The broad ax., 1916-09-09
FORMER GOVERNOR WIN. sULzER
A short Sketch Of the Man Who Does
Things. BY Julius Chambers,
T. 3. G.. s.

Formerly Managing Editor of the
N. Y. Herald. "A man who does
things, and who has distinguished him
self in straight law, and clean politics,
is former Governor VIM. Sulzer-law-
yer, lecturer, legislator, and liberal
minded statesman.
Mr.. Sulzer was born in Elizabeth, N.
j., on March IS, 1868, of German and
Scotch-Irish parentage. His father
was farmer near Elizabeth, and Will
liam was educated in the country
school, and later for the law at Co.
lumbia College.
His parents were strict Presby-
terians, and intended their son for the
ministry; but he preferred the law, and
was duly admitted to the bar on at
taing his majority in 1884. He soon
became recognized as a sound lawyer,
and an eloquent public speaker. He
has taken an active part in every
political campaign, and has been prom
inent in public life, since 1884. His
success in law has only been equalled
by his prominence in politics. He was
elected to the New York Assembly in
1889, and reelected for five years. He
made a splendid record for usefulness
to the State at Albany. No one ever
questioned his honesty, his sincerity,
or his capability. He served with dis
tinction in the sessions of 1890, 1891,
1892, 1893, and 1894.
He was the leader there of his party,
and the Speaker in 1s93-one of the
youngest on record.
From the first the newspapers were
his friends. In 1894 the old Tenth
District, of New York City, sent him
to the Fifty-fourth Congress. He was
returned for eighteen years by increas-
ing majorities. His course in Congress
was one of hard work and steady in
dependence. He was a staunch friend
of the suffering Cubans. His SYM
pathies are worldwide; his ideas are
broad; and his work national-and in
ternational.
He introduced the law declaring war
against Spain; the constitutional
amendment by which United States
Senators are elected by direct votes of
the people; the law establishing the
Bureau of Corporations in the Depart
ment of Commerce; and the law in
creasing the pay of letter carriers. He
is the author of the resolution de-
nouncing the Jewish outrages in
Russia; the law increasing the pensions
of the soldiers and sailors of the
Union; the law to raise the wreck Of
the Maine; the new copyright law; and
the income tax amendment to the Con-
stitution. He is the author of the law
to re-establish the merchant marine;
for a general parcels post; for national
aid in the construction of good roads;
the law to create a Department Of
Labor, with a secretary having seat
in the Cabinet; of the law to decrease
the cost of living by placing the neces-
saries of life on the free list; and Of
many other measures in the interest Of
the people of the country. His record
at Albany, and at Washington, is q
monument to his untiring zeal, his in
defatigable industry, and his con-
structive craftsmanship.
He has been a delegate to every
national convention since 1899. stood
beside him at the Chicago convention
in 1895 when Whitney, the chairman
of the New York delegation, declined
to support Bryan and. counselled the
New York delegation to bolt. Mr..
sulzer refused to be led out Of the