The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1897-11-19
TOM FITZPATRICK
A Washington View Of our
Mountain Congressman.

mouutdln congressman
The following complimentary ar
ticle Is from the Washington Week
ly Press:
AZ giving to the newspaper edi-
Tors The characteristics and mental
force OF our statesmen, it is re-
markable fact that We find the
greatest Of men always The modest
and unassrming. II Is such char
acters who leave the stamp OF their
personality upon the historical pa
ges Of nations.
Hon. Thos. kirkpatrick Of the
Tenth Congressional District, Of
Kentucky, is among this class, and
in some respects is striking char
acter. Oversix feet tall, as straight
as an Indian, OF commanding as
pect, whose very appearance makes
one feel confidence in his ability to
do or die in any cause he may es-
pouse.
He represents the mountain dis
trict OF his native State and is a
magnificent type Of the character
istics of his constituents.
Perhaps no place in the world
holds a class Of people more grand
in the simplicity Of their desires,
more willing to suffer for those
whom they love, yet there are none
so bold and fearless as they in the
execution OF what they believe to
be right, than are these inhabl-
tGnts OF the beautiful Kentucky
mountains.
There is always thrill OF pride
inspiring thought OF all Americans
whenever the Blue Grass State is
mentioned, for 1t is the home, and
always has been, OF beautiful wom-
en-, and brave, heroic men.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick should feel proud,
and probably does, in being hon
ored by representing such noble,
yet unassuming class OF people in
the halls Of Congress.
The modesiy, yet fearlessness, OF
this gentleman is the best evidence
of character that commands re-
spect, in fact he Is one Of that kind
to whom the accomplishment Of
the greatest Of deeds would be con-
sidered as only a part of the man.
During the extra session Of Con-
gress he could be found putting in
the long summer days in the diff
ferent Departments taking care o:
the interests Of his people.
He is exceptionally well ac-
quainted in and around the Pen
sion Office. His genial good nature
has made him many friends and
the amusing and entertaining
stories he has told to the officials
OF the Pension Office has been Of
great help to him in advancing the
interest Of the old soldiers OF the
Blue Grass State.
Unlike the average Congressman
he attends to his pension cases in
person and could be seen at the
Bureau each day hard at work
looking up the cases OF some de-
serving widow or soldier.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick was asked why
he, a Southern Democrat took so
much interest in the Union soldier
said he: "The old soldiers of my
district have been badly neglected,
not CD account OF the fault Of any
body but owing to the fact of the
conditions surrounding their posi-
ton. Agreat number Of them live
in the mountains and it is very
difficult for them TO get to the med
ical examiners, aud as they are OF
thatclass who fought for the union
and not for pensions, many of them
did not think it necessary to get a
discharge, so you see that large
number Of deserving men are thus
hampered in receiving their just
dues.
i have been trying to get the
pension ofiiciSls to have medical
examiner located in all these small
towns who will assist all these hon.
est old soldiers to establish the
equity of their claims.
/ -You speak OF the Union men oil
the South, they are all Union men
in Kentucky, the past is buried,
and those who fought and bled to
save the Union, now that they are
old they need at least little ofthe
money they have been robbed Of
by the fellow who staid at home
and succeeded, unknown to us all
in claiming them in the bonds Of
gold recommendation, which has de
prived some Of them of almost the
necessaries OF life. No, sir, We
know no North, we know no south
for the men Of Kentucky who fought
on different sides with their son,