Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-04-18
HON. \. 7. HELCESON
BURIED IN DEBORAH
Bereaved Widow and Children and
Congressional Committee Ac-
companied Remains to
DEBORAH Saturday.
FUNERAL SERVICE HELD
AT UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH
Committee Citizens and Luther Col
lege Band Escorted Funeral
COrtege to the Church
Continued from first page)

Continued from first page)
Dakota, and settled at Milton, Cava-
Her County, engaging in the hard
ware, furniture and lumber business.
He retired in 1908 to devote his
time to his farm lands, being the
J owner of large amount of land.
Shortly after locating in Dakota
Mr.. Helgeson became actively inter
ested in local and state politics and
was the first commissioner of agri-
culture and labor of the state of
North Dakota. He was reelected to
that office in 1899. He also had
served 10 years as a member Of the
state university board of regents.
Mr.. Helgeson was elected to Con-
greSs as congressman-at-l in
1910 and on the reorganization of
congressional districts in North Da-
kota in 1913 was elected as a mem
Der of the House of Representatives
from the First district and reelected
in 1914.
Mr.. Helgeson was beginning his
fourth term in the lower house of
Congress and it was freely predicted
both in Washington and his home
state that he was the logical republi-
can candidate for United States sena-
tor to succeed Senator A. ]. Gronna,
when his term expires four years
hence
In speaking of Mr.. Helgeson we
find the following comments in the
Fargo Courier News from Fargo
citizens who knew him well:
Attorney R. NJ. Pollock said: I'm
the death Of Congressman H. T. Hell
geson, North Dakota has suffered
real and great loss. He helped to
make the state. Twice he was elect
ed to the state Office of Commission
er of Agriculture and Labor. and
four times to the Congress of the
United States. In the fullest meas
ure he ably and faithfully discharg-
ed the trust reposed in him. He al
ways made good. He was a man of
high ideals and at all times lived and
worked up to them. Conservative,
yet progressive, his sole ambition
seemed to be: serve in the best way
possible our state and nation. 1t
will be hard to fill his place at this
critical period"
j. H. Dahl, former police commits
sioner OF Fargo said North Dakota
had lost one of its ablest men,
North Dakota has suffered a great
loss. Mr. Helgeson was one Of the
ablest representatives this state has
ever had. He was a great credit to
North Dakota both as a citizen and a
Ilawmaker."
Judge A. T. Cole expressed much
regret over the sudden demise of the
North Dakota solon, and made the
following statement:
The death Of Congressman Hedge
son removes an able and clean man
from the Congressional delegation of
this state. He was a man of high
ideals and good intentions, irrespec-
tive of how much one might differ
with him in some of his conclusions.
His record has no blot on it, and he
was always of progressive turn of
mind, even tho at times some might
think he was possibly inclined to be
over-conservative. His successor
should be a progressive with a clean
history behind him, without respect
to his party utilization and at this
time should he be one whose loyalty
TO country cannot be doubted. A
statesman should be elected, one
whom the people will trust and who
will not betray his trust. Loyal and
sound craftsmanship is wanted and
these should be coupled with ability
and courage A worker, rather than
/ L. L. n.