New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-19
MIR. HORR'S CAREER

Roswell G. Horr born In Waitsheld. VI.
November 26, 1890. but when he child his par
ents moved TO Lorain County, Ohio, and II was in
the Buckeye State that he spent his youth. He
grew up sturdy industrious and ambitious young
man. and improved all the opportunities he had TO
get good education. He taught school in Lorain
County to pay part Of his expenses in Antioch Col
lege, from which he was graduated in 1851. Before
he left college he began making campaign speeches.
and exhibited something Of the ability which after
ward made him known as one of the most effective
stump speakers in the country.
He was Republican at the birth of the party,
and he took an active par; in politics in his own
county he left college He was APP
pointed clerk Of the Court of Common Pleas In Lo-
rain County. and served two terms. While he held
the Office he studied law and in 1866 he was ad
mitted to the Bar Instead Of settling down TO the
practice Of law. however he went into Eastern
Missouri and engaged In mining operations. lie
continued 10 speak in political campaigns. and In
1872. when he began the practice of law in East
Saginaw. Mich. he took an active interest In the
Presidential campaign. and made speeches in many
parts of Michigan. His reputation as a campaign
orator gained for him lucrative law practice.
In 1878 Mr. IIorr was elected to Congress from the
With Michigan District. and he was reelected In
1850 and 1882 AS Representative in Congress ne
earned the reputation of being fine debaAer. and
a number of his speeches attracted widespread at
tenton. His humor made MS speeches. most FL
fective on several occasions. In an attack on ii
River and Harbor Appropriation bill he once con-
vulsed the entire House of Representatives. with
laughter by pretending 10 urge the claims of some
back country mud creek for large appropriation,
and he made the entire country understand how
ridculously large were some Of the items in the APP
Precipitation bill. On occasion he replied 10
some personal rdicue which had been directed
against him by the late s. s. Cox. and the Con-
York "A
ludicrous light that he lost his temper and declined
TO speak to Mr. Horr for several days Mr.. Horr
defeated for reelection 10 Congress In 1881
when he made campaign speeches In several states
for Blaine and Logan. and neglected his own DIS
trict.
Harrison and Morton In eleven States. and was
unable to meet all the demands which were made
for his services as speaker in the campaign
After the election Of General Harrison Mr.. Horrs
but the only appointment that was offered to him
was that of Consul at Valparaiso. when ne de-
had been unjust Mr. Horr exhibited neither morti-
hcation nor resentment and In 1872 ne made cam
pgn 19Thf sn 9T he n n STAFF about five
years ago and his signed articles in the weekly
and Many Of his articles
published in the daily edition. He wrote mainly on
n aq eq from every part Of country
wide range of topics. In recent interview ,,h ne
he turned out copy for the newspaper
when am at home / dictate TO my daughter.
who takes II down as talk 1t on the typewriter
But fully third Of my writing Is done when am
away from home In that case i dictate IL 10 10
stenographcr. and revise his copy be1ore senn II
10 New York. ! generally go over my dictauon
carefully and make numerous interInea'ionSs T.,
have been in Oregon twice campaigning, ana IN
Maine five times since / began TO do TINS work.
and find ii quite task sometimes j am work
ing hard now that for short time nave give"
mn writing almost altogether ,,,
Early i'm the recent campaign the Repubhcan
National Committee made an earnest appeal lor
the services of Mr.. Horr as speaker IN some o,
Tho Western States and he consented 10 MAKE a
tour of campaign speaking, with the understanding
that he should be required 10 SPEAK only thI rec
times a week. The demand for his speeches N
part of the campaign he was speaking ever h u.
ans often twice a day At the close OF tne all
paign worn out. ana was proSirated t hrnn
by combined attack Of kidney trouble ana proh-
One of Mr. Horrs strong points as a campaign
speaker was his readiness In answering quess..
confuse him by interrupting him TO ask question
was reasonably sure to wish later that the w.
lion had moi been asked. His replies were instan-
taneous and generally were shH, od his readiness
o{P humor. as we'll as his good memory and COM
mand OF facts and figures. ,..., T., . ao,o. o
which Mr. Horr had with Senator stewart OF ~ Ne
ada on the silver question in February 1898 ne
debate was reported fully. and was pubnshea IN .
pamphlet by The Tribune ds he IN the summer
la s $50 also attracted considerable attention. az
thouqh the author OF Coins FINANCIAL ochoo,
made serious attempt TO ehgase ex ~ from
confined himself chiefly TO reaung eN'i"''' io' "
long essay which he had PREPARED ~ a,ah,ors
MI Uorr leaves sons ana Two aius "'eis
The sons Frank H. Horr OF i,ha r d"urbinrs
arn Mrs + " Hebard and Mrs W. ii. E"A''
both of Planfeld n j.