The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1909-10-30
{. ]. BOWERS AND
SPLENDID RECORD
MERIDIAN STAR PAYS DESERVED TRIBUTE
TO OUR DISTINGUISHED CONGRESSMAN

| twenty | lhree-Seven Years in C0ngresS-Se-
cured More and Larger Appropriations for Hi
District for RIVER and Harbor Work Than AL
| His Predecessors Together.
Among the younger men in the pub
lie service of Mississippi who have
achieved merited eminence and who
give assurance that the place of the
elders in craftsmanship will be occu-
pied by worthy successors none stands
more conspicuous than Eaton Jackson
Bowers, Representative in Congress
from the coast district of the State,
to which place he was elected seven
years ago and has filled with such con-
spieuous ability and fidelity to duty
ever since that it is generally assumed
that none will ever contest that honor
with him in any serious attempt to de-
feat him for reelection by his constitu-
ents who, the better they have come to
know him the more they love and trust
him for brave, strong man with clear
apprehension of his duty and purpose
resolutely to perform it.
He did not need to go to Congress to
earn such reputation, but there he has
conspicuously and strongly confirmed it..
He entered the public service of his ma
tive State and was factor to be recog-
nized and reckoned with in politics at
an age when most young men are be-
ginning to consider their avocatio1S
and the direction OF their carer.rs IN
life. When he was twenty-thr vaa ro
old he was made a presidential elector
an honor coveted at any time Of life bv
men of distinction.
In 1892, upon the retirement of Cant.
Frank Burkitt from the electoral ticket.
because he had joined the Populist
party, the state Executive Committee.
ia recognition of the brilliant Young
Democrat on the Coast, substituted his
name to fill that honorable vacancy.
And this incident ftrst gave Mr.. Bow
ers an opportunity to becoraes acquainted
with the peoTl0 Ct The State. He felt it
incumbent upon him to carry the stand
ard OF the party, whose colors he wore,
into the thiQkeso of the fight, and where
ever the battle ragged fiercest between
Democracy and Populism he was seen
foremost in the fight, everywhere com
pelling the applause and admiration of
those who followed in his brave and
lchivalrous career. The office of presi-
Dental elector did not involve this obh-
cation; hut his strong sense of party
fealty impelled it, and thai appealed to
all men who observed it.
AS the logical result of this splendid
service the young man who had never
before sought any preferment at the
hands OF his party was, in 1895, elected
to the State Senate. where he served
until the year 1900 and in that body
promptly commanded tue recognition to
which his demonstrated abilities enti-
tied him in being made chairman of the
committee on constitution and gained a
commanding influence in that body.
In 1902 ne became a Represen tative
from Hancock county in the lower
branch OF the State Legislature, and
his service there, as chairman of the iu-
dietary, is a matter of State history.
In the same year he resigned this State
service to accept nomination to Con-
gress and entered on the national SER
vice the following year.
And here, in this wider field, began
that splendid service that has given him
State and national reputation. His
abilities commanding instant reeogni-
ton, he promptly took his place among
the leaders OF MS party and was made
member of the National Democratic
Committee during his first term, and
subsequently was appointed chairman of
the subcommittee Of that important
body which had to deal with the de-
tails of party management.
In 1904 he was sent as a delegate to
the National Democratic Convention
and delegate to the convention of 1903,
at which time he was honored with the
distinction OF being made chairman of
tae committee on platform and resolu-
tons
during his service IN Congress Nj.
! Bower Aaa secured for his district lar