The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-18
CONGRESSMAN A. A. WILEY.

CONGRESSMAN 4. 4. WILEY. The Second Congressional District has sustained heavy less in the death of consressman A. A. Whey To the County of Montgomery the death of Congressman wiley is an especially severe blow.
 He was at the height of his powers. His capacity for labor was never high CT. HIS field of usefulness was never wider. Disease overlook him at the greatest period of his career. He was accomplishing more for his people than he had ever done before and from them there was going to him fuller and better appreciation of his iabors for his State and his district
 Colonel Wiley was peculiarly quail fled by training, temperament and ca- pacity for the discharge of congress sional duties. It has been said of him that nature fitted him to be a Con- gressman. A successful lawyer. one whose practice paid him much more than congressional salary. he chose to follow public career. He loved his fellow men, he loved to be among them and among their activities. Public life was the only outlet of his inex- haustible energy.
 His energy was perhaps his most notable characteristic. His chief hap piness was in work and action. He could not have been contented with nor could he have borne quiet but Idle life. For him always there was hap piness only when he was out in the world playing a mans part and doing a mans work.
 Possessed of high capacity it was inevitable that he should achieve dis tinction. Distinction must come of union of energy and ability and in coi- onel Wiley they were undeniably unit ed. A fine lawyer. an eloquent speaker and a lover of his kind 1t was only natural that he should go into public life in preference to winning a con- tinued success in the less strenuous contests at the bar. His splendid ad. dress was only part of the equip ment which made his public career so successful, but it was notable part. He was among the most influential members Of Congress- from the isouth. From an unfriendly administration he wrested faxors which sstonished his fellow members of Congress. HIS pol ish and his diplomacy stood him in good stead in the discharge of those peculiar duties. which are part of a successful congressional career. Ia the departments or on the floor of Con- gress he was capable. efficient and con- fident. His influence grew stronger with each year and finer field of use- fulness had opened for him when death closed his career.
 Montgomery feels keen personal loss. For more than generation, since he was mere boy, he has been part of the life of the city. He was more than an active and useful eiti- zen. He was . sympathetic neighbor and kind friend. In his relation to his fellow men his life expressed the highest ideal of eharttY1 He lived and practiced charity. No friend--no man, fell lower than his sympathetic charity.
 He was generous to fault. So un- stinted was this generosity that his friends have had, to renonstrate with him. but to little purpose, He went through life strong, capable. optimistic. confident of his own power. fearing no future and with an open hand for all who asked. ~ 5s-s~
 A useful life, a fruitful life. has end- ed. Montgomery will miss him sore ly and miss him as she has missed but few men in her history.