The colored American., 1902-10-18

virus and the madness of fiat coinage
by a hypOdermic injection of Organism,
an issue was presented which, to COM
bat successfully, called for the highest
quality of statescraft, as the promoters
of the new policy were alert, adroit, aud
persistent Most active among the
younger rsen who thrust their lives and
budding fortunes into the breach at this
critical juncture was Jesse Overstreet,
then a promising attorney in the city of
Franklin, Johnson County. He was
valiant, ambitious, and capable. and had
imbibed the true essence of Republican,
ism from the teachings of such sterling
advocates as Henry S. Lane, Oliver P.
Morton, Richard w. Thompson, Thomas
NJ Brown, Benjamin Harrison, and
showed rare executive possibilities in the
political trenches with the later forces OF
HoSierdom's forensic giants like James
N. Huston, l.. T. Michener, John c.
New, Albert J. Beveridge, and Charles
Warren Fairbanks.
Nothing daunted by the superior ex-
perience and apparently unlimited re
sources of the enemy, Mr.. Overstreet
joined with a galaxy of enthusiasts, and
by a dash and brilliance peculiarly hls
own, coupled with natural genius tor
handling large questions, he became the
natural leader of the sound money move
ment in the State. He accepted the Con
gressiOnal nomination, and overriding
the most eXasperating obstacle, achieved
a glorious triumph in the struggle Tor
the defense of the nations integrity III
1896.
Mr. Overstreet's career III detail IS OF
interest to every American youth as an
=,
courage. He is unto the manor born,
as relates to Hoosierdom, having been
ushered into existence III 1859 III Frank
lin. which, until his removal SIX years
ago to indianapolis, was his home and
the scene of his early endeavors. He
received a common school and collegiate
education, and was admitted to the bar IN
1890. He was elected to the Flfty-tourtn
Congress in 1894, and has been reelected
to each subsequent Congress, increased
majorities evidencing his firm hold upon
the confidence and respect of the people
who were proud TO be his constituents.
Mr.. Overstreet's career in Congress
has been a source of qualification TO his
friends, and his wider field for action has
developed a grade of abilities not pre-
viously understood, even by his intimate
acQuaintanceS. Nothing was too difficult
for him TO attempt a solution. ard his
inherent sagacity and unCeaSing industry
soon indicated to the observing ones
that a new Richmond had entered the
field to stay He is close student OF
political economy, and there is no mem
Der of the House who is III command OF
a reader fund of information upon imam
cial problems than he. This made him
the established champion of the gold
standard principle, and pushed to sue
ceSSful passage the monetary reform bill
which is now the legal safeguard of the
nation against all encrOachments of the
free coinage fallacy. 1t is a law upon
which the Republicans can go to the
people and set it forth as a sufficient
guarantee that our credit is "gilt-edged''
in any quarter of the globe. The versa
tile Indianian has made a number OF
speeches upon this and kindred subj JeCtS,
and upon each occasion he has added to
the favorable impression created IN his
first term, holding the attention and
evoking the applause of the ableSt veter-
ans in congressional debate. On the
tariff issue he is of a cOnSerVa3 We ADJUST
ment of schedules that will afford the
necessary protection to American manu-
facturers and at the same time prevent 4
dangerous competition OF foreign cheap
labor which would lead to a reduction IN
the present generous rewards of honest
toll. He IS opposed to an agitation that
would unsettle prosperous business con
ditions and drive capital into hiding. He
is against unlawful combinations that
squeeze the people, but believes that due
encouragement should be granted to cor
porations that benefit the country and by
large investments lessen the cost of pro
duction, bringing commodities within the