The advocate., 1896-12-16
BRIEF sKEECH oF HIS LIFE.

sketch Of Senator PETERS nfe." In
response we copy from the Congress
slOnal Directory the following:
william Alfred Pefer Of Topeka was born
on o farm in Cumberland county, Pennsyl-
vania, September 10, 1881; attended a public
school; began teaching at the age Of IS years;
taught during winter and f&rmed in summer
removed TO Indiana June, 1858, and opened a
farm in ST. Joseph county; removed to Mis-
souri, September, 1859, and purchased a farm
In Morgan county; because OF the war re-
moved TO Illinois February, 1852, and enlisted
as private in Company r, Eighty-third iii.
nois Inisntry, the following August was pro-
NOTED TO Second Lieutenant March, 1858;
served as Regimental QuSrtermaster and Ad-
jutsnt, Post Adjutsnt, Judge Advocate of o
Military Commission, and Depot Quarter
master In the Engineer Department OF Nash.
Vile; studied law odd hours during Che war;
was mustered out OF service June 26, 1866;
began practice Of law at Clarksville, Tenn,
August, 1866; removed to Kansas January, 1870,
and prschced law there until 1873, In the
meantime establishing and conducting two
neWspSpers-Fredo Journal and CofIsyVille
Journal; was elected to the State Senate in
1874 was Chairman Of Joint Centennial COM
mittee, member OF Judiciary, and Chairman OF
Committee on Corporations; was Republican
Presidential Elector in 1880 became editor Of
the Kansas Farmer 1881; was elected to the
United States Senate % q member Of the Peo-
ple'S party took his seat March 4, 1891. His
term OF service will expire March 3, 1897.
In addition to the above 1t may be
stated that Immediately upon Mr..
PETERS arrival In Kansas, he took q
claim In Wilson county and began to
open farm. He at once interested
himself In the agriculture of the county
and State. He organized the Wilson
County Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, became its President and
held the first two fairs lin 1871 and
1879 at his own personal expense,
charging NO admission fees. Indeed,
the "fair grounds" were not inclosed.
He collected sample specimens of the
cOunty's production for the Centennial
display at Philadelphia. He intro.
duced the bill providing for the Kan
sSs exhibit there, and was largely
instrumental In securing the necessary
appropriation from the Legislature.
He has been closely identified with the
farming interests. Ten years editor Of
the Kansas Farmer, he became IA.
millsr with the agriculture of the
State and the needs of the farmers.
His little book, "The Way Out" In
1890, and his larger work, "The Farm.
er's Slde," In 1891, were written In the
interest Of the farming class. His re-
port to the Senate In 1894 on the
causes Of agricultural depression is re.
: garded as authority.
An outline of his work In the Senate
Is seen in the following summary made
up from the records:
ATTENDANCE.
The Journal OF che yenste shows that since
Mr. PETER entered the Senate December Z, 1891
he has never been absent without leave and
his name appears In every yea and nay vote
taken on any bill, resolution or motion pend
ing.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.
In the Fifty.second Congress, beginning
March 4, 1891, and ending March 8, 1898, Mr.
PETER was assigned to the following commit
tees: ~ Claims against the governmens)
(9) Census; (S) To Examine the Several
Branches Of the Civil Service; (l) Improve
meRt Of the Mississippi river; and (5) Rail.
roads.
In the Fifty.third Congress, beginning
March 4, 1898, and ending March s, 1895, in sd
ditIon to those above mentioned Except thai
he was relieved from duty on the Railroad