The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-19
EDMoND II. MADISON.

Kansas and the nation, as well, have
suffered a distinct loss in the sudden
taking away of Edmond H Madison,
member of he house of representa-
tives from the Seventh Kansas Con-
gressional district Judge Madison was
beginning to loom up large in the ma
tional political arena Indeed, it might
be said that he had just begun a politi-
cal career that was certain of develop
irg into large proportions, a serviceable
career. too.-one that would rebound
with great credit to himself and be of
benefit to the people of the wonderful
commonwealth that had honored itself
in honoring him; and of benefit, too,
to the people of the whole country.
Few men have ever served in con-
gress such a brief spell and risen to
such a commanding prominence as had
Mr.. Madison, Ed as he was familiar
ly called by the men who loved him
and who were loved by him in turn.
He was one of me original Republican
Insurgents in the house when that
insurgency was started against some of
the archaic features in the rules gov
erning that body. But he was not so
small-minded a man as to charge the
conditions that had developed in the
house solely to Uncle Joe" Cannon.
He believed that some of the rules
ought to be changed because they were
wrong. And he worked as assiduously
as any one with whatever weapons or
in whatever combinations that came to
hand for the changes he and others
deemed necessary. The notoriety and
prominence that came to the "insur-
gents in this memorable fight did not
turn Mr.. Madisons head. He did not
then begin to insurge against any and
everything, against most if not all of
the principles and policies that have
made the Republican party great. He
never played to the galleries nor did
the applause of an unthinking crowd
sound good to his ears He fought, in
the special congress two years ago, as
hard as any man could for further tar
iff reductions than those in charge of
the Payne -Aldrich bill were willing to
concede but when his fight for these
reductions were lost he did not be-
come peeved. He voted for the bill
on its final passage, not because he
believed the measure to be a perfect
one, or fulfilling to the letter the party
pledges in the premises. but because
it was the best tariff revision bill that
could be obtained under the conditions
then prevailing in congress and was a
more reasonable tariff law than the
one on the statute books. With the
same sort of business did Mr.. Madison |
meet all questions.
He was a progressive Republican of |
the right type. A definition of that
kind of a Republican was given some |
time ago by President Taft when he
said: "a progressive Republican is one
who recognizes existing and concrete
evils and is in favor of practical and |
definite steps to eradicate them"
Judge Madison stood for progress in
all things. But he did not believe that |
such progress was going to be brought |
about by a tremendous beating of the /
tom toms and a wild shrieking from
the house-tops that every man in
America was crook, a thief, robber,
a CRATER and everything else that a
man should not be with the exception
OF the few who might think as he did |
on certain political questions It was
because Ed Madison was sober
minded, fair and honest in all things
coupled with a remarkable ability and
untiring energy. that he had risen so
rapidly among the real statesmen of
the day It's too bad the last call was
for him so soon There are
not as many men like him in public
life as there should be, and at this par
ticular time when strong minds. when
honest minds are needed to grapple
with and grasp the vexed problems
that are pressing for solution