The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-04-28


Roscoe Coukiing was very. nearly 5s4 years
oil be was born in AlBany, Y. T., October b,
asgs His father Alfred C0nsltus, was prOml-
nent nan. 4 member of Congress and az one
time minister 10 Mexico. Roscoe was educated
IN the schools Of the EeIghbOrhOOi and at once
addressed himself 70 tne stIdy Of the law Be
fore he was - re had Keen elected TO Congress
and was conceded 10 be a leader Of his party in
New York He married HoratO Seym0ur's sister
and mste bis home in Utica where he was
eieerea msyor in 1855. At the expiration
1f as fir-t term tie vote between the
Fr~; candidates for the Office caused him
- hold over fOr GnOther term IN November,
f-5s ne was chosen as Il Republican 20 Congress
and i0ox his seat in that body IT the beginning
of its session, in December, 1888 He was r.
elected in 1860, but in 1852 was defeated - Fran
Ci- Seruan, over whom. however, ne vas elected
in 1854 Mr.. COnklings nrst irn nportant 50 ech
was in support oil the rom rsenth Amendment TO
the constitution. de vigorously attacked the
generaIship OF AcCfeiiau opposed SpaIdiug's le-
Eal lender act aud firmly upheld the government
in the pros -cuIiOn Of the war. Mr.. Conkling was
reelected 70 the House in the fall of 1866 but In
January 1867, before h. took his seat, he was
electea United States senator to succeed Ira Har-
Fls lie was rec ecte1 Ia ls73 and 1879.
- the Senate he vas from the first mem Der
of the Judiciary committee, and connected with
nearly all the leading committees holding the
cGalrs OF those on commerce snd revision Of the
laws. he was a jealous supporter of President
Grant administration and Largely directed its
general policy toward he South, advocating il
in public ana by IS personal influence He was
rights bill.
IN 1851 he became hostile to President Car
h'f1 aunIHi-tr4I1Ou on Il question OF patronage,
aiming with his colleague Thomas C. Platt
tne right 70 control the federal patronage in his
stale, ne details OF that unfortunate Guarrei
ar SUI fresh in the public mind, The presi-
dent appointed & TolitiCgl OPPONENT of Mr.
tGBkllug 70 the cOileCtUrshfp of the port OF New
oFkzand the latter opposed his continuation
Gaining mat he should have been consulted
80 the matter, and that the nomination was
p Flo4alou OF the pledges given to him by
me president Mr. Garfield "a soon as Mr.
'9l Ahng hal declared bis opposition, withdrew
otaer nominations 70 New York Offices leav-
lnS tle Objectionable one to be acted upon by
Itself FlndIng that he could not prevent the
'onhtmatien, Mr.. Conkiing, on May I6 1ssl, re
signed AIS seat In the Seuate as did MS col
leaE ne, spu retu ned home TO seek viudication
III tne form OF a reelection. In this however
! 'ef an exciting canvass, they failed, two other
RET uoIIc ms being elected to I'LL the vacancies
resident Arthur offered Coukling a seat on
me supreme bench, bat he declined il and after
himself 10 the practice Of the law In this he
was very successful and his income has been es-
umated 20 run between So 900 and Sl00,G0
IN Character COnklIug was essentially a leader
oJ men he was imperiOus, even dOmineering
IN MS attitude to those about him, but his hon
esty aud he fHtthfulness of his life to his CON
Vlctions have never been questioned. and as long
a ae was IN the service of the state he was q
Door man When he resumed the practice of
sAH ne al once began to accumulate money. 1t
y sald that when he resigned the senatorshiD in
1881 ne borrowed sI2 from a friend to paw his
fare back to New York