The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-10-05

time he has had no political career; his
hands are free; he has no affiliations to
hamper him. He has imbibed of the spirit
of American institutions from his earliest
moments and has never breathed any but
air of freedom. He has shown himself
sturdy, level-headed citizen in the ordinary
affairs of his life, with patriotic grasp OF
public questions, and conservative, safe
way of looking at them. He has, too the
less essential graces of expression and argu-
ment, with the pleasing personality to
make him influential among his fellows.
If John Patton does not make very
good senator, it will be disappointment to
the people of Michigan. Governor Rich is
entitled to the warmest commentator for
the choice he has made.
Nearly every paper in the state, es-
pecially those of his own political faith,
approaching Senator Patton's fitness
| for the position, complimented the gov
ernor on his choice in the highest
| terms.
Governor Rich, who, for several years
had been friend and admirer of Mr..
Patton, stated to the press representa-
tives that he had based the appoint
ment on the acknowledged ability of
the appointee, on the fact that he was
in large measure the representative
of the young Republicans of the state
and that his endorsements came from
more sections of the state than those of
any other candidate.
"He came from section of the
state" said the governor, 'that seemed
logically to deserve recognition. But
there were other reasons. L paid a
great deal of attention to the endorse
ments of the candidates. Patton had
much the largest number, and they
came from all the sections of the state,
spreading over the south, east and
west, and as far north as Alpena. In a
broad sense he was, therefore, the can
didate of the whole state as well as the
western portion But besides this /
consider Patton man of great ability,
and | am sure he will make first class
senator"
Senator Patton will be A years old
on the thirtieth of next October. He
was born at Curwinville, Penn, his
father, John Patton, one of the leading
| Republicans of that state, having been
representative in the Thirty-seventh
and Fiftieth congresses The future
senator was educated at Phillips acade
my, Andover, Mass, and at Yale ocl
lege, where he graduated in 1875. He
graduated from the Columbia college
law school, New York city, two years
later, and, after brief European trip,
settled, in 1873, in Grand Rapids,
where he entered the law office of
Stuart & Sweet. Later he was with the
firm of Hughes. O'Brien & Smiley I'M
til 1879, when he began the practice of
his profession for himself. He has de-
voted himself to commercial law and
Office practice, and has built up an ex-
cellent business by reason of his bril-
| liant attachments and his strict atten-
ton to his profession. He has also
been actively connected for some years
with the Peoples Savings bank, of
which he is vice-president.
He has ever been staunch Republi-
can, and although never candidate
urged by his friends to enter several
Jealous for his party's success.
He was o member of the Republican
state central committee in 1884, and
was the efficient president of the State
League of Republican clubs from 1890
Michigan of the National League of
Republican clubs.
As the head of the State League or
ganization, Senator Patton manifested
in many ways his capacity for leader
ship and other splendid qualifications
that have given him so strong hold
on the affections of the young men in
the party. In 1888 Senator Patton
headed delegation which called upon
President-elect Benjamin Harrison at
Indianapolis. On that occasion he adj
ded to his fame as an orator by deliver
ing an address, eloquent and patriotic
in the extreme. Senator Patton deliv-
cred the address of welcome at the
Michigan club banquet in 1891, when
he made one of the happiest hits of the
evening by referring to the ''tempor-
airy absence of the Republican Govern.
orr whose place he filled. On many
other occasion, notably the Loyal Lee
gion banquet at Detroit last year, where
he was an invited guest, he has deliver
ed speeches that have universally been
commended for their eloquence and
sound ideas.
In 1885 Senator Patton was married
to Miss Frances S. Foster daughter of
Congressman Wilder ID. Foster, who
died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Patton with
their two sons reside in comfortable
home on the corner of State street and
Waverly Place, Grand Rapids, and are
among the best known and most pop
ular of the Second City's splendid citi-
zens.
Senator Patton entered upon his SEN
atorial duties at Washington at most
difficult period. Preceded, however,
by reputation for personal and politi-
cal integrity and cleanliness, recognized
as an orator of convincing power and
welcomed by a host of political and
personal friends, some of them high in
official life, he began his work under
favorable auspices and with the bright
est prospects for successful 'and bril-
liant career.
With every energy aroused he enter
ed zealously into the great work which
the situation demanded of the Republi-
can minority. Considering the late
ness of the season, his committee APP
pointments were much better than he
had reason to expect. The vice presi-
dents courteous action in placing him
on the special committee to investigate
the present industrial depression was
in itself a splendid commitments and