The copper era and Morenci leader., 1914-09-11
Tribute to Marcus A. Smith of Arizona

Tribute to Marcus A. Smith of Arizona
Speech of Hon. H. o. Stanley, of
Kentucky, in the House of Represen-
tatives, February 18th, 1909:
On February Is 1909, at the short
est session of the. Sixiteth Congress
on the day the bill admitting Arizona
as State was passed, the following
speech was made by Mr.. Stanley of
Kentucky. The speech appears on page
2420 of volume 43, part 8, of the Con-
gressional Record. The statehood
bill being under consideration, Mr..
Stanley said:
''Mr Speaker, 1 think it entirely
fitting that in speaking of these Ter
ritorieS we should speak of the gen.
tlemen who have represented them.
My love for Arizona has been increas-
ed by my admiration for her good
Judgment in sending Mark Smith to
Congress. (Applause.)
mo member of the Sixtieth Con.
gress will retire from it more uni
versally beloved or more universally
regretted than my dear old friend the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. SMITH
| applause
Il might be tempted to question the
appreciation and the wisdom of Ari-
iona in permitting him to return to
private life we're l not aware of his
sensitive and intense devotion to his
people and his unwillingness to hear
them questioned or criticised, even
though in that criticism there should
be implied a compliment to himself.
81 can say, however, that his retire
ment at this time is the cause OF
have followed his career with interest
anG with admiration. But n short
time ago it seemed morally certain
that Arizona and New Mexico would
be indissolubly bound in a union that
to the people of Arizona appeared moth
ing less than loathsome ard aDhor-
red miscegenation. Then it was that
Mark Smith displayed his tireless
de1 otion to his people and his marvel
ors tact and resourcefulness IN saw
ing them from the impending catas-
trophe (Applause.)
"a delegate without a vote, with
nothing to give and nothing to ex-
change. battling among several num-
ldred cool, calculating politicians, I'M
Idaunted by the desperation of his
cause. determined to fight as long as
there was ray of hope, and die, If
need be, in the last ditch. In the
committee rooms, in the House, in
the Senate-he was everywhere he
saw everybody. Nothing could be
done or said or attempted that he
was not there to answer, to explain,
to checkmate. Almost twenty years
of distinguished service had won for
him the respect of the House and
of the Senate, and his generous, gen
ial, and winsome personality had at
tracted to him every man capable OF
a generous impulse or disinterested
emotion In the presence of those
h In 6of
can unhesftatingIy say, without being
charged with exaggeration or fiattery
that it was to the efforts of Mark
Smith and to his personal influence
more than to any and to all other
causes combined that Arizona owes
her escape from the irksome shackles
which she so much dreaded. zap
p1ause.)
Had any Member of the House Of
Representatives, on either side of the
Chamber, been asked What would
be the Inevitable result, so far as
Mark Smith was personally concern
ed the reply would inevitably have
been: Mark Smith will remain In the
House as long as Arizona is a Terri
tory, and he will be the first to veal
with distinction the senatorial togs
when she becomes a State. (Pro
longed applause 1t was indeed
with pain and amazement we learned
that after more than 20 years Of dis
ttinguished service this tried ant
valiant champion of his people, witt
his deathless Iaurels still fresh upoI
his brow, was retired by the Terri
tory he had redeemed, and that Arr
zona on the very threshold of thu
promised land, having been led on
of this wilderness by her brave spon
sor, seems to have forgotten him il
the hour of her brightest hope
His colleagues, without an execel
ton, still cherish the fond desire tina
he shall receive the reward which h
so abundantly deserves, and that hi
name shall be fndissolubly nnke
with Arizona the State as 1t is fol
ever emblazoned on the br1ghtes
RACES of the history of Arizona tn
= Territory CAppfause.)
Mark Smith, the jurist and tn
statesman, has commanded unqual
fed respect and attention. AS a
: eloquent and fmpassfoned orator b
. has thrilled a critical audience wit
4 admiration and delight; great as
u lawyer and forensic orator, he
/; greater still and dearer still as
man Tender as a woman, brave q
lion, the soul of honor and of trutl
utterly incapable of fearing an enem
or of disIoyaIty to a friend, perfet
exemplar of that debonair, wfnsom
and picturesque civilization which in
mortaIized the old South, we bi
Mark Smith, the dear old friend an
the ideal gentleman, temporal
adieu, assuring him that he viii carr
with him into his western home tt
tenderest memories and the true
friendship one noble man ever inspi
ed in the warm heart Of another. OPT
IOnped aDDlauSe -