The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-18
JOSEPH EWING MCDONALD.
A Short Sketch Cleaned From the Life
and Public Services of the Emil
nent Statesman.
Rock Islands HOnOred Guest..-A Rec
ord to be Proud of.


country. He is the Hon. Joseph E. Me-
Donald, United States senator from Indi-
ana, and q gentleman whom his cOnstitu-
ents delight to honor. During the stir
ring political times before the democratic
convention, the Hon. Joseph E. McDon~
aid was prominently mentioned as the
probable democratic nominee for the
presidency. His steadfast fidelity to the
democratic party together with his emf
nent fitness for the place made him
popular candidate, but he preferred not
to be considered as an aspirant for the
honor this time.
As statesman, Joseph E. Mcdonald
differs from most great men, in this: In
him, magical social qualities are blended
with the sternest type of legislative abili-
ty. He has that in his nature which at
tracts and holds the master. minds of the
age, without repelling any order of intelN
lect.
In Mr. MCDonald's nature there is
vast wealth of kindly feeling-natural
nobility-and to all men, of whatever
station in life, he is the same. BY his in
nocence of place seeking. or personal
preference for official favor, he has cer>
tainly won the highest point in the esteem
of his fellow citizens Here is the record:
Neither in Office or out of office has he
proved faithless to any duty contided TO
him.
The boldness and candor Of Mr. Nc
Donald's expressions on all questions of
public moment, leave the masses in no
doubt as to the grandeur of his indiffer-
ence TO criticism, however bitter. His
bitter political foes can point to no speech
of his that is susceptible of two interpre-
tations. He has defended both sides of
no issue. No popular range has ever, in
the least, turned him aside or affected his
Judgment. Straightforward courageous.
yet modest, he is of that material that the
world, in any age, would honor and call
great
In every walk OF life, whether in the
United States senate, private citizen, Il
neighb0r, a nations counselor or in the
bosom of his family he is the same. 1t is
such material that the American people
desire to elevate to the presidency
Joseph Ewing Mcdonald was born in
Butler county, Ohio, August Goth, 1919.
On one side his ancestors may be traced
to the Scotch on the other to the Hugue-
nOts. The father WAS by occupation a
farmer, and dying early, the subject of
this sketch, not yet seven years old, was
left dependant upon widowed mother.
and from her received his early and relig-
ious training In the course of time, Mrs.
Mcdonald was married to IA man by the
name of John Kerr, and the family set
tied in 1862, in Montgomery county, In
diana. That section of country, then an
almost unbIoken wilderness, young Nc
Donald, in the years that followed, saw
transformed into producing region. In
his legal arguments, some of Mr.. Nc
Donald's strongest Illustrations were gath
cred from the forest and farm. Amid
scenes of this character his boyhOod was
passed He knows all of what it is to live
in the back woods, to be pioneer on the
oat posts of civilization.
Senator Mcdonald was in early life ap>
prenticed to saddlery and harness firm
in Lafayette, Indiana, and while engaged
in learning his trade he was an industrious
and ambitious student He learned his
trade thoroughly, and at the same time
laid the foundation for his future success
in life. When he was eighteen years old
he entered upon his studies in earnest.
Like all successful men, he was poor in
purse but strong in determination to rise
in the world by his own unaided efforts.
He entered Wabash college supporting
himself by working at his trade during
his spare hours. From this institution
he went to Asbury university at Green
castle. He achieved splendid educa>
ton. After leaving college he taught
school and was engaged in civil engineer
ing until 1912, when he entered the law
office of Zebulon Baird in Lafayette, from
whence he graduated one of the most
brilliant young lawyers of the day He
| began his political career by being elected
prosecuting attorney of Tippecanoe coun-
ty, Indiana In 1949 he was elected to
the thirty-first congress by the demo
Gratis. He served with great distinction
and was the first attorney general elected
after the creation of the office by the
Constitutional convention. In 1875 he
was chosen United States senator from
Indiana, and his career in the senate has
been brilliant one. Thus briefly, is the
history of the gentleman who will this
evening address the people of Rock Isl
and and vicinity on the political issues OF
the day.
Sunday Services.
Twentieth street Evangelical Lutheran
church: the Rev G, A. Mennicke, pastor
Text at 10 a. m, Matth. tx 1>8. Thema;
''Von der Vergebung der Suenden. -
Katechismuspredigt, 7:30 p. M.
Holiness" Q0;45 a. M and Reopen
lance" (7:30 p. NJ will be the subjects