Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-29
GIVES
PEPPER TRIBUTE
Congressman from Local Dis
trict Speaker at Muscatine
Memorial Service.

Muscatine. Iowa. Dec 29.-Before
more than 1900 people the late Con-
gresham l. s. Pepper was eulogiZed
by Senators Reed of Missouri and
KENYON of Iowa, Congressman Conno.-
" of Dubuque, kirkpatrick of Ottum-
wa. and Tavenner of Illinois. as we'll
as National Committeeman Wade OF
Iowa City Prominent men in political
life in Iowa were present al the me-
mortal exercises, which were held yes
terday.
Representative Tavenner of the
Fourteenth Illinois district said:
When l saw the doors OF this
great church thrown open. and the
people pour into and quickly fill this
building, the thought occurred to me
that it would be a great mistake to
assume that this great audience of
people was gathering here today to
pay tribute to Irwin S. Pepper simply
because he was an able member of
congress.
The mere fact that a man was
member of congress would never
touch the hearts of the people of this
district as the death of Irwin S. Pepper
touched them.
There is something deeper than his
Off cial position. and more important,
which explains our presence here to-
day, and that is that his life outside
congress, and his acts in congress,
proved that his heart beat in SYM
pathy with the pain people of this
land.
Some men 20 to the halls of con
gress from humble surroundings, as
did Mr.. Pepper, only to acquire new
and to gradually and unconsciously
permit TO steal over them a feeling of
shame, indeed, if not OF contempt, for
the old-fashioned plain people at
home who, believing their protesta-
tons OF sympathy, elevated them TO
their high positions of trust and honor.
Irwin s. Pepper was not one OF
these. To him it was pleasure 10
espOuse the cause of that vast ma Or-
ity that Mr. Lincoln termed the plain
people.
1T was Irwin s. Pepper who fought
the introduction of the inhuman Tay-
Tor system of shop management at the
Rock Island arsenal. cruel process
CT scientifically grinding down the
spirit as well as the physical bodies
of those who toll for their daily bread.
Senator KENYON and Judge Wade who
have proceeded me. referred to Mr.
Peppers activities on behalf Of the old
soldiers. Yes. that is true II was
the voice OF Irwin s. Pepper that |
heard in congress pleading for the cd
soldier. the soldiers widow. and The
soldiers orphan.
Il saw Irwin S. Pepper on the firing
line in Washington, and | saw that he
was not 100 proud to plead the cause
OF the common men and women from
whose ranks he sprung, and / obscrv-
ed, too. that whenever the line was
Drawn as between the forces of special !
privilege on the one hand and the
welfare Of all the people on the other, |
that without hesitation and without !
apology. Irwin $. Pepper quietly took
his place on the side Of the pain but !
Gcdly people who gave him birth
When Speaker Champ Clark learn /
ed Of the death of hts friend he sat |
down and penned to his memory !
beautiful tribute. He was one OF my !
prime fayorites.' wrote the speaker in !
Tart. and he repaid my friendship in !
scTiptural measure. heaped up. press
cd down and running over That is /
the way Irwin 5. Pepper repaid the /.
great speaker for believing in him 7
and placing confidence in him. and (
that is the measure in which he repaid 1
you and l. and all his friends"