The National tribune., 1908-03-12

in the fighting on the Peninsula, and
then was promoted to Major of the 5tt
VT. His health broke down and he had
to return home but he soon came back
to the field as Colonel of the 18th VT.
one of the nine-months regiments in
Stannard's famous brigade. AS his regi-
ment had been assigned to train duty g
participate with the rest of the brigade
in the wonderfully effective work 1t die
on the flank of Pickett's charging col
umn at that great battle.
At the conclusion of his service he re-
turned to Rutland and the practice ol
farming was more to his taste, and tool
up his residence on his land near the
town In 1869 he became interested ir
the development of the marble business
in Vermont, and the astonishing growth
of that industry was in no small meas
ure due to his energy and high business
capacity. He first began as receiver fol
the Sutherland Falls Marble Co., which
had got into bad shape. He straight.
ened up its affairs, put the company or
its feet, put his own money all into it
and at once began business career o
panies were consolidated with it into tn,
Vermont Marble Co., with Col. Proctor
as president, and it is now much tht
largest marble producer in the United
States if not in the World
In the meantime he kept up his in
terest-in politics andin the Grand Army
and was elected repeatedly to the Yer
mont House of Representatives and thu
Senate, serving for three years as Presi
dent pro TEN of the Senate. Next h
was two years Northumberland, ant
then was elected Governor. Severa
times he was sent as delegate to the Re
publican National Conventions, an,
when President Harrison came in Gov
Proctor was appointed his Secretary o
War. This position he resigned in 189
to become Senator from Vermont, sue
ceeding George F. Edmunds. When II
the Senate he Immediately began t
grow in power and influence, as he hat
| in other stations which he had occupied
and for years he was recognized as on
| of the soundest, safest and most pro
gressive leaders of the Senate. Will
not an orator and never attempting any
thing more than a clear, calm business
like statement of any proposition. ther
was no man in the Senate who wa
i listened to with more attention no
whose words had more weight
1t was on account of this standing i
the Senate that in the critical time
preceding the Spanish War Presider
Mckinley selected him to go to Cubs
lostensibly on pleasure trip, but reall
10 ascertain for the American peopl
precisely what were the condition
there. The report of what he saw wa
waited for with intense interest by tn
people, who resolved to form their cor
clusions absolutely upon what he shoul
say. 1t is not often in the history of tf
country that any speech was listened I
with closer attention than the calm, ur
: impassioned, but wonderfully forcefl
: statement that he made to the Senat
Il
2 peals 10 sentiment, prejudice or a pa
I tisan feeling, but every word meant vo
4 umes and sank deep into the hearts
, his countrymen. Senator Frye said tn;
e the speech was like the testimony of
|. witness, and it was believed as abs
h lutely as if Senator Proctor had he
d up his hand and sworn to it. After tn
n speech the people really decided to
20 war, and they did so with q unanim
ty that startled the world.
a Senator Proctor maintained to Il
h last a deep interest in his comrades
the war He was always generous
n helping along the Grand Army of 4
n Republic. and no veteran who went
10 him for assistance left him empt
n handed. In spite of his overwhelmil
n duties, official and business, he was
= frequent attendant at Grand Army gat
.r erings, and was always greeted wi
: enthusiasm His dry, sententious, eI
,fl gramatic speeches, full OF point and d
,t iivered with 4ohint Yankee dra,
r were always a delight. What he sa
Y. was sure to be intensely interesting a
" the way he said it captivating.
l. A great and good man has fallen
Israel