South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-04
ShiUely Memorial
Passed BY County
Bar Association

s. Orked on his fathers farm in sum-
mer and attended his local school in
winter. He was afterwards a stu
dent in the normal school at VAL
paraiso. and from 1875 10 1850 he
vas a teacher in the district schools.
ON March p, 1880, he established
newspaper in South Bend. the
New Era, OK which he was the edi-
tor and proprietor.
In 1884, in his 9th year. Mr..
Shively was elected TO congress to
hll out the unexpired term of the
Hon William II. Caikins He was
the youngest member of that dis
tinguished body
Enters L. of VI.
At the close Of his term in the
national house Of representatives he
entered the law department of the
University Of Michigan, where he
was graduated in 1855. In the same
year ne was reelected to congress
and continued to serve for three
full terms, after which he declined
further honOrs in this line. 1t can
hardly be said that his service for
the last two terms was voluntary.
His wonderful oratOry and his
boundless popularity were such that
the people compelled him 10 accept
nomination and election, even when
his better judgment told him that
he ought TO establish himself in his
profession as a lawyer before de-
voting further time 20 the making
of laws in congress His closer
friends knew that his real ambi-
ton. even from a boy. was for a
seat I'm the senate, where Webster
and Clay and Douglas had won re-
nOwn.
In 1896 he declined TO consider
the proposal TO nominate him for
vice-president of the United States.
but accepted the nomination for
governor. hoping still for the sem
ate.
In 1903 and again in 1905 he re-
ceived the unanimous vote OF his
party in the legislature for United
States senator.
In 1906, against his wishes, he
was again nominated for congress,
nNN " as hNAfeiN0h ~ Ills NDAANeAo NN
at this bar. the Hon. A. l.. Brick.
Elected to Senate.
Finally, in 1909, Mr.. Shively
reached the goal of his ambition:
he was elected to the United states
senate. In 80 years after leaving his
fathers farm the poor boy took his
seat in the highest deliberate body
i'm the world. In the senate the
most distinguished honOrs of the
nation awaited him. He was re-
elected to that august assembly in
1913. being the first senator TO be
elected by the vote of the people Of
this state.
Entering upon his second term at
the age of SO it seemed that one of
the greatest careers in American his
tory was before him. But the seeds
of disease had settled themselves
into the constitution Of this won
derfully gifted man.-gifted alike in
his physical and his intellectual
greatness. Here again on his bed
of pain the nobility OF character OF
Benjamin +. Shively shone forth.
il seemed for a time that his in
domitable will. with his vigorous
constitution, Ould win the victory.
But it was not to be When the
end drew near the minister OK re-
ugion stood by his bedside. The
dying man said. quietly, but brave
~ as was his wont, 4 am glad you
came" The prayer of faith, hope
and love followed, and like a child
at close Of day the noble spirit
raised into the rms of his heaven
ly Father.
No lovelier character ever lived
than Benjamin +. Shively. His serv-
ices i'm congress were at the COM
mand of any one who requested
them, whether his own constituent
OF not With strangers or in gen.
eral company Mr.. Shively was ex-
ceedingly reserved. 1t was only with
near friends that he unbosOmed
himself And il was only when the
occasion was an important one,
when he was before the people in a
great assemblage or when ne was
on the floor Of the house or senate,
that his true greatness was dis
played. Those who listened 10 him
then knew that he was indeed no
ordinary man. He was in truth a
great senator
Within the bar of this court ne
was modest, even TO timidity. And
vet ne would have made a great
lawyer had he been permitted
10 devote himself to his profession.
He was satisfied. in law no less than
i'm craftsmanship. only when he had
found great principles on which his
conclusions could rest.
Made City Hall Possible.
IL is not generally known that we
owe our city hall 20 the legal acu-
men of Benjamin r. Shively. The
city was in need OF a suitable place
90 house its business and its records
But we had reached the constitu-
tional limits OF our Indebtedness. We
could not build a city hall The
problem was submitted 10 Mr.. Shive-
lv. and after Investigation he sug-
pested that the difficulty might be
overcome III some one with the need
ed means and public spirit could be
found who would build the hall and
lease il 10 the city. with an option
tC purchase, and in case the city
should. i'm time. exercise this Op-