconsin, in fact contains a larger
area than the remaining seven districts.
Its interests are more varied-and It's
industries more diversified, while it's
population is quite if not fully equal
in number to either Of the others !;
hence it is fair to claim for it, that it
stands first in Importance on the list,
notwithstanding it is the youngest dis
trlct organized. 1t has heretofore
been represented in congress by Hon.
A. 5. McDill, since deceased, and
Hon. Geo. W. Cate, both men of
good ability and who acquitted them
selves fairly.
Nearly two years ago the Hon.
Thad. G. Pound, of Chippewa Falls,
was elected to represent it, and
it is his service that we wish to
speak of at this time. He, like his
predecessors, had had experience in
Legislative bodies within the state, a
| thorough business training in the civil
pursuits of life, while to both of these
necessary qualifications was added an
active mind, sound body and untiring
energy, which have added greatly to
his efficiency as a member of congress.
As a consequence, no district in the
state has been better represented in
congress during the past session, than
has been the Eighth District, by Mr..
Pound.
He has not only given strict atten-
ton to all local affairs coming up for
congressional action, but upon every
important national question has made
a clear and we'll defined record.
He most heartily supported the re-
monetlzation Of silver and was among
the first to formulate the proposition
to perpetuate the use Of 'Greenbacks'
as money, he having at the extra
session introduced an amendment to
the resumption act, providing that the
retirement of legal tender notes should
cease at $350,O00,000, and that the
amount so outstanding should be after
January L, 1879, interconvertible
into standard coin of the United
States, virtually repeating the redemp-
ton provision of the resumption act,
and seeking to preserve for perpetual
use as money $3.50, 100000 Of the non
interest bearing debt. This propo-
sition has since become the law in
modified form, through a similar bill,
for which Mr.. Pound voted.
Employment for labor is the crying
need of the hour. To solve the pro
blehs of how best to supply the demand
has been the seif-imposed task of our
best and greatest statesmen. The
question still remains unsolved though
much has been accomplished by con
gress towards its solution through the
voting of liberal aid to various internal
improvements. Mr.. Pound has worked
early and late to secure this needed
legislation. believing that by SO doing
he was serving the best interests Of
the country, and especially his own
constituency. Believing in the honor
and dignity of labor. having been early
in life Injured to it by, education and
necessity, he has snot allowed subse-
quent honors, and Announcements to
blunt his sympathies for the laboring
classes, or to make him unmindful of
the principles upon which the govern
ment is founded for the mutual pro-
lection of the poor as we'll as the rich.
He gave his active support to the ex-
tension Of the Northern. Pacific Land
Grant, in which Wisconsin, especially
The New Wisconsin, has such a vital
interest, and which if granted in the
form asked for will give immediate
employment to 5000 labore1s and has
ten the development of vast territory
that will furnish cheap homes to the
millions IN want throughout the coun-
try.
He did signal service to the people
of the Eighth District in helping the
Infamous defeat of the Wood tariff
bill, which, had it became a law.
would have substantially levied a tax
OF one million dollars per annum upon
our people, by the reduction of
the duty on lumber one dollar per
thousand, This will readily be seen
when it is taken into account that
Northern Wisconsin (embraced entire
ly within the Eighth DISTRICT. pro-
duces annually one thousand million
feet of lumber. This tax would yirtu-
ally have been collected of the laborer
as cheap lumber always means cheap
labor
50 The proposition to reduce the tax
upon whiskey and tobacco also met
with Mr.. Pounds earnest opposition,
Tor the reason that the deficit In the
revenues of the country would neces-
sarlly have had to be levied upea the
necessities of life, such as tea, coffee,
sugar, ETC., thus again grinding the
poorer classes
I Aside from these aud many osher
important national and general matters
with which Mr.. Pound has had to deal
IN Congress. he has been an active SER
want to his constituents in securing
local measures. He has caused to be
established upwards of thirty new post
routes. besides securing a large iu-
crease OF service on old routes. He
has attended to the wants of the sol
diers of his district in securing ad-
ditioaal pensions, claims for back nav.
and thousand similar services which
have taken much OF his valuable time