The sun., 1902-03-09
GALUSaA A. GROWS CAREER.
AT 50 HE rs NOW CLOSING ITS
SECOND CHAPTER.

on Him by Keitt Of South Caroiina
Uis Connection With the Home
stead Law Honors Paid 10 Him.
WASHINGTON, March s.-With the retire
ment OF eI-Speaker Grow at the close OF
the present Congress there will disappear
from the arena OF public affairs one OF its
most picturesque figures. He is now closing
q second period OF service In the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES separated from the hrst
nv n lapse OF nearly third Of century,
IN which respect his memorable career Is
unique.
II he fulfrs present expectations based
pnon personal appearance, he will retire
AZ the are OF four-score years with all his
natural forces undated, still erect, hearty
and vigorous. both in mind and body. he
Is on the floor daily. alert to all proceedings
but seldom taking part in them
When he does take part in the proceedings
a. il an intelligent, pertinent part and
.bould there be any lack Of attention when
he rises. he IL fully able 70 command H. hls
voice being still one Of the most remark
able things about this remarkable man.
When he entered the House Of Representa-
tiyes he was the youngest member of the
body. When he takes his final departure,
ne will be the oldest member.
Galusha A. Grow was born AT Ashford,
now Fastford Windham county, Conn,
August 81, 1928. the youngest son in family
of six children His father died when he
was 2 Years old and when he was 10 his
mother removed 10 Susquehanna county,
Pa which has since been his home.
Young Grow had the common experience
Of BOYS in his day and generation. working
l., Ia and attending
common school in the winter. This con-
tinued until 1897, when he entered Franklin
Academy, AZ Hartford, Susquehanna
county, and began regular course OF
study
Three years later he matriculated in the
freshman class at Amherst College,
being graduated with high honors in due
course in 1874 Returning home he read
law with F. B. Streeter of Montrose. Pa.
Admitted TO the bar In ls47. Mr.. Grow
formed a partnership in the following year
with David Wilmot, then the member Of
Congress from that district, and known
In political history as the author Of the Will
mot Proviso. a measure intended 20 prevent
the spread of slavery.
Possibly through his relations with Mr..
wimot. possibly because Of the natural
bent of his mind. or perhaps by reason OF
the influence Of the stirring times in which
he lived, Mr.. Grow got into politics, and his
ability being speedily recognized by his
fellow citizens he was unanimously nom-
mated for the Legislature in 1850, but he
declined A far more important office
was awaiting him.
The Democratic party in the district
was split over the burning issue OF the day,
and David Wilmot and James Iowrey
had been nominated for Congress by the
two wings They both withdrew eight
davs before the election and Grow was
nominated and elected. entering the House
March Z, 1881. the youngest member OF the
Thirty-second Congress.
He served six successive terms, the first
three as Froe Soil Democrat, the last
three as a Republican. Finally, in 1862,
new district having been formed under
the apportionment following the census
Of 1850 Of the counties Of Susquehanna and
Luzeme, the heavy Democratic vote OF
the latter overcame his majority N home
and he was defeated
After an absence Of thirty-one years,
Mr. Grow reentered the House as Congress-
man-at-Large from the State of Penn
syvania. filing a vacancy caused by the
death of william Lilly, and he has since con-
tinUed 10 represent his State. AT the cleo
tion in 1895 his plurality of 2s7.44o was the
largest ever given in any State of the Union
TO any candidate for any office.
In the interim he did not lose his interest
IN politics In 1864, 1884 and 1892 he was
delegate TO the National Republican Con-
vention and was chairman of the Republi-
can State Central Committee of Penn
syvania in 1888 Mr.. Hayes rendered
him the mission 10 Russia, which he de-
cined From 1871 10 1879 he was President
Of the International and Great Northern
Railroad Company of Texas.
Mr. Grow at once took Leading place
in the House upon entering Congress and
IN the Thirty-fifth Congress was the Re-
publican candidate for Speaker, being
defeated by James W. Orr Of South Caro-
lima In the Thirty-sixth Congress no party
had a clear majority and the Republicans
united with the anti-Lecompton Democrats
IN electing ex-Gov. Pennington Of New
Jersey a. Speaker.
But when the Thirty Congress
assembled in extra session on July T. 1861,
under the call of President Lincoln, Mr..
Grow was made Speaker. OF his service
in that elevated Office, which Mr.. Speaker
Reed described as having but one superior
and no equal" and OF the scene at the as
scmbling Of the House at that time, a record
has been left by the late William S. Holman
OF Indiana. Mr.. Holman said
At IL O'Clock onl the Fourth Of July,
1861. in response 20 the proclamation OF
President Lincoln. Congress assembled.
This city was a military camp. The hur-
ried movement of armed men, the cease
less notes Of the war drum, all told the sad
story, war is upon us
The basement OF this Capitol was a
depot Of military supplies and the whole
landscape tented field Entering this
hall at noon on that fourth day Of July,
1861 was an event long TO be remembered.
The galleries were packed with an anxious
aud excited multitude, but, alas, on this
hoor, how many chairs we're vacant
Even the old statesmen who had long
served in this House and we're devoted 20
the Union, who passed down the aisle and
handed up to the Speaker notice that they
had resigned their seats in the Thirty-sixth
Congress. and left this hall with bowed