Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-30
er, he became known as an advocate of the
principles of the free soil party.
First Political Office

err he became known as an advocate of the
principles of the free soil party.
First Political Office.
In 1851, when twenty-five years of age,
he was elected to the Massachusetts legis-
lature, and in 1857 he was elected to the
state senate. He declined Il reelection as
he did an election as mayor of the city of
worcester. For many years he declined to
consider his nomination for Congress,
when 1t was easily within his grasp, and
When MS election would have followed as
a matter of course and without trouble to
him. In later years he occasionally refer
red with pride to the fact that he never
iiIted MS hand nor took the slightest ac-
ton to secure preferment for office
When the war broke out Mr. Hoar was
suffering from trouble with his eyes and
consequently took no part in that struggle.
his impaired eyesight caused him to be
sent to Europe.
He was elected to Congress in 1Stiy hay-
ing been nominated while abroad He told
his friends that at the end of his term he
would lay down the cares of TIE Office with
the same cheerfulness with which he h d
assumed them. He felt that h S service in
Congress was merely a s.c-itice of his am
bition to pursue the law. He was, how
ever, elected to three other successive Con-
crosses, and after eight years spent in the
House of Representatives he declined a re-
nomina ton and became an overseer of Har-
ward College, which place he filed from
1874 to 1889. He declined a reelection at
the end of his term as overseer, but was
again elected in 1895 and in 1850 H s in
tereSt in Harvard University has been con-
tinuous. and at the time Of his death he
president of the association of the
alumn of Harvard.
Senator Hoar has many times presided
over the Massachusetts state republican
conventions. In 1871 he filled that i'm
portant position for the first time, and
again in 1877, in 1882 and 1885.
Ha dppp9 the national reDuD-
lcan convention In 1876 at Cine nnatf and
of 1880. 1884 and 1888 at Chicago. presiding
over the convention of 1850 He was chair
man of the Massachusetts, delegations in
1880. 1884 and 1883.
Took Part in Impeachment Trials.
On the occasion of the Belknap impeach-
ment trial in 1876, Mr.. Hoar was one of the
managers on the part of the House of Rep
resentatives. He was also a member OF
the electoral commission in 1876.
Mr.. Hoar was elected to a seat In the
United States Senate to succeed George s.
Boutwell,, March ), 1877, and has been
kept in that body continuously ever since.
His term of Office would have expired
March 8. 1907, but no one ever questioned
that the Massa chusetts legislature would
have kept him in the Senate as long as he
would continue to serve in that body.
Despite the fact that he was frequently,
especially in late years. not in harmony
with the political thought of a large part
of the people of his state, no one ever sug-
gested the possibility Of that fact affecting
mis- hold on his seat in the Senate.
Committee Service.
Senator Hoar's chief committee service
while in the Senate has been on the COM
mittees the judiciary and on privileges
and elections The committee on the judici-