The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1899-12-20

the biggest man that ever lived, and
his admiration and loyalty for him
never wavered. 5"
I became interested at once, and
cut the piece out, and showed it to
friend. and from him learned that
Cal. Dickey, of this city, was son
of Major Dickey. [ made it a point
to make inquiries of our Mr.. Dickey
about his father, and he kindly fur
nished me with an immense quantity
of newspapers and clippings, which
had only the kindest and most gener
Gus reference to the great Mantle,
who died last month at the age of
eighty-nine years. James G. Blaine
in referring to Major Dickey called
MIN "The Gladstone of Maine"
Here is an old clipping which
shows the feeling existing between
Mr.. Blaine and Major Dickey. It
says:
Happy Democrat.
Major Dickey enjoyed himself at
Mr.. Blaine's reception last evening
better than he has enjoyed himself
for long time before. In his speech
against changing the time of
elections, yesterday, the Major re-
fered to the time when he as a mem
Der and Mr.. Blaine as a reporter
dipped ink out of the same bottle.
Last evening when the time for re-
freshments came, Mr.. Blnine taking
Major Dickey by the arm, said: 81
am going to walk out to supper
with the oldest and most distinguish
ed legislator in Maine, and the rest
of you gentlemen may follow"
"Who would have thought it, said
the Major in telling of it, land I 3
democrat from the time of Andrew
Jackson"
In the proceedings of the Maine
legislature Major Dickey always
took a leading part. At one time
he was presented BY his fellow mem
bers with chair, at another time
they gave him handsome picture.
1t was he who by virtue of his great
length of service had the honor TO
make the presentation speech of Gov
ernor's Kavanaugh's picture to the
state; he usually made the senta-
tions at each session to the speaker
and officers of the house. So strong
was he in his district that year after
year he was reelected without op-
position. He watched out for his
district, and the district always re-
turned him.
A sample of the venerable states
mans logic is found in one of his
pleas for money for the country
schools, and he is quoted:
Mr.. Dickey of Fort Kent said that
we have heard a good deal about
schools. 1t is the principal of
education to educate the children of
the state, and it lies with the legis-
laGure to say how funds shall be
raised for this education. I am
aware THAT ia the cities they raise
scarcely a feeble child. but we in the
virgin soil raise children and they
have to be educated. Where does
the population of those cities
come from = where does the
legislators come from? They
come from the country. The cities
educate our children and they get
the advantage of this great move
ment. Take Portland for instance.
] think it is the best represcn tative
lof the cities in the whole state. Our
children 60 there and become their
citizens. Is it right that Shey
should and fault, which they do, and
refuse to help educate the children
Of the interior towns? I remember
well when there was cry that
ARGOS took received a large amount
of money for educational purposes,
but, gentlemen, we had the child
rem to draw that money, and we had
a right to it. I say come forward
and help the poor schools.
During one of his terms there
we're but five democrats in the Maine
legis stature, but he led his small