The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-02-25
MEMoRY OF gupee spaINesR.
His Death Was Subject Of Resolutions
In Federal Court.
Special to Daily Leader.

I
Vinita, l. T., Feb 25.-Yesterday
was memorial day in the United States
court at this place on account of the
death of Judge William NJ. Springer
of Illinois, who was the first Judge Of
the United States court for The North.
ern district Of Indian territory.
In receiving the report of the com.
mittee on resolutions Judge Joseph A.
Gill said
In receiving the resolutions of the
committee | want to call attention to
one thing. It was Judge William NJ.
Springer's last, or among his last. re.
quests that he be buried in the ceme-
terry at Springfield one of the most
beautiful natural burial places that
there is on the face of the earth. He
desired but a short inscription upon
the stone that should mark his last
resting place; the date of his birth.
the fact that he had been a member
of congress from the Twelfth Illinois
district ami the fact that he had been
judge of the Northern district Of In.
dian territory.
1T is no simple honor to have pre-
sided over the vast domain and the
varied interests ala the varied socie-
ties that made up that great old North
ern district of which Judge Springer
was the first judge. He recognized
that this had been one of his chief
honors and he de5ired that It should
be known that he had received and
enjoyed that honor.
Life is a strange thing. AS a boy
| grew up in the old Twelfth Illinois
district and in going to and from my
school in the town Of Springfield | had
each day to pass Judge Sprnger's
home in that city, Twice each day for
many years passed his home, a beau.
tiful place, lying on West Jefferson
street, and that home was lost and
passed away from Judge Springer in a
fight for principle.
"At the close Of the war Judge
Springer, as | understood it, had ac-
cumulated some Of this worlds goods
and was considered quite we'll to do.
Lying on West jefferson street he had
his beautiful home. It comprised
some four or five acres Of hills COW
cred with an oak wood that grew com.
mon TO that country, and it was made
up of hills and valleys and in the
midst of trees he had a beautiful res
idence. His wife was an elegant lady
and possessed on literary attainments
that were of no ordinary degree. II
presume you have read her book call
ed 'Beechwooj' She had IN some of
her descriptions Of Beechwood, her
own beautiful home in mind. in It's
description of landscapes. Beech
wood was in contest in the courts for
many years. Judge Springer as
Democrat opposed the income tax that
grew out of the unhappy war condi-
tions, and the government sequester-
ed that home and compelled him to
pay that income tax. He fought the
case to the supreme court of the Unit
ed States and you will find that deci-
sion quoted in fun in 102 U. S. SUI
.preme court reports, whereby the ex-
ecution that was finally levied against
that home was upheld in the enforce
ment Of the income tax law.
81 allude to this to show you that
Judge Springer was a man who would
sacrifice in order to maintain a prin.
ciple. It would have been an easy
matter for him to have paid what was
comparatively a small income tax.
And yet TO defend a principle which
was right in his judgment, he sacri-
feed and lost not only thar beautiful
home but much Of his other accumula-
tions.
He served in the old Twelfth Hin.
DIS district well and faithfully in con-
gress for many years, and while, OF
course, grew up in fhe opposite par
ty TO him, and was always politically
opposed to him. can assure you that
during almost that entire time I heard
more Of Judge Springer, almost, than
Of the president, and never during his
congressional career did / hear his
honor and integrity questioned. He
was a forcible and witty speaker
do not know whether he ever mani
tested that disposition when he was
presiding in this district or not. but !
do know that way back in 1878, possi-
bly, little earlier when they were AL
tempting 10 revive the consulate bin.
Judge Springer made a speech in con-
gress that was respleDdent with
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