The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-01-19
CONGRESSMAN |NaEYDtAD
The Distinguished Representative
Passed Away in Washington.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Critical Situafioa il Aasiia: Al Aceidest
Might Precipitsfe Trosbie The Eagaa
Rox--Floods aad iaundatioaS.

WASHINGTON Especially Hon. Mel.
son Dingley. OF Maine. leader OF the
Republican side on the floor Of the
House Of Representatives, and repre-
fenting the second congressional dis
trict OF Maine in that body, died
here Thursday night at 1890 O'Clock,
of heart failure, resulting FROM extreme
weakness, due to double pneumonia
There were present at the time, Mrs.
Dinglsy, Miss Edith Dingley. Msssra
z. n and A. II. Dingley, sons of the
deceased; Mr. James G. Hooe, AZ in
innate friend of the family; DR.. Deale.
one Of the phi ysicians who has been at
tending him throughout his illness,
and two pursee.
In speaking of Mr.. Dingley's death.
Senator Hale said: 'In the present
condition of public affairs Governor
Dingley's death is o very great nation
al loss. In all questions relating TO t.
nance, to revenue of the country and
to the adjustment OF great fiscal ques-
tons, Mr.. Dingley was above all 9TH
ers in authority. 1t is difficult to say
who can take his place. He had the
confidence of his associates ~ the
House, the confidence of tho Shnate,
the confidence of tie President and the
confidence of the entire country"
Nelson Dingiey. Jr., Governor OF Maine
1S73'75, and member of Congress from the
second congressional district of Maine. since
| 1881, was born in Durham, Androscoggin
county, Me-. in his grandfather Lambert g
| farmhouse, On the banks OF the Audroscog-
| gin river, February Is. 1882. He was the
| son OF Nelson and Jane uamberU Dingley.
At17 he taught a winter school in the town
| OF China. IA miles from home. and he con-
| tinued to teach winters while fitting for col
| lege. Entering Waterville College (now Col
| by University In 1851, he remained there a
| year and half and then became a student
at Dartmouth College, from which institu-
ton he graduated in 1855 After leaving
| college Mr.. DDgley studied law, in 1885, So
| with Merrill d Fessenden, OF Auburn, and in
the latter year he was admitted to the bar.
Instead OF entering upon the practice of law
| he decided to become journalist, for which
| profession he always manifested a decided
taste. In September, 1856, he purchased the
Lewiston Journal, of which he had been
practically editor while studying law and to
| which he added a daily addition. In 1861, at
the age OF 20. he was elected Representative
from Auburn to the State Legislature, in
| which body he at once took high rank, was
elected in 1862 and chosen Speaker OF the
| House at the session of 1868.
| In 1873 Mr.. Dingley was elected Governor
| OF Maine by about Ii, 900 Majority. In 1874
he was reelected by over /, 900 majority
declining a third nomination in 1875. He
was one of the delegates at large from Maine
to the Republican national convention in
1876. served on the committee on resolutions
and was one OF the subcommittee of five
who drafted the platform.
In 1881 Mr.. Dingley was nominated by thu
Republicans of the second congressional dis
trict of Maine to fill the vacancy in Congress
caused by the resignation of Wu.. Frye
He was elected by majority of over 5000
nearly twice as large as ever before given t,
any candidate in that district. He was re
elected nine times. His first speech in Con
gress was made April rs, 1882, on "Protectio,
to American Shipping" President McKinle,
rendered the position as Secretary of tn
Treasury to MI. Diogley. but he declined tn
offer, preferring to remain in his position a
chairman of the ways and means committe
and floor leader of the Republican majorit
Of the House. Under his leadership tn
House. within sixteen days after the Fifty
fifth Congress was convened in extraordinar
session, passed bill revising the tariff. MI
Dingley was Congregationalist in religion
He was married June II. 1857 to Miss Salon
Mckinney of Auburn. Me They nave he
six children, of whom five survive.