Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-22

l
which preceded that of Mr. Webb. AM
both Of them during those 80 wears ac.
coinpnshed wonderful degree Of sue
cess, and largely through the possession
~ Qualities common '" both | rpmem-
per almost 30 years ago the dignity and
me FAIRNESS, and the level-headness that
characterized Reuben Foster in his legis-
Eiunve work, as 1t did in his work as q
lawyer, ana the closing work Of his lie
rs Saie business man. He was in the
| Legislature in the troublesome times az
the consolidation of the steam railroad
81 inns otate. mad a rare opportunity
| To study him and hts power in those
| early days Of "A young mans life when
| he is more obSerVant perhaps than in the
years OF maturity, sitting in front OF him
as one of the under clerks of the body
| that he graced. 1t is due largely ia Tho
| efforts of Reuben Foster that the great
| consolidation of the steam railroads 81
| this State was carried through and thai
| his city was then made the great rail-
road centre that it has since become
| And the city Of WaterVille can never owe
| more. certainly, to any of its present cit
liens than it owes today to the fores ght
and sagacity and strength of the Reuben
Foster of 30 years ago ] remember the
power and the dignity and the evenness
of mind with which he presided over bot h
him. following along by equal steps. ana
going through the same positions and
winning honor just the same as Mr. Eos
Ter dld, by general consent as tribute
to his worth 4 man. came the career
of MIR. Webb through the same Iegisla-
tive halls. Both possessing these com
splendid integrity and natural leadership
OF men, they We're accorded their reSpec-
tive positions Of speaker of the House Of
Representatives ana Of president Of the
Senate, not through any political CHI
canery, not through any morale of
self-seekinS farther than "A self-respect-
ing man could venture but rather as
tributes 10 their mental and moral worth.
tnEftr h4 t,.+f1
igating practice Of the courts early in
my work at this Bar. ana yet | knew
him. aS your honor knew him. as an
cVen-minded. brOad-mindpd. fair-nlindad
lawyer, who, if he had continued the
pugnaciuus work of the law, would have
Shnne in the legal profession as he did
in The circle Of business. The success
that came to him and TO Mr.. Webb in
life was due largely to the splendid fund
Of cOmmOn-SpnSr that both had In a most
remHrka BILE degree. They also possessed
a manly quality Independent Of intellect
udlity, ana that was the good nature
that never left either. perhaps more
prominent in the character Oh Mr. WeDD.
because in Mr.. Foster il was tempered |
by quiet dignity. ana VET always there.
- is pleasure - me IL look back upon
the cases in which / was engaged with
them. and TO remember that however
strongly tempted ! might have been to
utter an unkind thing. in the weakness
Of my temperament. especially in my
younger years. the words always died Un-
uttered on the lips. And II was those SUI
prcme ana magnificent qualities of Drac-
Teal cOmmon-sense and constant good |
nature that attracted to both the conf |
dcnce Of the public Both could enter |
politics and win such honors as they |
wanted, ana yet, through the possession |
Of those two qualities. command the con- |
iidence Of political friend and foe. as both |
ala throughout their entire life: ana that |
the city Of Waterville should lose them /
both within year, men to whose com |
bined efforts that city owes so much was |
TO her a public calamity. recognized as /
such by all in that municipality, rich and /
Door.