The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27
EULOGIES IN THE House
Representatives Pay Tribute to the
Memory of Senator Gear.
Mr. Hull Speaks of the Gentle Quail
ties of the Distinguished Iownn-
MIR. Hedge Says He Was n True
Type of the American-Nr. Lnnhnm
Says He Was an ArtIcss Public Man

The House of Representatives devoted
one hour yesterday to eulogies upon tn,
life and character OF John H. Gear, lat,
Senator from Iowa. Addresses were de.
livered by Messrs. Hedge Lacey, Hull
Lanham, Grosvenor. Richardson of Ten
nessee, Steele, and Dalzell.
Mr.. Hepburn called up the special order
and Mr.. Hedge addressed the chair. He
said in part Mr.. Speaker, as only the
colleagues and companions of John Henry
Gear can properly and justly measure his
service and Ak his place in the House OF
Representatives, l shall, in my few
words, venture only to mark out some OF
the qualities as private citizen, as a
neighbor, and friend: to bear witness to
that attachment for his person. that con-
sdeace in his high purpose and in his
mental and moral power with which his
people of the First district OF Iowa fol-
lowed him to the end
Il do not know where to look for a
truer type of the American: his birth. his
breeding, and his own experience Joined
to build him up into nothing less. His
Puritan ancestors dwelt in Old England.
and then for five generations in New Eng
land-a vigorous God-fearing law-abiding
line His father, an Episcopal clergyman,
had been sent by his church as a mission
airy to tie Indians, and was dwelling
among the remnants of the Five Nations
where now is ithaca. when, on April T.
1926. John Henry Gear was born.
Il shall not say that he was ever too
good for human natures daily food He
hold the affection OF any true man, and
ever good enough TO win the confidence of
any child.
He had learned to labor and 10 watt
was faithful to the common round, the
daily task He was sane minded. He saw
no ghosts or phantasms. His feet were
planted on the solid ground. He believed
in the wisdom Of the ages, and held to the
arithmetic, the copy book, the ten COM
mandments and the sermon on the mount.
He was persuaded that every man had
been sent into the world TO serve The
world, and so believing, his every day was
marked not only by usefulness, but by its
own benefcence.
His human kindness embraced all those
in need of kindness-not only the worthy
and deserving, but that class most in need.
the unworthy and unthankful."
Mr.. Hull. in addressing the Chair. said:
d
century ii was my privilege to have in
the person of John Henry Gear a friend
During that time / learned to love him |
first knew him intimately during his con-
neetion with the General Assembly of
Iowa in 1872. In common with the other
citizens of Iowa l recognized during the
first few weeks of that session that a new
and powerful and dominant factor had en-
tered public life. l was associated with
him then and in the succeeding session
when the two parties in Iowa were evenly
balanced in the house. each having fifty
members, his party selecting Represen-
tative Gear as their candidate for speaker
Il believe l am safe in saying that every
citizen Of Iowa recognized that there was
no other man on the Republican side who
could have broken what was known as our
Legislative deadlock and the universal
feeling among all the members who had
served with him in the preceding Legis-
lature that he was absolutely fair and
entirely honest was the only thing that
made It possible for him to be elected
Speaker of the Iowa House the first time.
His course in the Legislature during his
three terms of service was of such a
character that the people of Iowa without
regard to party recognized him a an able
and honest and industrious public servant.
"One element of his strength was his
approachability. No divinity hedged him
around, but every citizen could meet and
talk with him and lay before him his
grievance or his wants without any in
termediary. Every child that met him