Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-02-17
SENATOR THORPE ADDRESSES
SENATE AT GIBBS MEMORIAL

L. 0AOOSs a. OIlS Cl1ue LIEUTENANT
governor of the state, who passed
away at his home at Owatonna Nov.
%, 1908. Senator Thorpe was one
Of the speakers, and his remarks
are reported as follows:
with but very few exceptions,
there is sorrow and mourning when
a member Of the human family pas
ses away. Those nearest by family
ties or association feel the loss more
keenly. while in broader sense,
the death of any good person is a
loss to all. We that are intrusted
with the law-making power become
more or less intimately acquainted
as we are together daily for several
months. During the session the
different ideas or policies are har-
monized where possible, and when
this cannot be done, the differences
must be argued, explained and set
tied by majority vote. The VIC
torious and vanquished meet again,
probably the same day in commit
tee or in open session to consider
and act on entirely different prob
lens and groupings made again on
different lines, and so the shifting
positions continue. Is it any Won
der, then, that when death calls a
member of this family away from
our midst or one that has presided
over this branch of the Legislature
as Lieutenant Governor is called,
that we mourn and reverently place
a wreath to his memory?
1.-The constantly changing per-
Sonell of the Senate by death, volun-
tary retirement or otherwise, is
wildly called to mind when we
know that only two members of the
Senate presided over by honest John
L. Gibbs in 1897 are members of
the Senate today, and only one of
those two has been in continuous
service since that time. By chang
ing Tennyson trif1e, we can say:
That men may come and men may
go. but the State goes on forever.
We will not, however, get lost in
contemplation over the ravages of
death and the loss and sorrow incl
dental thereto. but rather take a
more cheerful view. We think of
the great work done by the sturdy
man who has faithfully guided the
destinies Of the State in the past,
and among those in the foremost
ranks we place Governor Gibbs.
He could not be said to be brilliant
as the term goes, but rather excel
led in what we term common sense,
rugged honesty and keen realiza-
tion that the public business was
his business in common with all
good citizens. In addition, he was
kindly disposed, and when it was
found necessary to refuse commit
tee appointment or other favor de-
sired, it visibly panied him and
every effort not in conflict with the
public interest was made to satisfy
and harmonize. One of the most
difficult tasks of a presiding officer,
having the privilege of appointing
committees, is to satisfy the just
demands of the public and still to a
degree satisfy the individual ambi-
tions or desire of the members. In
this John l.. Gibbs was eminently
successful. All respected and
obeyed his rulings because he was
just. Being especially interested
in farming, he would naturally fur
Their everything that tended to e'e-
vate and improve the condition of
the tillers of the soil. His sense
of fairness, however, forbade him
to advance one interest or industry
at the expense of another. To
briefly characterize him, would
say that he was an American type
of Country Gentleman.
Not for to hide it in a hedge
Nor for a trained attendant,
But for the glorious privilege
Of being independent. "