Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-10-07

of which side would get Hammond
first.
Mr.. Hammords reputation, however,
was not confined merely to winning
cases, but lawyers who fought with
him or against him unite in declaring
that he always tried his cases on their
merits and never tried to win on tech
nicalities. Many of the cases he tried
won him wide public notice and
brought his name to the attention of
lawyers all over the land.
Able Public Speaker.
Nevertheless, Mr. Hammond did not
devote all his study to the law, but
was great reader of books of general
interest, especially books pertaining to
history and questions concerning gov
eminent and public affairs. Through
this reading he became not only one.
OF the best posted men on public af-
fairs, but he filed his mind with irfor
nation which, added to his command
ing appearance and his eloquent voice.
made him one of the most interesting
and most sought after speakers in the
southern part of the state. He was
frequently called on to give lectures
not only in his own community, but in
many of the surrounding towns.
through his speeches he became wide
ly and favorably known and when he
was nominated for Congress in 1906
he was not stranger i'm his district.
Mr.. Hammond was, according to
testimony of st, James and Madelia
people, always prompt, punctual and
regular in his habits. To illustrate
this, Rev. Alexander Marlowe, of the
St. James Presbyterian Church, said
recently that Mr.. Hammond not only
was regular attendant of that church.
but that he was always on time.
PunctuaI in Habits.
Since I came here Mr.. Hammond
has been in Washington much of the
time," Rev. Mr.. Marlowe said. But
when he is in st. James he is always
on hand when the service begins at
1890 a. m. I remember the Sunday
before the last election. Mr.. Ham.
mond had big closing rally at Man.
kato the night before and had been
speaking for several weeks. He came
home late and I did not expect him in
church. But, to my surprise, he was
there promptly at 10:30."
Mr.. Hammond was elected county
attorney of Watonwan county in 1894,
and shortly thereafter dissolved his
partnership with Mr.. Hopkins and
moved to st. James, where he con.
0nued to practice until his election to
Congress. Since then he has given
little time to the practice of law, but
still maintains an office in St. James,
his partner being Edward c. Farmer
and the firm name Hammond &
Farmer. Mr.. Hammond served as
county attorney through 1895 and 1896
and again from 1900 to the end of 1904,
when, on account of his growing pri-
vate practice, he declined reelection.
Mr.. Hammond also held several hon
orary positions. He was president of
the board of education at St. James
for a number of years. Governor Lind
appointed him a member of the State
Board of Normal School Directors and
the Republican Governor Want SAINT re-
appointed him, making his servics
eight years.
Beat McCIeary Twice.
In 1892, when the Republicans frs.
nominated J. T. McCleary for Congress
in the Second District, Hammond was
nominated by the Democrats to Oppose
hime. McCleary was elected and id
Congress soon became famous as a
high tariff exponent. But his tariff
IDEAS did not jibe with the views of his
constituents, and after one candidate
after another, in his own party and in
the Democratic party, had tried to de-
feat McCleary, Hammond was again
called upon. This was in 1906, when
he was nominated for Congress by the
Democrats. This time Hammond was
better known, and won by a majority
| of 1900. Two years later Hammond
and McCleary were again the oppos-
ing candidates Of the two parties. AL
though the district is normally Repub-
lican, Hammond won again, making
the score two to three. In 1910 and
1912 Mr.. Hammond was again elected
to Congress over Republican candi-
dates.
During his first term in Congress,
Mr.. Hammond was a member of the
committee on public lands and the