The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-05-20
DISTINGUISHED Son

Distinguished Son
OF all the North Dakotans who
have obtained distinction in the ma
ton as whole there seems little
doubt that Porter j. McCumber
heads the list.
Part of that distinction, of course,
came by reason of his long service
in the United States senate. Few
men have served as many as four
terms in that body, fewer still are
those who have exceeded that number.
But any sound analysis of McCum-
bers career discloses much more
than mere time in office to prove his
greatness. The character Of the man
stands out prominently as his great
est asset.
Whatever may be said about poll
ticians in general, McCumber was q
man Of principle. He believed In Ger
tain things and he was not afraid
to espouse them. He was the type
of senator who dared occasionally to
pit his own judgment against that
of q majority Of his constituents in
the belief that time would bear him
out.
For him there was no craven vac
illation on q public issue until he
ascertained which way the winds of
sentiment were blowing. His habit
was to decide things on their merits
as he saw them and to follow the
convictions so attained. This is
something which a great many of our
modern officeholders might copy
with profit to the nation, II not to
themselves.
McCumber possessed sense Of the
dramatic, as every good politician
must, but he never made obvious ef-
.orts to crash the headlines. He
knew that, if he did his job well
people would eventually come to
know about him. He preferred not
to be noticed at all rather than to
be noticed unfavorably, and therein
lay. at least in part, the basis for q
proud reputation.
A conservative Of the hard-boiled
type on such things as tariffs and
money, McCumber nevertheless was
progressive in many ways. His es-
pousal Of the fight for laws govern
ing the preservation and sale Of
foods Is credited with putting that
important advance on the statute
books. A firm believer in prohibition
he helped to pass the 18th amend
ment in the belief that it was for
ward step, even though he lived te
see 1t pretty generally discredited.
His frequent reflections to the sen.
ate proved he knew how to make and
keep friends. Never great hand
shaker or back-patter, he wore vel
with those who knew him. He was
faithful to his friends.
At the peak of his power he was
defeated for the Republican sena.
torial nomination in a campaign with
many peculiarities. He knew, a.
everyone else knew, that he might
have won that campaign had hi
deigned to sacrifice his principles OF
to throw his friends overheard.
That he did neither is credited witt
losing him his place in the senate
where he had grown to be a power
It is, at the same time, to his ever.
lasting credit as man that he pre-.
ferred defeat to an inner feeling O.
dishonor.
This occasion also gave him oppor'
tunity to demonstrate the loyalt,
which was an essential part of him
A lesser man might have sulked IL
his tent: thrown political stones a
his successful rival for the nomina
ton. McCumber did neither. He wa
Republican and sense Of part,
loyalty was strong within him. Tn
fall campaign Of 1922 found hin
campaigning for the man who ha'
defeated him In June.
One wonders, as this great son Q
North Dakota is laid to rest. whel
we will find another public servau
Of his caliber. Some OF the men no,
on the scene may develop to matcl
his stature but they have yet to prov
tia foa%