The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-02-13
HON. A. L. FRITZ FOR CONGRESS.

We announce this week the name
of Hon. Andrew L. Fritz of this
town as a candidate for Congress i'll
this, the 18TH district, composed OF
the counties of Columbia, Montour.
Northumberland and Sullivan.
From the experience which he has
had as Member of the Legislature
and other positions, he ha, shown
that he knows the interests of the
people, that he possesses the quail
ties and the will to faithfully dis.
charge every duty. Judging from
his past record he should make a
valuable member of Congress.
The following sketch taken from
Book of Biographies Of 18TH Con-
gressional District" gives more
fully his public career:
Hon. Andrew Lucius Fritz. OF
Bloomsbury, was born in Sugarloaf
township, Columbia County, Penn
sylvania, during the Revolutionary
War. They took all active part in
the scenes incident to that time.
His great grandfather, Philip Fritz,
moved with his son, our subject S
grandfather, to northern Columbia
County and purchased large tract
of land. Philip Fritz was the first
school teacher and Justice Of the
Peace of that part of the county.
According to history he was "a
great scholar and local public
character of more than ordinary in
fueuce."
Our subjects $ father, Jesse Fritz.
was farmer and he purchased and
lived upon the "old homestead, "
where ne was a Justice of the Peace
for number ofyears. The subject
of this sketch worked on the farm
in the summer and went to sch ool
in the winter, for number of years.
He went to several institutions of
learning and acquired thorough
academic education. He has always
been a laboroius student. He stud
led law with ex-United States Sena-
tor c. R. Buckalew, and has been
in active practice at Bloomsbury
since his admission to the bar. He
has large practice in Columbia and
adjoining counties, and has been
called to try cases before the Supreme
and the Superior Courts of this
State. When student at law, he
was appointed as deputy by three
sheriffs in succession, and had
charge Of the Sheriff S Office of Co.
lumbia county in the absence of the
Sheriff until his practice compelled
him to give up the position. He
has been receiver of taxes, town
auditor, solicitor Of the Bloomsbury
Poor District. and counsel of a
number Of III unicipalities, and he
was secretary of the Town Coun-
Gil for number Of years until he
resigned. Through these positions
and by his kind and obliging dispo-
sition he made many friends and be-
came we'll acquainted with the people
OF his section of the state.
In 1884 Mr.. Fritz was elected to
the Pennsylvania House of Repres-
entatives, receiving the highest vote
on the Democratic ticket. In 1886
he was renominated without opposi-
ton and was elected running ahead
of his ticket at the general election.
In 1891, he was elected as member
to the proposed constitutional con-
vention from the senatorial district
composed of the counties of Colum-
bia, Montour, Lycoming and Sulli-
van. He was again elected mem
Der Of the House Of Representatives
to the session of 1898, and was re-
nominated without opposition and
reelected in November 1894, for a
fourth term, which had never be-
fore been granted to person in this
section of the State.
During his last term he served on
the Ways and Means, appropriation
and Judiciary general committees
an honor given to no other memtel
of that session, that of serving or
the three most important commit
tees of the House. He was mem'
Der of the judiciary general commit
tee during his four terms of Office
In the session of 1895 he was The
Democratic nominee for speaker o
the House. In 1886 and in 1898 ht
received the nomination for Congress
from Columbia county, but at the
Congressional conference, composed
| of forr co,,ntiec he uae defeated FL,