New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-01-05


dience. IT was, delivered with, great i'm
impre ssiveness, and with almost re
ligious fervor. Few in the audience hac
dry eyes, and they went away with
nobler and higher ideals, and higher
estimate of thePresident she;. had lost
Mr.. Hammond was often called upor
to make commencement day addresses
before schools, and in this he excelled
for the reason that he was always in
terested in education, and educational
work. He always endeavored to i'm
press the young people with sense OF
their duty toward the state and toward
society, and to encourage them to lead
useful lives. Education meant to him
a means of making ones self a better and
more useful citizen, and this view he tried
to impress in his addresses before schools
and graduating classes.
As campaign speaker he had few
equals. After his first or second con-
gressional campaigns, his opponents did
not care to meet him debate. His
powerful mind gripped every antagonist
in such debates and hurled him prone
to earth. His stump speeches were
characterized by force and cogency of
argument, sometimes, by biting sarcasm,
and always by clear and powerful de-
livery. His argument was always clear
cut; he said just what he meant, and
meant just exactly what he said. He was
not given to beating around the bush.
He was too big and dignifed for any
such petty subterfuges.
A Scholar And Book Lover.
1t was as scholar and booklover that
the writer knew Mr.. Hammond best,
and the conversations we have enjoyed
with him on these themes will ever re-
main precious and hallowed memory.
He will always be to us the kindly,
scholar; genial, but never
patronizing, as ready to receive infor-
nation as to impart it; ever ready to
explain any point, when asked, and ever
ready to listen to others with gentlemanly
and courteous Difference. 1t is hard to
realize that those lips from which that
kindly voice issued are forever closed,
and that nevermore will they be open in
genial and friendly discourse.
AS a Lawyer.
In his chosen profession Mr.. Ham,
mond had risen to eminence at the time
he entered politics and went to congress.
He was patient man and content to
bide his time. He cared little for
trivial cases, taking them only to ac-
commodate friend. But give him
heavy, intricate case, and he was at
home. Down came the law books, the
midnight lamp was trimmed and burn
ing, and everything that expert know
ledge, thoroughness and energy could
do for his client was done. He was very
successful in practising before the SUI
preme court, and his briefs were models
OF clear and cogent argument and ap-
poslte citations. The law was to him
whole arsenal Of shining weapons,
from which he chose those best suited
to his purpose. He won the respect and
high regard Of the bar and bench, both
for his legal ability and his stainless
integrity, and high-mindedness.
AS Private Citizen.
In closing, we will speak briefly of Mr..
Hammond as private citizen and
neighbor. In private life Hon. Winfield
Scott Hammond was modest, unas-
Stunning and plain. There was little
personal egotism about him, and on the
street he would shake hands with the
humblest of his fellow townsmen with
the same heartiness that he would with
the wealthiest and the most prominent.
He was somewhat shy and difident, but
never unapproachable. During the
twenty years Of his residence in this city
he always took a live interest in our
schools, and the civic life of our people;
he was always public-spirited and ready
to assist any worthy movement with his
influence and his purse. His business
associates always found him ready to
assist them with sound advice, and in his
dealings he ever displayed the integrity
and high-mindedness that characterized
his whole career. He was not man to
grind the faces of the poor, but his deeds
of kindness were left for others to relate;
his own lips were sealed. People who
rented his lands, and others, can tell of
them, and do, with tears in their eyes.
During the years he was member of
our school board our city schools were
advanced to front rank. He was in
strumental in enlarging the buildings
to a greater extent than most people
L. L