The Washington herald., 1906-11-06
Fifty Years in Public Life.


The record OF Gen. J. II. Ketcham. who
died the other day az his home IN New
York State, exempliies an interesting
:act which Americans do not seem ver
fully TO realize That is that their public
men serve them as long as do the public
men Of other nations serve their respec-
tive nations. Gen. Ketcham was elected
10 ONCE IN his home county Of Dutchess
when he was less than o years old. and
until he died he had held Office almost
continuously since 1S54 He was shifted
about from one public station 10 another.
giving four years Of his life to the army
IN the great war and coming out with
the rank Of brigadier general. His first
election to Congress occurred when he
was with Sherman on the march To the
sea. This he had 10 decline because he
did not desire TO quit the army al that
time. He was sent to Congress immedi-
ately after the war closed and was de-
feated only twice for reelection. During
part Of this interval he served as a mem
Der Of the Board Of Commissioners of the
District Of Columbia. For the past ten
years Gen. Ketcham was very deaf as a
result OF his service in the army. but
he never asked for special recognition on
this account. His service in the House
antedated that Of any other member. now
there. Speaker Cannon and Gen. Bing-
ham. of Philadelphia, being the only ones
entitled TO mention in the same class for
longevity Because Of his deafness. Ger.
hetcham was perhaps a more careful
reader Of the Congressional Record of
any Of his colleagues. He had to read the
Record scrupulOusly IN order 10 keen
abreast Of the proceedings of Congress.
Converted Weaver Once.
The preachers Of Philadelphia have
again gone to praying for the redemption
of the mayor of that town, the Hon. John
Weaver, from the clutches Of the gang
They tried the efficacy of prayer last year
with excellent effect. for the mavor then
deserted the gang" with which he had
trained in politics for many years and
came out fercely for the reformers. It Is
probably true. however, that Mavor
WeaveT's wifes prayers had more iDlu-
ence upon him last year than did the fer
vent appeals to the Throne of Grace made
by the clergymen in their sanctuarfes and
at religious mass meetings Philadefnhia
never saw so much political excitement as
that of last year. and the women of the
tSmh NSic lSdueIS III II ATS- W eaVer is Il
devoutly religious woman. and she foined
with members Of other churches in asking
the Lord to move her husbands heart go
that he would cooperate with the enabat-
tied forces Of reform in the municfnal
campaign. Mayor Weaver's record is
unique in more than one sense from the
Philadelphia viewpoint. He is an English
man by birth and development, and is one
of the very few men of foreign birtb-snd
everything is foreign TO Philadelphia that
lies beyond the borders OF Pennsylvania-
who have been elected to important Office
there in many years. He was a clerk in
John Wanamaker's store at first and
studied law at night. The old QUAY ma
chine made him district attorney and
mayor successfully, and after he had been
in the latter Office a few months he de-
serted the machine This did not occur.
however, until after Quay's death.