The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-05-04
EDWARDS TIBUTE TO GRIGGS
~ First District Representative at Memorial Exercises
in of the Late Congressman From the Second Dsr.

senate When the news of his death
winch occurred at his home at DaW-
son, Ca, on January 5, 1910. was
mashed to Washington over the wires.
AS member of the great ways and
means committee of the house, the
most important committee of the
mouse, Judge Griggs had worked
very hard while the tariff bill was
Delng framed and passed in the ex-
ira session of congress, and became
somewhat rundown in health and
strength. He returned to Washing
ton last December, however, at the
opening of the present session, and
seemed well and strong again. He
lett here on December 18th for his
home, where he spent the holidays,
and was at home at the time of his
death. His sudden death was a
great shock and a sad blow to his
friends and those who knew him.
The Washington Post in speaking of
his death said: Universal sorrow
was expressed by Mr. Griggs' col
leagues in the house of representa-
tlves-both democrats and republi-
cans-today, after they had read of
his sudden death at home in Georgia.
The same paper stated: "Repre-
sentative Champ Clark of Missouri,
the minority leader, voiced his deep
personal sorrow and declared that
Mr.. Griggs was brilliant and hard
working member who would be
mourned by all who knew him and
greatly missed in the councils of the
house
when Judge Griggs died the ma
ton lost great man and the party
lost great democrat. He was as
big-hearted and generous a man as
| have ever known. He had the gift
of making and retaining friends, and
he had as many warm personal
friends in Georgia as any man of his
time. There is no doubt in my mind
but that if he had been spared a few
more years his ambition to be gov
Iernor of Georgia would have been
gratified.
Il had heard and read much about
him, but it was not my pleasure to
know him personally until after I
was elected to congress. He did me
a kindness before l knew him, which
shall never forget, and which l shall
appreciate as long as | live. Shortly
after my election to the sixtieth con-
gress a committee of insolent negroes
in an insulting way demanded of me
a private conference, which | de-
Iclined. 1t was thought by some who
were looking for my downfall that
they saw in the incident an oppor-
tunity to crush me politically, and
consequently undertook to work an
issue out of it. Sharp criticisms
were fired at me by a few for my
failure to meet this negro commit
tee. l was young and it was among
my first political experiences. My
friends seemed a bit slow at first to
rally to me, and the fire kept up
AS soon as Judge Griggs saw an ac-
count of the affair he sent me long
telegram telling me I was right, and
to stand to my guns, giving me cheer
in my fight and nerving me for the
fray. God knows l appreciated that
| telegram, and only death will close
my memory of his thoughtfulness ant
kindness to me at that time, which
| helped me to win out before the PEG
pie. On coming to Washington
met him. Again he was thoughtful
and kind, and aided me in every way
he could in getting on to my work
as a member of the house. We be-
came fast friends, and in his death
| lost one of my best friends, and
was grieved to get the sad news Of
his death.
IF a friend he was as loyal ant
as 'true-blue' as friend could be
Nothing was too good for his friend:
and nothing was too great a service
for him to do to oblige his friends
The high esteem in which he wa:
held by his constituents was attesteC
by the honors they conferred Upor
him by electing him to high offices Of
! honor and trust The high esteem
in which he was held here in Wash
ington was attested in the fact thai
he was given promotion after promo
Ition, serving upon important com
mittees all the way up to that of the
ways and means committee of the
house, on which last named commit
tee he rendered great service to his
party and his country in his fight for
a downward revision of the tariff to
revenue rate, and in his fight
against the present tariff law The
more his fellows knew of him the
more they liked him, and the more
they were impressed with his ability
and worth as statesman. He served
twice as the chairman of the national
democratic executive campaign COM
mittee, a great and merited honor, in
which position he rendered valuable
service to the democratic party.
Little did l expect when l last
saw my friend Judge Griggs, that
he would be so soon called to his
reward, in the great beyond. I saw
him as he left the house on the last
day he was here, preparing to go
home to his wife, children and loved
ones for the holidays. He seemed
full of life and gave promise of many
more years among us. But this
marked man among men was even