The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-07-28

RACINE CITIZENS REFUTE THE
ATTACKS OF THE JOURNAL.
MR.. CooPERs GREAT ADDRESS.
He Sets Forth IN a Business Way the
Work he Has Done During His Years
as a Successful Congressman
Many Kenoshans Present


Racine, Wis, July pa personal
statement with reference to his official
acts as member of congress ard in
reply to the attacks made upon him by
a certain local newspaper of Racine,
was made by Congressman Henry Allen
Cooper last night at the auditorium in
this city. His address reviewed the
work he had performed in behalf of his
constituency and set forth reasons why
he should be returned to congress in
the interests of certain legislation now
pending in behalf of his district.
There were nearly 1000 citizens of
Racine and Kenosha counties in the
auditorium when Congressman Cooper
began his speech at s o'clock, and at
IL o'clock, when he had finished his
address, resolutions were adopted en-
dorsing his conduct as member of the
house of representatives in behalf of his
constituents and demanding his re-
election.
Addresses we're also made by Prot.
R. G.. Hindley, who acted as chairman
of the meeting; B. B. Northrup, cashier
of the Manufacturers National bank;
Wallace Ingalls, and A. P. Dutton.
The resolutions, which were unani-
mously adopted, are published on the
editorial page of the News.
Congressman Cooper, in his speech,
said that he did not object to criticism
providing the criticism was just and
fair. Any man, he said, was prone to
err, and every sensible man in public
life should remember always that the
people were his masters. For himself,
he invited and welcomed candid, fair
criticism, and especially the criticism
of the press. He then carried the at
rention of his audience to statements
made in Racine paper to the effect
that he had been deposed from the
committee on rivers and harbors by
Speaker Reed, and said in regard to it:
NoG Deposed From Committee.
''The truth of the statement was
challenged by Kenosha paper, which
declared I had not been depOsed from
the River and Harbor committee. 1t
is true that the Racine paper has since
retracted it, but tell you the poison
has worked. Some of my friends did
not see the retraction, and it was not
made until KenOsha paper character
| lied it as untrue. | have not been de-
posed from the committee. | was No.
5, but in this congress Speaker Reed
advanced me from No. 5 to No. 2, so
that now l am on the Conference COM
mittee- Let me explain what that
means. A river and harbor bill is
drafted first IN the house of represen-
tatives. The committee sits and hears
testimony. The last bill we prepared
occupied three months of our time.
The committee approves a bill and
presents it to the house and from the
house it goes to the senate. That au-
gust body cuts it and adds to it and
disfgures it so that when it comes
| back it is unacceptable. Then the
house says it will not accept the
amendments and the speaker appoints
three mem bers from the house to meet
| three senators to go over the BILL
These are appointed from the River
and Harbor committee. The commit
tee will consist of Nos. and 2 upon
; that committee and the chairman and
Chairman Hooker, of New York, Coop
er of Wisconsin and Gen. Thomas G.
Cutchings of Mississippi now compose
that committee.
While member of the Conference
committee / do not intend to do any
thing that is not fair to Racine and Ke-
nosha harbors, and as a member of the
Conference committee shall see that
those harbors are not neglected"
Congressman Cooper then went into
an exhaustive description of the neces
sary improvements in the two harbors,
and said that were they in such con-
dition as to allow the entrance of large
freight vessels the cities would be the
gamers. He said it had been his ambi-
tion ever since his first election to be-
come member of the River and Har-
Dor committee, but when he first made
his application to Speaker Crisp he
was placed on the committee on Pacific
railroads.
His Work for the District.
"They say have done nothing for
my district" exclaimed Congressman
Cooper. II did a little something
about the public building up here, and
got the last $4,000 for it which had
been tied up by the comptroller of the
currency. Did [ do nothing for the
First district when l got $4,000 for
Kenosha harbor in the hardest times
this country ever saw, and $4,000 for
Racina and then last wear S24 900 for