Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14

| portant committee chairmanships the de-
| mand for his selection as chairman of the
ways and means committee was universal
and excited criticism the score of
| Maine getting too much. When it was sug-
gested that some such criticism might be
| provoked by the appointment no one would
listen to ii, and it was said that he would
go to the head of that committee not from
Maine, but from the country at large.
His influence upon Congress was very
marked He was never swept along by
thoughtless popular impulse. but con-
troled by reason. The fact that he was re-
garded as both just and wise made it pos
sible for him at times to exercise a restrain
ing influence without causing friction and
almost without it being known.
In his intercourse with all manner of men
! he won respect, and among those sensible
70 impression by good and lofty qualities
this respect amounted to admiration and
affection. There are many men in humble
private life as well as those in Congress-
who. having been brought in contact with
him simply as public man. feel grief at
his death close akin to that felt by his
near relatives and intimate friends He was
a man of high moral sense. naturally Just
and a doer of good works In morality,
temperance and Christianity he was an
unobtrusive worker for the betterment of
his fellow-man.
His Active Career.
Nelson Dingley. jr, governor of Maine
ISI4-I5, and member of Congress from the
second congressional district of Maine since
1881. was born in Durham. Androscoggin
county Me, in his grandfather Lambert's
farm house on the banks of the Androscog-
gin river February 10, 1892 son of Nelson
and Jane uamberD Dingley.
At seventeen he taught winter school
in the town of China. fourteen miles from
home, and he continued to teach winters
while fitting for college. Entering Water
Vile College now Colby University. in
1871. he remained there year and a half
and then became a student at Dartmouth
College from which institution he gradU
ated in 1859. After leaving college Mr..
Dingley studied law in 1S55-56 With Mer-
rill and 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 n journalist for
which profession he always manifested a
decided taste. In September, 1S56 he pIr-
chased the Lewiston Journal of which he
had been practically the editor while study
ing law, and to which in 1861 he added
daily edition.
In 1851 at. the age of twenty-nine he was
elected representative from Auburn to the
state legislature, in which body he at once
took high rank, was reelected in 1862 and
chosen speaker of the house at the session
of 1863. In 1863 he removed to Lewis
ton, where a few months after he was
elected to. the legislature, and with the
opening of the legislative session of 1864
was unanimously reelected speaker. He
was elected to the house twice. subsequent
~, but declined the SpeakerShip, preferring
to be the floor.
In 1873 Mr.. Dingley was elected governor
of Maine by about 10000 majority. In 1874
he was reelected by over II 900 majority,
declining third nomination in 1879. He
was one of the delega teS-a t-large from
Maine to the republican national convention
in 1876. and served on the committee on
resolutions. and was one of the subcommit-
tee of five who drafted the platform.
In 1881 Mr. Dingley was nominated by
the republicans of the second congressional
district of Maine to fill the vacancy In Con-
gress caused by the resignation of William
P. Frye. He was elected by a majority of
over 5000. nearly twice as large as ever
before given to any candidate in that dis
tr1ct. He served on the committee on bank
ing and currency. He was reelected nine
times. His first speech in Congress was
made April -. 1852. on Protection to
American Shipping
Under a joint resolution introduced by
Mr.. Dingley and passed August T. 1882 he
was appointed member of a joint COM
mfttee to investigate the condition and
wants of American shipbuilding. President
Mckinley rendered the position of Secre-
tary of the Treasury to Mr. Dingley, but
he declined the offer, preferring to remain
in his position as chairman of the ways and
means committee and floor leader of the
republican majority of the House.
Under his leadership the House within
sixteen days after the Fifty-ftfth Congress
vas convened in extraordinary session.
passed bill revising the tariff
Mr.. Dingley was a Congregationalist in
rehsioHt He was married June II. 1851. to
Miss Sa1Ome Mckenney of Auburn. Me.
They have had six children, of whom five
survive.
1t is lot generally known that the late
Mr.. DiLgley vixen a young man lived al
Hudson, Wis. in the congressional district
now represented by Representative jenkins
Col Isaac III. Wing, now stopping at the
Shoreham in this city, was close and init
mate acquaintance of Mr.. Dingley's. and a
great admirer as well. The colonel. in talk
ing over the old times that the young men
had together in the new country, said that
Mr.. Dingleys experience proves that it is
not always best to go west and grow up
with the country. for he returned to his
home in Maine and very soon attained state
man.