The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-16
CONGER'S PUBLIC CAREER
A Prominent Figure for the Last
Twenty Years.
Resident Of Iowa md Elected to
o. Congress for Several Terms From
That StEtc-Ninistert TO Brazil Du.-
ing Harrisnn's Administrations
Foreign Representatives in Pel<in.


Edwin II. Conger came OF good old Rayo-
lutionary stock. His at-grandfather
James Conger OF New York. served in
The Fifth Albany Company in the New
York militia in the Revolutionary War
Major Conger's parents were L. I. Congei
and Mary W. Eurd-Conger, the latter o.
sturdy Vermont ancestry. They went West
at an early day and settled in Knoa
County, ILL.,. where they accumulated &
competency. Their son, Edwin H., was
born in Gales5urg on March Z, 1S43. In hi.
boyhood he worked on the home farm and
learned how value is created by earning
his own way in the world, attending the
district school and fitting himself for col
lege.
He graduated in the classical course OF
Lombard University In 1862 and imme iately
enlisted in the One Hundred and Second
was promoted for various meritorious cc:s
to first lieutenant and captain. and vas
finally brevetted major for gallant ard
meritorious service on the field" He was
with the Army of the Cumberland in all
Its BATTLES from October, 1862, until the
close Of the war. He went with Sherman
on the famous march from Atlanta to the
sea, through the Carolinas and Virginia, to
Washington, and the grand review.
At the close rt the war he entered the
Albany Law School and after his graiua-
tion was married to Miss Sarah J. Pike. OF
Galesburg. ILL.,, whom he met student
In Lombard University. Major Conger be-
longed to the Masonic order and the Uni
yersalist Church.
He removed from Illinois to Iowa in 1865.
and although he had practiced law in Il
linois he engaged in farming and stock
raising in Madison County.
Banker in 1874.
It was not long until he was elected
member Of the board of supervisors OF
that county. In 1874 he removed to Dex-
ter, Dallas County, and opened bank
Ing house under the firm name OF Conger.
Pierce & Co. Mr.. Pierce was his sisters
husband. and their daughter was with
Minister Conger in China. In 1877
Major Conger was elected county treas
ursr CT Dallas County. and while serv-
ing his second term as county treasurer
he was. in 1885, nominated by the Re-
publcans and elected State Treasurer,
holding the Off.ce two terms.
In 1884 he was elected to the Forty
ninth Congress from the Seventh district.
and was twice reelected, resigning in
1890 to accept the Brazilian mission at the
hands of President Harrison. In this ca
pacity he assisted in the negotiations for
the operation OF the first reciprocity treaty
under the Mckinley tariff, that with Era
zil In the discharge CT this important
duty he was highly successful, SO much
SO that he impressed himself upon the
Government and the people OF Brazil as
a man they were willing to trust.
Naturally conservative, and being thor
eughiy Informed not only of the resources
Of his own country, but OF the possibilities
of trade with Brazil, his representations
were always found to be reliable. When
the Republican party returned to power in
the spring Of 1897 it was conceded that
Major Conger should return to Brazil TO
complete the work lie had SO well begun
During the year which he spent in Brazil
at thai time. Minister Conger found ways
to render important assistance in the de-
velcpment Of the commercial relations be-
tween the United States and Brazil.
During his service in Congress, Major
Conger became the intimate personal friend
Of Majcr Mckinley, Of Ohio. and they oc.
cupied adjoining seats in the House. When
the Chinese puzzle began to appear in the
about for man personally known to him.
self who could be trusted in this critical
position. He thought of Major Conger, and |
without hint from anyone. offered him |
the Chinese mission in 1898 He did SO |
because he considered Major Conger as the !
inan who had diplomatic experience, good |
sense. and thorough knowledge of the in
terests of the people of the United States.
His Service in Congress.
Major Conger's Congressional career was
Q most distinguished and useful one. He
was Chairman of the Committee on Coin
age, Weights, and Measures, and a mem
Der of the conference committee that
framed the Sherman Silver Purchase act OF
1890. He was promoter of the Conger Pure
Lard bill. that passed the House in 1890
but failed in the Senate. Among the most
important Of his Congressional services was
bis successful effort TO secure the trans
fer Of the weather service from the War
Department to the Department of Agri-
culture which has greatly increased its
and value to the farmers.
He was always active in pension work
and was responsible for important amend
ments to the pension laws Major Congor
was never anything but Republican, and
was always active In the party's service.
He was regarded as one Of the strongest
speakers IN Iowa In 1880, and
was unanimously chosen TO head the cleo
toral ticket for Mckinley. He made
thorough canvass of every Congressional
district in the State. making fifty-seven
speeches and his work was among the
most satisfactory and effective that was
lone In that campaign.
Political honors usually came unsolicited
10 Major Conger. He never at any time
IN his career met with any strong oppo-
,ition. No man In politics in Iowa had
'ewer enemies than he. Although he was
man Of strong convictions. and high
moral courage. he had sympathetic heart
md no one ever appealed to him in vain. I
Other Foreign Representative.
Col. Sir Claude Maxwell Macdonald.
irea. Britain's representative at Pekin. {
he son Of a general in the British army,
was born In 1852. He was educated at
uppingham and the Royal Military Col
eye, Sandhurst, and entered the British ,
lrmy In 1872. Ten years later as major ,,
lie took part in the Egyptian campaign.
medal for his conduct at the
,attle OF Tel-el-Kebir Later on he took
art in the Sualin expedition. being pres
Mt at the battles OF Ell Teb and Tamai, in r
he latter of which he was wounded. For /