Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-09-21
HON. ERAsTUS j. TURNER.

Erastus j. Turner, of Hoxie. was
born IN LOckpOrt, Erie county. Pa,
December 26, 1916, attended. college
at Henry, Ills, 1880; enlisted in
company b, Thirteenth Iowa Infan-
try, IN 1854 and remained until the
close OF the war; was a student Of the
Adrian college Of Michigan in 1866
%, was admitted to the bar In 1871;
removed to Kansas in 1879; was
elected a member of the Legislature
IN 1881; and 1888; was elected Secre-
tary OF the Kansas Board of Railroad
commissioners April /, 1888, which
position he resigned August 1, 1886,
to accept the nomination for Con
gress, was elected to the fiftieth con
gress as a Republican, receiving 19,-
624 votes against II. 1858 votes for G..
II. Moody, greenbacker, and 448 votes
Tor H G. Breed prOhibitiOnist.
MIR. Turner made his debut among
the large army of new members who
were chosen to the Fiftieth congress
as the successor to Hon. Lewis Han
back, who served during the Forty
eighth and FOrty-ninth congress. In
this connection it may be proper to
remark that every member OF the
Kansas delegation, the two senators
and seven representatives, all served
IN the Union army during the late
war IN the various capacities of pri-
vate or commissioned officers. Mr..
Turner enjoyed the advantage of ex-
Perience IN parliamentary affairs in
the Kansas legislature and hence his
new field Of Congressional labOrs was
not unknown territory in the region
OF IaW-making. Nevertheless he en-
entered upon his duties with becOm-
ing mOdesty, and by close application
and faithful services has risen rapid
iy Ia the estimation of his colleagues.
Being the only new member Of the
Kansas delegation, he has been con
tent to bide his time, but promises to
be fully abreast the eminent reputa-
ton enjoyed by his associates from
the KRW State.
Speaker Carlisle displayed exCell-
ent Judgment when he assigned Mr..
Turner TO membership of the public
lands committee to fill the vacancy
created by the transfer Of Mr.. John
Anderson of Kansas to the Commit
tee on commerce. No more atten-
tive, intelligent or faithful service
has been rendered by any member Of
that committee than that Of Mr.. Tur-
ner. Familiar with the situation
touching the matter OF the public
lands, the honest settlers have no bet
ter friend to represent their interests
than the new member from the sixth
Kansas district. He is progressive
and broad in his ideas and while re-
luCtant to take the floor is capable of
making a fOrcible and persuasive
speech upon any Of the current topics
Of the day. He is a good lawyer and
welded to the traditions of that hon
Orable profession.
Mr.. Turner is Of extremely social
habits, fond of a good story and is
himself an accomplished recOnteur.
He Is modest and unpretentiOus and
justly rated as foremost In the ranks
of good fellows of the house. He
is patient, painstaking worker and
devOtes his time unsparingly to the
service Of his constituents. His hab-
its are exemplary and he is always to
be found at his post. Mr.. Turner is
of medium height, of strong build,
and is PrOverbiaI for his Uniform
good nature, which beam always
from a face of marked intelligence
Washington Cor. Kansas Cjtg,
Times, 22d