The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-04-27
and prosperous business establish

and prosperous business establish.
ment.
For him, both Is business mar
and public servant, the magic words
were effort and economy Lessons
that he learned in his earlier strug-
gle for q living were applied relig.
iously to public fiscal policies ir the
years he served as head Of the house
committee on appropriations, which
originates all the appropriations fol
the United States government.
These lessons he began to learn
in the school Of personal experience
at the age o. 10, when he took job
as waterboy In quarry 1t Lenont,
ILL.,, six years after arrival in this
country from England. Out Of his
mite he not ony contributed to the
support Of the family, but we'd
enough to buy books and meet the
other expenses Of a night school.
Studying in his spare time, he was
able in addition to apply himself to
his daytime work an industry that
won him promotion after promotion
until in the course Of the years he
became the highest official Of the
stone company where he had made
so humble beginning.
His reputation for sterling hon
esty and business sagacity mean
time had won the attention of poll.
teal leaders of the old fourth ward
Of Chicago, and he was sent to the
city council as Republican in 1889.
During considerable portion of
his service there he was chairman
Of the finance committee. The cry
of doodle" was common in those
days Of the city's remarkable ex-
pansion, but he came through un-
scathed.
Two months after he entered the
council, Chicago entered upon a
policy Of annexing adjoining farm
lands, in preparation for the day
it was to take on the dignity Of a
metropolis. With the opening of
new streets, ways and means to
provide the needed revenue assumed
first Importance. He contributed
notably to the solution Of these
problems. During his regime rail-
road grade crossings were abolished,
the street railways systems reor-
ganized, lake front park system
guaranteed, the World Fair held,
the improvement of the Chicago
River started, and doodle" stamped
out in the awarding Of city con-
tracts.
Three times he declined the nom.
nation for mayor. Then in 1897
he retired from the council to be-
come candidate for United States
senator, but was defeated. He re.
tanned an active part in Republican
politics, however, and in 1905 was
elected to the house, to become
quickly one Of the great Republic
can triumverate from Illinois, which
included besides himself, Joseph G.
Cannon and James R. Mann.
AS chairman Of the committee on
appropriations, Mr.. Madden came
into particular prominence during
the economy regime Of President
Coolidge. While it increased his
influence as one of the leaders of
the house, the championship event
ually proved boomerang, reacting
through the loss Of friendships to
his downfall when seeking the
speakership. His candidacy in 1926
attracted a considerable following
but he was defeated as Republican
choice for speaker by Nicholas
Longworth Of Ohio. Not only did
his integrity and business discretion
require him to oppose pet appro.
priations sought by some of his Re.
publican colleagues, but over-work
and resulting illness caused him to
become impetuous and intolerant
and drove from him the support Of
some who had been his friends. y
Having no powers, as an orator,
his political leadership was welded
largely on work in conference and
committee, where he displayed keen
business astuteness. He regarded
the government as q corporation in
which the citizens are stockholders,
and applied to its management bust
ness methods.
Mr.. Madden participated actively
in long succession or Republican
national conventions. His friends
claimed that the credit belonged to
him for swinging the Illinois delega-
ton to support of the gold standard
plank In 1896, q material factor in
the decision Of the convention at =
time when much Of the west was
for free silver.
Always a hard worker, he usually
in Washington during re-
cesses Of congress preparing mater
ial for the framing Of appropriation
bills in advance of the assembling
Of the house. While so engaged in
the summer Of 1923 after 4 trip to
Europe to study financial conditions
to be used in connection with pro-
posed tax reduction, he suffered Z
heart attack while en- route in an au-
tomobilc to the capital. For days
his life was despaired Of, and it was
predicted as convalesence set in that
he would be an in aid. These
gloomy forecasts proved unfounded,
and he was quickly back in harness.
His illness had, however, taken
away in degree that even, suave
temperament which had for 50 long
been one of his characteristics.
To most people with whom he
came into contact, he created an i'm
preston of mystery. Never volu-
BILE talker, he was . good listener.
and seemed alweys to have some
thing in reserve, his field Of infor-
nation being surprisingly complete.
An accident in ! stone quarry ceused
the loss Of a foot which was re-
placed artificially so that he was
not required to use crutches and suf-
fered little inconvenience in walk
ing. His biography published in the
congressional directory foryears was
notable for its brevity. It occupied
but line and half, merely stat
ing his name, his place Of residence,
and that he twas cleo I'd to t. fifty
ninth and each sue :eeding congress"