The Washington herald., 1908-03-05
SENATOR PROCTOR
ANSWERS SUMMONS
Continued from Page One

Proctor had undoubtedly remained the
wealthiest man in the upper branch OF
Congress.
Senator Proctor had more than 81. ZOO.
coo invested in Washington real estate.
Among his holdings are: Champlain apart
ment, in X street between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Union Building, warder
Building. Kellogg Building. and another
apartment. His latest investment in
Washington was the purchase OF the
property at Fifteenth and l streets north
west, and for which he paid about 81 q
foot.
There are few men who could nave
taken UP the mantle OF the late Senator
Edmunds and worn it with more grace
than Senator Proctor Tie latter entered
the Senate with the experience OF two
important executive positons-that OF
governor of Vermont and Secretary of
War. His presence in the Senate was
for quite while conspicuous on account
of the absence of his predecessor in that
body, but he soon forged into prominence
as man OF strong character. master OF
details and OF men, a shrewd reasoner.
and a plain. convincing talker To his
wealth, accrued through the ownership
and control OF the fast marble auarries
OF Vermont he added mental and moral
worth-the brain and stamina that mark
the successful New Englander.
Came from His Quarries.
The marble used in the House and Sen
ate Office buildings came from the quar-
ries owned by Senator Proctor.
He was a typical New Englander in
manner and mode Of thought. and was
as rugged as an oak. mentally and physi-
csally, and az the time OF his death was
ninth in rank in point OF continuous serv-
lee in the Senate, having entered that
body November 2. 1891. 10 serve out the
uneNpired term Of Senator EdmundS. and
on October IS. 1892. he was elected by the
Vesnont legislature to fill both the unex-
pired and the full terms He was elected
October is, 1898. TO succeed himself for the
term beginning March I. 1899. and re-
elected October Is. 1904. and his term OF
service would have expired March 3. 1911
The only Senators outranking him IN
point OF service We're Allison, Of Iowa,
who on Tuesday rounded out his thirty
fifth year IN the Senate. Hale OF Maine:
Frye, OF Maine; Aldrich, Of Rhode Island:
Culiom, OF Illinois; Teller, OF Colorado;
Daniel. OF Virginia; Gallinger. OF New
Hampshire. and Hansbrough. Of North
Dakota. the two latter being tied for
eighth place in point OF service
The Senate has rapidly been undergoing
changes IN recent years. and this IS per-
haps not better illustrated than by the
fact that Senator Beveridge, OF Indiana,
who was only a few years ago the young
est and newest acquisition TO that body.
to-day stands only twenty-ifth In point
OF continuous service at the age Of forty
five.
Senator Proctor was born at Proctor
vile. VT. June /. 1881, and was graduated
from Dartmouth College. and from the
Albany Law School. lie served as a
lieutenant and quartermaster In the Third
Regiment OF Vermont Volunteers. on the
staff OF Mai Gen. William r, "Baldy''
Smith. and was major Of the Fifth and
colonel Of the Fifteenth Vermont Regi-
ments. Immediately after the war; he
was a member of the Vermont house Of
representatives in 1861. 1865. and 1855 He
was a member of the Vermont senate,
and president pro tempore Of that body
In 1874 and 1879. In 1876 he became lieu
tenant governor OF the Green Mountain
State, serving In that capacity until 1873
when he was elected governor for two
years.
Delegate to Convention.
IN 1854 Mr.. Proctor was delegate 70
the Republican national convention which
named Blaine and he was chairman Of
the Vermont delegations for the conven-
tions of 1855 and 1896 In March. 1889, the
late President Harrison appointed him
Secretary OF War. Mr.. Proctor had dis
tinguished himself in the field and knew
the science Of fighting well II was on ac-
count of his distinguished military serv-
ice and his shrewd Yankee acumen that
President Mckinley selected Senator Proc
tor TO go to Cuba IN the early part Of
1898 for the purpose Of looking over the
ground and noting the situation.
II was understood that the Senators s
visit was not official, yet nobody pre-
tended that mere pleasure or idle curl
osisy prompted it Mr. Proctor was a
shrewd man-none shrewder In fact-and
he knew enough about war to make his
opinion on the Cuban rebellion valuable
70 the Mckinley administration.
When President Lincoln called for
troops Col. Proctor offered his services as
a private soldier. but he soon distim-
guished himself in action.
Senator Proctor returned TO Key West
from Havana on March 10. 1895. and hur-
ried 20 Washington 10 make his report to
the President. Seven days later. on March
Il. 1888. Senator Proctor made his notable
statement to the Senate of his ObSerVa-
tions on the island. From many points
that statement was remarkable. It had
evidently been most carefully prepared.
Every element Of sensat tionalism had been
studiously eliminated from il. and. except
so far as the facts recited were sensa-
tional. it bore not the slightest evidence
OF an effort To arouse the public mind.
already keenly alive to the condition of
affairs on the island
a Convincing Statement,
Every statement made by Senator
Proctor was with that clearness ard pre-
cision which characterize the accurate
demonstration OF a problem in mathe-
mates. Calm and dispasSionate 10 a no.
table degree. the utterances OF Senator
Proctor on that occasion aroused a
breathless interest Every person within
the sound OF his voice was convinced that
he was putting his observations into care
full terms. lest he might subject himself
to the criticism of being emotional One
of the best Characterization of the state
ment was made by Senator Frye. a few
minutes after it's delivery.
1T is he said, 'just as II Proctor had
held M his right hand and sworn 70 il.
THAT was the impression the statement
made upon the Senate. He described the
misery existing in Cuba, the scenes in the
devastated island. and confirmed all the
reports of wretchedness and
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