Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-08
AN UNUSUALLY LARGE ATTENDANCE
EuIogy by Representative Bingham
of Pennsylvania.
WAS PRAISED BY OTHERS

nouncing of eulogies
! Recess having been taken until that hour
the services commenced at O'clock
| among those attending the services were
| Iex-RepreSentative Dockery of Missouri and
ex-Representative Coombs of New York,
who had been closely associated with Mr..
Harmer during their terms in Congress-
| The first address was by Gen. Bingham
of Pennsylvania, who is himself now
father of the House" Gen. Bingham re-
viewed the career of Gen. Harmer praising
| his ability. his devotion to duty and to his
friends and Ills amable good will toward
MS associates, and speaking most feelingly
! or the association between Gen. Harmer
ana ms colleagues in the House.
Tribute to Il Distinguished Citizen
| In this great hall, where our late coll
| league and associate Alfred c. Harmer,
with rare fidelity to his public trusts did
good work." General Bingham began. we
have assembled today to express a loving
and affectionate farewell and to pay tribute
| to distinguished citizen of Pennsylvania
late member Of this body, who for more
than a quarter Of a century held the con-
fdence of his immediate constituency tho
hlgh esteem of associate representatives, in
fourteen Congresses, and who, on the 6th
day of March, 1900, after a long and pain
full illness, passed away to join the un-
returning caravan, to where, beyond these
Voices there is rest.
He was born August s. 1873 in German
town, Pa. a township in the county Of
Philadelphia, which in later years became
a part of the city of Philadelphia. At an
exceptionally early age-before he was
twenty-five began his active business career
in independent enterprise. which developed
In short time into a large wholesale
tablishment.
In his young years-in fact we all know
even to the days nearing his final depart
ure-he was marked by handsome face,
commanding form and genial comradeship,
always cons picuous in the gatherings of his
friends and public assemblages.
In Philadelphia City Councils.
"At the age of twenty-one he was elected
a director Of the public schools of Ger
mantown, and few years later q member
of the city councils of Philadelphia-most
distinguished honors for very young
man. Although of the youngest, if not the
youngest of that body. by his watchful
care over the interests of his people, by his
sound Judgment and by his patient energy
he soon associated himself with and be-
came Of the leaders and strong men of
the city legislature.
About that time Philadelphia held stock
in the North Pennsylvania railroad to the
amount of S1,4C0.0C0. So great was the
confidence in his integrity that he was
elected three times by the councils of the
city director to protect and watch
over the interests of the city in the great
corporation.
IN 1SG0, as candidate of the peoples
party successor to the old whg party, he
was elected recorder of deeds for the city
of Philadelphia. He filled this important
trust with his usual fidelity and untring
industry, while during all the years of the
civil war he devoted much of his time and
active energy to the cause of the Union.
raising funds and equipping large numbers
of soldiers in the field.
Nominated for Congress.
'In the summer of 1870 he received the
nomination of the republican party for
Congress for the fifth Pennsylvania dis
trict, and was elected a member of the
Forty-thrd Congress. This was the be-
ginning of his long and useful congress
sional career, exceeded in the history OF
this body by but few men, and identified
with legislation as important as any quar-
ter of a century's work in the history OF
the nation.
From 1871 until the date of his death.
tventy-seven years of service. there was
but one Congress for which he met defeat,
and that occurred by reason of two republl-
cans antagonizing each other in the dis
trct the democratic candidate polled a
larger vote than either in district whose
normal republican majority was 1900.
An Industrious Member.
while Mr.. Harmer was recognized a
representative of positive force and ac-
cepted ability in the House, he rarely en-
tered upon general debate or word contests
Upon the floor. He was one-and there are
many of like character in every Congress
whose work and results aimed for were
reached in the committee room, contribu-
ton as valuable to good legislation as ora
tory or prepared argument. His commit
tee associates regarded him as a colleague
always punctual, full of industry, watchful
of the interests of his great state and in
dGstrial city, sound in judgment. clear in
the expression of his convictions. fearless
and aggressive, though most patient and
hi int yD.e1
poses, zeal and fidelity.
Friend of Soldiers and Their Widows.
1.-The records of the many Congresses in
which he served as representative will
show by his vote, that at all times he ex-
hibited good judgment, that he was true to
his party convictions. and that he was al
ways a patriot. To no division or part OF
his constituency did he show more faithful
solicitude and devote more personal labor
than to the soldiers and widows of our wars
since 1861. He made their claims and privi-
leges immediate and special. In every case
he wrote autograph letter to the claim
ant, with words of interest, sympathy and
hope He pressed these cases personally,
and never rested until a fair and just judg
ment was rendered. Every soldier and SOL
dier's widow among his people mourned
for him when he died They felt that they
had lost their best friend. I trust his hon.
orable successor will feel that in the obli-
cations that will press upon him, his rich
est legacy Will oe 10 take Up ana continue
Alfred C. Harmer's work for the old SOL
diers, their widows and orphans.
Four Notable Philadelphians.
"He was one OF group Of four men In
the House, all born in the city of Philadel-
phia, whose combined service reached the
aggregate of 112 years, commencing in 1861
and ending in 1900, two Of whom served
years, and two Of whom served
years. with but one Congress
wherein there was defeat: William D. kel-
ley, who served twenty-nine years contfnu-
ously; Samuel J. Randall, who served twen-
ty-seven years continuously; Charles OMEN,
who served twenty-nine years. and our Ia
mented colleague Of this Congress, Mr..
Harmer, who served tWenty-seven years
each OF the two iattsr with one Congress OF
defeat. All were exceptionally strong mens
fA4usnt1Al IN the House and possessing the