Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-01-17

rne p~resIuenrIui campaign OF 1870 ana IN the
state conventions of 1877, 1873 and 1873. In
1S79-S0 he was chairman of the republican
executive committee.
Sent to Congress.
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 Hon.
William P. Frye. He was elected by a ma
Jority of over 5000, nearly twice as large as
ever before given to any candidate in that
district. He served on the committee on
banking and currency and as a member Of
the select committee on alcoholic LIQUOR
traffic. and during the session he presided
several times over the house in committee
of the whole. Mr.. Dingley's first speech
in congress was made April rs, 1882, on PRO
lection to American Shipping the house
being in committee of the whole on the bill
to create a tariff commission.
Lnbors for American Shipping.
Under a joint resolution introduced into
the house by Mr.. Dingley and passed Au-
gust Z, 1882, he was appointed a member of
4 Joint committee to investigate the con-
iition and wants of American ~shipbuilding
and shipowning interests. The report of
the committee drawn up by Mr.. Ding
ley and unanimously agreed to by the com
mittee was regarded as a very able and
valuable u The committed re-
ported a Dill to remoye certain burdens on
American shipping, framed by Mr.. Dingley,
which passed the house, but there was not
time to %reconcil disagreeing amendments
between the two houses before the Forty
seventh congress expired. While this bill
was under consideration in the house he
made a speech on the Revival of Ameri-
can Shipping" in reply to Congressman
Cox, which placed him at once in the front
rank of congressman and gave him a ma
tional reputation.
In 1882 he was reelected as a congress-
man at large for the Forty-eighth congress.
At the opening of congress in December,
1884, Speaker Carlisle appointed him at the
head of the republican minority on both the
banking and currency committee and the
select committee on American shipbuilding
and ~shipowning interests. Mr.. Dingley at
once reintroduced his shipping bill, which
was passed by the house and sent to the
senate. The latter body amended 1t by
adding a provision for the encouragement
of American postal steamship lines, but
subsequently the difference was adjusted
IN conference and the bill was approved
by the president June "a, 1884.
Mr.. Dingley was reelected to the Forty
ninth congress from the Second Maine dis
trict in 1884. In June, 1856. he was reelected
to the Fiftieth congress and again elected
to the Fifty-f1rst congress in 1888; to the
Fifty-second in 1890. the Fi%fty-third in 1892,
the Fifty-fourth in 1894 and the Fifty-fifth
in 1896 by large and increased majorities
In the Fifty-second and Fifty-thtrd con
crosses he was an active member of the
on appropriations.
Declines Cabinet Position.
In forming his cabinet prior to entering
on the duties of chief executive March 4,
1897, President Mckinley rendered the po-
,sitlon of secretary of the treasury to Mr..
lDingley. but he declined the offer, prefer
ring 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 lead the house with
In 16 days after the Fifty-f1fth congress
was convened in extraordinary session on
the 10Th of March, 1897, by President Nc
Kinley, passed a bill revising the tariff.
Some OF His Characteristics.
For the ordinary ~manipulations of poll
tics Mr.. Dingley had no use whatever. He
paid no attention to primaries or delegates.
Every two years his people renominated
him by reclamation in a sound republican
district where nomination is equivalent to
election. Mr.. Dingley devoted his time to
acquiring experience and knowledge.
which made him more and more valuable.
Mr.. Dingley was not an orator. He lacked
the physical presence, the development of
throat and chest and quality of voice which
make men orators. None the less all the
members listened when he arose to speak.
He had a wonderfully lucid way of assert
ing facts. going at once to the heart of
every contested point. He also had a re-
faculty Of presenting an argu-
ment. His mind was logical to the highest
degree. Had he followed the law and been
promoted TO the bench he would nave made
q famous judge, for his mental sight en-
abled him to see through any Irrigated
question with great clearness and his de-
cisions would ave been eminently sound
and fair.
Mr.. Dingley was a Congregationalist in
religion. He was married June II, 1857, to
Miss Salome McKenney, of Auburn, Me.
They have had six children, Henry NJ,
Charles l.. (deceased), Edward H., Arthur
H.. Albert G.. and Edith D1ngley.