The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-27
HAPPENINGS IN MICHIGAN

the district 10 triumphsntly nominate
him over his strong and popular two
times opponent. the Honorable Henry
c. Smith. Al the November election
elected and he entered UP his congress
sional career backed by proud CON
stitueney and possessed OF high ideals
for public service.
In the 10 years / have been In con-
gress i have met and known more than
a thousand members and senator's, ana
i am sure | never knew a man VINO
worked harder and more conscientious
ly TO perform his full duty than did ne
work, No citizen OF the Second con
gressional district ever appealed 10
deaf or careless ear when he wrote 70
Mr. Wedemeyer He accomplishd
much while In the house. and even Ms
political opponents recognized IA MN
\ growing legislator who would soon
take a prominent place among the
leaders OF the American congress. his
was the genius OF industry. Every GAY
every night he was at work upon mat
tiers appertainlng TO the duties or con-
Rress. and those duties were eNacuhs
frequently they were difncult and OFT
en- they were great drain upon ms
nervous energy. He took lie serious
~. No duty came 90 him that he dld
not regard important. and somehow u
seems 10 me now that he must have
been impressed with the brevity or MS
time, for he could not consent TO put
OH uukAA NNAAANAAp"H @@N
do II at once.
Big In body and mind he impressed
the casual acquaintance as being a
great. strong. kindly body. Ills Splits
seemed high and his genuine frlendn
ness gave him a welcome everywhere
In whatever place ne was, he was an
active, prominent figure
As a citizen he had no superior As
a statesman few men In congress nave
had n brighter prospect than was MS
A. friand he loXal TO tho core.
The hEIRhIeSf-Kp0t- fn-nIy memoTI-QI
him, however. will be his devoted love
for his family he never wearied OF
telling OF his beautiful children. lie
carried their little letters TO him about
in his pocket, and however excited ne
might get In his conversations with me
ne always closed with a joyful incident
connected with the little ones. ! re-
call that about the last time | saw
him and after he had dwelt TO some
extent upon his defeat. told MN
that he ought not 90 feel badly, Tor
with his energy and ability there Were
big ger and better things for him than
a seat In congress, and that ne could
be at home with his family more now.
and he frightened up and the old smile
right Don't think i want 90 boast or
my children. but they are nice young
sters and can see more or them mere
after. I'm ali right and have the nhest
family In the world.
He had a sensitive soul tuned TO the
hIsher. better things OF life. lie was
honest and unjust CRU.
,isn cut him 20 the heart ne hsa
attractive personality which made him
! natural political leader, but MS sen
sltive mind was easily injured and the !
he pclitlclan was Joined the sensitive
ness OF a child. He always fought IN
he open and against the attacks OF
IN honorable foe ne was invineibie:
He knew how to parry the tnTTfn,s sa - -
avoiding the slabs OF the stilleto.
1 still recall the real SUFFERING which
ae endured when he was nippantly
criticised BY some newspaper .eporn
TO ridicule rather than 10 strengthen.
II is wicked to be false TO puoiic
trust but II Is more wicked 10 poison
the public mind with suspicion aoou.
not so because OF the evil effect upon
socIety alone but also because OF the
suffering and the weakness IL brings
TO the faithful servant.
Al this time az look back over the
last few years can see that a change
was being wrought IN Congressman
wedemeyers mental condition. He
lived under perpetual excitement.
Every thing he did was done ygor
caused him 10 weigh all matters great
and small with rigid exactness ana MS
fear Of making a mistake bred douots
within his mind and he who contracts
the habit OF doubling In lost This Is
especially true OF the legislator VINO
is called upon TO decide the many cues |
ttons upon which honest and intelli- |
gent men differ. During the last year
ne was always fearful OF making
mistake, and the destroyer doubt was
doing its work. l can see now that
his nervous energy was being depleted
and his overworked brain was showing
strain. His defeat last November did
not cause his death. IL may have
hnstened II a few months, but eventu-
ally the effects OF a mind diseased
would have been fatal.
How much better for his friends and
loved ones to remember him az We
knew him, strong. vigorous and COM
plete, than 20 have become familiar
with the splendid body which once
was his. but out OF which ne had
gone.
second day OF this month he stood on
the deck OF the steamship Panams and
gased out into the star gemmed heav-
ems Who can say what thoughts pass.
ed through his mind Who can tell
what he saw and heard beside the stars
and the music OF the waves1 Maybe
he saw the light inenable. Maybe no
heard the heavenly choir, We know
thai q moment later he cast INTO the
sea the shell In which his cramped
spirit had been confined, and scared
away to realms eternal
s'Oh. Death, where 10 thy stingt