The advocate., 1891-11-18
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF A SENATOR

u&b9 Va tu6 cOpl0 phNty AOE 5b6to Oon1
tor in the western-most part Of New York,
who was triumphantly elected over the
trained ringster, Vedder, is gentleman
who Is destined to make his mark. The
following matter concerning him is Of
decided interest:
DR.. Edwards was nominated for Senator
at Jamestown September %, by both Peo-
ple's convention and the regular Democratic
convention for the district. He was born
in 1888, in New Jersey; was educated at
Pennington seminary and Wesleyan uni
versity, Middletown, Conn.,, and graduated
from Wesleyan with honor in 1850. He
taught until the war, when he enlisted as a
private, and served as second lieutenant,
first lieutenant and adjutant, of the Eleventh
Rhode leland Volunteers.
In 1864 he was elected principal of East
Greenwich, (R. I.) seminary, which position
he held for six years. During that time he
served three terms in the Rhode Island Sem
ate and won an influential place in that
body. He was a presidential elector for
Grant and he stumped Rhode Island in his
interest. He was prominently mentioned
as a candidate for Congress, but withdrew
his name. He was prominent in the es-
tablishment of Rhode Islands first normal
school, and at the time Of leaving the state
was president of the state teachers associa-
tion.
For twenty one years he has been presi-
dent of Chamberlin institute at Randolph,
in this state. He has been connected with
the Chautauqus movement from the first,
serving as trustee, member of the executive
committee, and for the last ten years has
been the head of the scientific department..
He has wide reputation as lecturer upon
scientific subjects, is Q member of several
learned societies, and this year he received
from Allegheny college the degree of doctor
of laws. He is we'll known as preacher
and has recently been elected the second
time to the general conference, the law.
making body of his church.
DR.. Edwards, in accepting the Peoples
and Democratic nominations, said that if
elected he would act as an independent
Senator, without regard to party affiliations,
trying to serve the whole state conscien-
tiously.
Since his election to the Senate, Mr..
Edwards was interviewed at length by the
New York World reporter, and the fol-
lowing portion of 1t Is here reproduced:
believe will be the least incumbersd
member of the next Legislature. / have
always been a Republican, but will vote
only for such measures as commend them
selves TO my best judgment. The circum-
stances under which / entered the contest
were peculiar. There was no question as to
the corruption of the existing order of fittings
and in reponse to q popular demand con-
sented to enter the field. The Peoples
party. which first nominated me, exacted
no promises, and the Democrats in indors-
ing the nomination, very generously re-
Trained from encumbering me with
promises. Therefore / sm perfectly at
liberty to use my best judgment in regard
to voting on measures, and shall endeavor
to represent the whole people to the best of
my ability.
shall endeavcr to introduce and vote for
measures that will be in the interests of
the entire people. 1 have long been aware
of the corruption existing in this district
and shall use my best endeavors to redeem
the proud name which the Chsutauqua-
Cattaraugus district once owned.
The Republicans will lose control of
the next New York Legislature, and if