The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-05
THE LATE MAJOR LACEY.

THE LATE MAJOR LACEY.
The leading newspapers Of the state
abound in appreciative expressions rel.
alive to the late Major John F. Lacey.
who passed away at his home in
lOskaloosa on Monday. Some of these
tributes have already appeared In
these columns. All agree that he was
man OF noteworthy ability, of the
strictest integrity and OF great force
OF character. The Sioux City Journal
speaks OF him as IAN influential man
In congress, prodigious worker
who did much to place the name of
Iowa In the enviable place 1t filed in
those years" It also bears testimony
to the fact that he was an able law
yer, forceful man In debate, will.
ing bearer OF responsibility, and was
not backward In giving service. The
Davenport Times says OF him among
other things:
Even In retirement he continued
to be factor of no small Importance
/ In every Iowa campaign.
He was ready debater, pleasing
conversationalist, good lawyer and
a steadfast personal friend. He was
admired by his opponents for his COLI
sistency and by his friends for his
loyalty to what he believed in. And
as soldier of the union he had en-
deared himself to thousands of Iowans
who at reunions of the G. A. R. always
were pleased to have Major Lacey as
! a campfire speaker"
/ The Muscatine Journal recalls that
there was time when John F. Lacey's
name was one to conjure with in Iowa
and the nation. ITO the end he re-
NAMED big man, and
retained many loyal adherents and
many more admirers and friends
He was uncompromisingly and proud
lily standpatter from standpatville.
He never wavered and he never
trimmed. He could be defeated but
he could not be daunted or forced to
lower his colors" He was not time
serving politician, was an able IL not
brilliant lawyer and statesman with
an inexhaustible energy and an in
lsatiable appetite for work.
The Marshalltown Times-Republican
characterizes him as a useful man
"purposeful and brave enough to fight
ifor his convictions" The Cedar Rap
ids Republican honors his memory
with these words:
i He was man of varied talents
land many activities; a man of tender
heart and strong mind. The men OF
the civil war period knew him as a
fine soldier, courageous and devoted !;
the lawyers of Iowa knew him as an
opponent worthy of their Sest efforts
the politicians knew him as man
who always stood steadfast by his
convictions, and who Always fought
with clean hands, and the people as
whole knew him as an honorable
man, patriotic citizen, and one OF
natures noblemen.''
The Dubuque Telesra phi Herald
Democratic, refers to him as one OF
the old guard that dies but never sur
: renders. He had "a strong element OF
loyalty in his nature and in political
action he was bold and usually IN
: compromising The Telegraph Herald
J further recalls that as member oil
: congress and chairman Of the house
: committee on public lands he was
the real author of the conservation
movement brought into prominence
a through President Rooseyelt's message
e to congress on this subject. The T.
] H. adds that he knew the public land
+ question more thoroughly than any
r other man in congress and during his
Craftsmanship the initial steps were
taken towards irrigation and the pres
Y ervation of the bird life OF the country
X The Waterloo Times-Tribune. also
/ Democratic, says of him.
2 He leaves an enviable war record
n and he leaves reputation for cour
age: he will be recalled as man o.
strong convictions and not afraid O.
them at any time or place His work;
IN the halls of congress will not h.
u set apart from those of other men
is He was swallowed up In the grea
n majority; he was cog In the ma
8 chine Of his party-though he was on.
of the first conservatioDists In iii,
country, writing laws into the book,
for the preservation of animal If,
and forests when others had no
y thought of the baneful methods of dc
c struction in vogue
IS Major Lacey lived not 10 vain"
g Like utterances might be quoted b,
j. the score. Major Lacey was vel
known and all who knew him mourn