The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-01-11
MISCELLANY.
Senator MOrril.


OF the life Of the late Senator Morrill, is
that which, after some persuasion, he
consented to give to newspaper CORE
spondent three years ago.
II started in business for myself -
began Senator Morrill,, with capitol
OF $3.50, saved from my salary as clerk
in the different mercantile establish
ments In which l had worked in Straf.
ford aud in Portland. My opportunity
came when a merchant of STAFFORD
died, leaving his accounts rather mixed,
and the heirs were looking for some
young man who could take charge and
close up the business. After settling
the estate, l made The heirs an offer
for the business, and with Judge Har-
ris, an old friend as partner, who fur
nished most of the capital, we began
operations. Business was good with
me, and l established branch stores.
and was fairly prosperous. In 1948
came to the conclusion that | had
enough money and that it was time for
me to retire from active life. / bought
farm outside of STAFFORD and lived
there for seven years. l was married
at the age OF forty. In 1916, when l
was forty.four years old, some of nv
friends came to me to say that might
go to Congress If desired. / replied
that il my county was solid for me
would enter the canvass, but otherwise
L would not, as l did not want any
struggle. The leaders, at a meeting
held at the court house, agreed to stand
by me, and went into the convention
and was nominated with practical
unanimity. was a candidate on the
regular Wing ticket, but there was a
rival candidate, who, as Liberal, took
away many votes from me and I
squeezed through by the narrow margin
OF one hundred votes. Two years later
l was nominated without opposition
and secured majority of nine thou
sand at the polls. Since that day, am
happy to say. 1 have never been with
out the practically solid support of my
district and my State.
"After had served six years in the
House thought ought to decline fur
Their honors. The people of my district
were kind enough to say that l must re.
main in the House, and the first thing
the convention did was to pass resolu.
ton declaring that declnation would
not be received, and 80 1 remained in
Congress. The resignation of the men,
bers who joined the South at the out
break of the water left the WAYS and
means committee with many vacancies,
and was the ranking Republican.
Speaker Grow told me that as his State
was greatly interested in the tariff it
would be highly gratified if Thaddeus
Stevens, then in the prime of his career
very great man indeed, could have the
craftsmanship. l readily assented. I
was made, however, chairman of the
subcommittee in charge of the tariff
bill, with Winter Davis of Maryland
and William A. Howard of Michigan
as my colleagues. l had good deal of
aid, too, from Mr.. Stevens, and also
from George 81. Pendleton of Ohio,
who, though a Democrat, gave me
come most valuable advice in the prep
aration of such legal measures as the
income tax law and the tax on requests
and legacies. l recall that he said to
me, after he had worked with me over
the legal points of one of these bills:
There, Morrill,, l have helped you get
this bill into shape. Now 1 shall take
pleasure in voting against it,"
Mr.. Morrill, then added half-iokingly
that the bill was known as the "Morril
Tariff" name applied to it by the
Democrats to "give it bad odor."
Continuing his narrative, Mr.. Morrill,
said: 'In 1866 Senator Collamer died,
and the governor of Vermont wished to
appoint me in his place. l declined, as
l preferred to stand for election in the
regular way. Judge Luke P. Poland
of the State Supreme bench was accor-
dinghy appointed, and between us there
was little skirmish the next year for
the election. He retired before the bal
loting, however, and the seat was given
to me. From that day l have never
had serious opposition 1t is very pleas
ing to look back and feel that l have
never asked my State for reelection.
When the time has come for the re-
naming OF representative or senator /
have left the people free to choose, and
it is fact that never have written a
line to ask voter or legislator for his
suffrage. l have never spent money to
bring about my election. ~ Washington