Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-09
kA'[.lON|(IBSglRlIR'
Public Service Of the Distinguished
Iowa Diplomat, Now Min.
lister to China
Has Held Many Responsible Public
Positions, Majority Of Them
Being Unsolicited.

Being Unsolicited.
Congressional Career Was very Suc.
cessful-A Personal Friend
Of Mckinley.
Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, July 9.-Maj. Edwin H.
sConger, United States minister to
China. in whose fate the people OF this
city and state are especially interested,
has been a prominent figure in public
life for twenty years. He came to the
state in 1868, and altho he was gradu-
ate Of the Albany Law School and had
practiced law in Illinois, he engaged in
farming and stock raising in Madison
county. 1t was not long until he was
elected a member OF the board of SUI
pervisors in that county In 1874 he re-
moved to Dexter, Dallas county, and
opened banking house underline firm
OF Conger. Pierce & Co. Mr.. Pierce was
his sisters husband and 1t is their
daughter who is now with Minister
Conger in China. In 1877 Mai. Conger
was elected county treasurer of Dallas
county and while serving his second
term as county treasurer he was, in.
1880, nominated by the republicans and
elected state treasurer. holding the Of
flee two terms Of two years each.
In 1884 he was elected to the Forty
ninth congress from the Seventh dis
trict and was twice reelected, resign
ing in 1890 to accept the Brazilian mis-
sion at the hands of President) Harri-.
son. In this capacity he assisted in the
negotiations for and the operation of
the first reciprocity treaty under the
Mckinley tariff. that with Brazil. In
the discharge of this important duty he
was highly successful, SO much 80 that
he impressed himself upon the govern
ment and the people Of Brazil as a man
they We're willing TO trust. Naturally
conservative and being thoroughly in
| formed, not only of the resources of
| his own country, but Of the possibilities
Iof trade with Brazil. his representa-
lions were always found to be reliable.
When the republican party returned
to power in the spring of 1897 it was
conceded that Maj. Conger should re-
Turn to Brazil to complete the work he
had so well begun. During the year
1 which he spent in Brazil at this time
Minister Conger found ways to render
/ important assistance In the develop
1 ment of the commercial relations be-
tween the United States and Brazil.
! During his service In congress Mai.
1 Conger became the intimate personal
]friend of Maj. William Mckinley. of
tSOhio, and they occupied adjoining seats
4 in the house. When the Chinese puz-
4 zle began to appear in the eastern ho-
rizon President Mckinley looked about
4 him for man personally known to
\ himself who could be trusted in this
critical position. He thought of Maj.
! Conger and without hint from any
one offered him the Chinese mission in
1898. He did SO because he considered
Maj. Conger safe man who had diplo-
matte experience. good sense and a pro-
4 digious knowledge Of the interests OF
4 THE people of the United States.
i Mai. Conger's congressional career
i was most distinguished and useful
one. He was chairman of the commit
4 tee on coinage, weights and measures
and was a member of the conference
a committee that framed the Sherman
a silver purchase act of 1890. He was this
1 promoter of the "Conger pure lard bill
. that passed the house in 1890. but failed
4 in the senate. Among the most impor.
tant of his congressional services was
his successful effort to secure tht
4 transfer Of the weather service from
the war department to the department
of agriculture, which has greatly in
4 creased its efficiency and value to tht
farmers. He was always active in pen,
sion work and responsible for impor
tant amendments to the pension laws
Maj Conger has never been anything
but republican and has always beer
active in the party's service. He is re
garded as one of the strongest cam
paign speakers in the state and in 1S9
s was unanimously chosen to head TIL
!, electoral ticket for Mckinley. He mad
& a thorough canvass OF every congress
s:onal district in the state. maxim,
= fifty-seven speeches, and his work wa
some OF the most satisfactory and eft
II fective that was done in that memora
, BILE campaign.
t Political honors have usually com
, unsolicited to Maj. Conger. He ha
never at any time in his career me
!, with any strong opposition. No man il
r politics in Iowa has fewer enemies thai
5 he Altho he Is man of strong con
D victions and high moral courage, Ii
t has great sympathetic heart and n
one ever appeals to him in vain.
Mai. Conger comes OF good old revo
lutionarY stock. His great-grandfathel
James Conger OF New York. served i
. the Fifth Albany Company in the Ne,
York militia in the revolutionary wal
Maj. Congers parents We're Lorentus
Conger and Mary w. Hurd Conger, tn
!. latter of sturdy Vermont ancestr,
!, They came west at an early day an
: settled iii Knox county, Illinois. wher
! they accumulated a competence. Thei
son. Edwin H.. was born in Galesburt
March Z, 1913. In his boyhood II
worked on the home farm and learne
how ~Yalue is created by earning hi
own way in the world. attending tn
S district school and fitting himself fo
e college. He was graduated in til
5 classical course of Lombard Universt
II In 1862 and Immediately enlisted in tn
: One Hundred and Second Illinois II
: fantry. From time to time he was pro
= noted for various meritorious acts I
I first lieutenant and captain and wa
d 4 finally breyetted major "for gallant an