Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-05

tees often spent money with a freedom
which bordered upon recklessness,
Knowing that the old man" would see
them out. For several years. the ex-
penses of the state central committee
In providing speakers, public d0cu-
ments, clerk hire and other items were
largely met by his donations. In fact.
it is said that in one campaign, notable
for the amount of work done by the
several committees, city, county, con-
Egresslonal, state and national, the
drains upon Mr.. Sawyer exceeded
$4,000.
Mr.. Sawyer's generosity is as well
known in Washington and New York
as it is in Oshkosh, and the national
committee vas as free to call upon
him as the local committees In the
campaign of 1892, in company with one
, of the candidates on the national ticket
he subscribed an amount of money
which enabled prominent western
man to take charge of the national
committees work and did much to-
wards carrying on an aggressive CAM
palgn. Several years ago, d western
man was nominated for con-
gress ir a doubtful district. He
hesitated about taking the nomination
He stated the case to Senator Sawyer
said he was poor, could not afford to
run, had no money, etc. Mr.. Sawyer
ahO Tbo
man made the run and was elected.
And this bigheartedness was never
blindly partisan or hide-bound in the
least. To show this his friends have
often laughed at an occurrence in Osh-
kosh several years ago. There had
been an exciting political campaign.
The democrats had put up a strong
hight and made many speeches. Chas.
Barber, Jim Merrill, c. w. Felker, Ed.
Wall and lot of the other boys, had
whooped it up in great shape with
marching clubs, banners and brass
bands, only to get ingloriously beaten.
After election they were the bluest lot
of politicians Oshkosh had ever seen.
The committee had a pile of bills tc
pay and no money. To raise money
for political purposes after election
was to pay for the deadest kind of a
dead horse. One of the committee
jokingly said he would TASK Sawyer to
help him. Greatly to his surprise Mr..
Sawyer gave him a check for the
amount the committee lacked.
This habit of freely giving did not
always lead to good results. Many
people jumped to the conclusion that
all they to do to get money was to ask
for it and the more they asked for the |
more they would get. Several years
since, the ex-senator was approached |
by member Of one of the Oshkosh |
churches for subscription. |
Mr.. Sawyer said he would see
about it and a few days later |
ne handed the pastor of the church
check for S25. Meeting the church
member few minutes afterwards, he
told the man of it. twenty-five dol
lars!" said the man. $50 that is all?
If l had been the one you gave it to, I
would have returned it," A church
in the northern part Of the
state applied to Mr. Sawyer by letter
for a subscription and he sent them a
check for S25. In few days The check
was returned iwth the message that
If you can't give more than that you
needn't give anything" Mr.. Sawyer
destroyed the check and wrote letter ]
thanking the committee for returning
it.
friend Of Mr. Sawyer, one who is T
familiar with the dead mans affairs. /
s authority for a statement Of the t
amount which has been given away by Z