Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-02
THE EIGHTH DISTRICT.
Mr.. TliNOR'S SUCCESSFUL WORK
IN CONGRESS LAST SESSION.
4 Constituent Paints d Picture That
is irpressive-The advantage of
Having a practical Man on
Duty at Washington.

lOuOWlng afIlcI3 taken from TIE Mill
waukee Telegraph about E. S. Minor,
congressman in this district:
1t was Republican of the Eighth con-
gressional district who said, Il will tell
you what | would like to see: l would
like to see drawn up in line the five
hundred soldiers and soldiers widows
for whom our congressman has done
special service since he was elected in
1894. Then [ would like to see them
gather around him, shake his hand and
thank him-thank him as | have heard
scores Of them say they would like to
have an opportunity to personally
thank him for the Invaluable services
he has rendered them. How different
this crowd of old men would look from
the way they looked thirty-fve years
ago when the war began-the war in
which they played so honorable a
part; and how different the soldiers
widows and mothers would look from
the way they looked when they parted
with sons and husbands in the long,
long ago. Then there is another thing
would like to witness. When this
half thousand elderly men and women
are thanking their good friend, Con-
gresham E. S. Minor, would like to
have the Republican voters of the dis
trict suddenly come upon them and
discover the cause of COmmotiOn such
an aSsemblage would naturally create.
That would result in two things. AS
the voters, thousands upon thousands
of whom have been born and grown to
manhood since the war and other thou
sands have come to us from other
countries, beheld those old, decrebit,
wounded, sick men, and dear old
women, they would be reminded, as
nothing else would remind them, of the
sacrifices made by them that they, the
younger voters of the district, might
have country united, strong, power
full, the greatest and best in the world.
That is one thing that would be done
The other thing is, every one of them
would 60 home with new zeal for the
return of a Republican congressman
from the Eighth district. And who
doubts who that congressman would
be?'
That pretty bit of word-painting of
my Eighth district friend made an i'm
preston on my mind, and / think
quite a lasting one. 1t was a novel
word painting-out Of the current
| breezy-and not in any way unreason-
able. That which made the strongest
| impression was the thought that came
to me while he was talking--the thought
that the new congressman from the
Eighth district had devoted time, while
attending to his many other important
| duties, necessary to crafty that army
of soldiers and soldiers mothers and
widows. 1t told me Of his good heart
as nothing before has told Of it. OF
| course it was natural to expect that
| (Na,0toi1o M inOr ho hoI
| four years of service in the Second
Wisconsin calvary, would be ready to
comply with the requests of his old
comrades and their families for just the
kind Of help that he was able to give
them. But [ venture that there are
many who SuppOses that SO great a task
would be placed upon him as has been
| placed by these five hundred people
who have called upon him for the help
| that he has given them. In passing let
me say that this work for pensioners is
! legitimate work for a cOngre ssman.
They can accomplish more than any
other class of public servants in that
direction. Let me say, too, that the
high rank attained by ex-senator
Sawyer, the late Judge William F.
| Price. Hon. Isaac Stephenson and other
men who have served in the National
| Legislature, was largely won because OF
their whole-hearted devotion to the
interests Of the soldiers who so we'll
served a distracted country in time OF
war. 1t is kind of work that all good
citizens are glad to see done by their
| congressman.
Mr.. Minor is also good all around
congressman. AS member of the
| Committee on Claims he has done a
| In Of h., / IoI
not make such a showing as comes to
the public's view. But it is neverthe-
less very important work. He is also
| q member of the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fisheries, a very
proper committee for him to serve on
! because Of his large experience as The
! owner of fisheries. His service on that
committee has been very valuable to
the merchant marine of the country.
| His influence has been felt, decidedly
so, and is appreciated because it has
been thoroughly practical. That COM
mittee has accomplished more during
| this session than it ever before accom-
| pllshed in a like space of time, and it is
due to say that much Of its success is
attributable to the persistent, practical
| work Of the Eighth districts member.
| He has spoken briefly on several
occasions and made one set speech
which attracted widespread attention
because of the sound sense there was in
it, The speech was made in opposition
to the bill which proposed to abolish
compulsory pilOtage on coastwise sail
ing vessels. He contended with such
brilliant congressional managers as Mr..
DINGHY, Of Maine, and Mr.. Payne, of
New York, and when the vote was
q Ion hD Jy-ac fbn J-intnr NV - 70
Mr.. Minor has ably earned a re-nomi-
nation, and without any kind of doubt
will receive it and be elected by an in
creased majority. He is a successful
campaigner. While he has been active
ly engaged in business ever since his
return from the war, he has never
failed to take an active interest in
politics. He has served in both
branches OF the state legislature, held
county offices, is popular speaker and
a persistent, personal worker. He
believes in the Republican party and
delights in advocating its interests.