Mr. SPEAKER: I feel it my duty as a Representative
of the State of Wisconsin, and as a long-time friend, to add
a
word to what has already been so well said in remembrance
of our late colleague, HENRY CULLEN ADAMS.
My first acquaintance with him dates back to the year 1870,
when we were students together at the University of
Wisconsin. For three years I met him daily - in the class
room and upon the campus - and grew to recognize in him a young
man of ability and great promise.
"CULLY" ADAMS was a genial, whole-souled fellow
in college, well beloved by his fellow-students. He was a
thoroughly conscientious student, who, when he had finished
considering a subject, had a complete understanding of it. He
took high rank as a student and was considered among the ablest
debaters in the institution at a time when debating societies
flourished, and when they filled a most important part in rounding
out the education of the young men of his time.
He spent three years at the University of Wisconsin, but
on account of ill health was unable to complete his college
course. Thus it will be seen that even in early manhood he
suffered from the handicap of being afflicted with poor health,
and it is not too much to say that from the time of his leaving
the university to the day of his death he saw very few, if any,
well days. Yet with all of this to contend with few of those
who were his early associates have risen so high or accomplished
so much in the about thirty-year period allotted to him for his
life's work. Few public men were more universally known throughout
Wisconsin than he, and his career was of interest to all; hence
it was with universal anxiety that the citizens of his State
learned that he had been stricken with illness while en route
from the capital to his home at the end of the last session,
and a feeling of deep sorrow was manifest when, after a few days
of suffering, the end came.
His public career consisted of two terms as member of assembly;
six years as superintendent of public property; eight
years as dairy and food commissioner, and as a Member of
the Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses.
He was raised on a farm, and by study and experience became
a practical dairy farmer; hence he brought to his duties
as dairy and food commissioner a knowledge of the needs of
the dairy interests of the State and put that knowledge to practical
use in administering the office, and in consequence performed
his duties with ability and to the great advantage of the dairy
interests of his State. Even before entering Congress and while
he was yet a State official he made his impress on national legislation
in behalf of the dairy interests of the country. Probably no
man, either in or out of Congress, exercised as much influence
in securing the passage of the oleomargarine bill as did he.
During the consideration of the bill by the committee he made
exhaustive argument in behalf of the legislation and showed such
broad and profound knowledge of the subject that by the force
of his logic he compelled attention and convinced the committee
and Congress that the legislation was demanded.
When he entered the Fifty-eighth Congress he was well equipped
to take up his duties promptly, and he introduced
without delay what was known as the "agricultural experiment-station
bill" and secured the approval of the committee which authorized
him to report it to the House, where it was placed on the Calendar,
but his efforts, though persistent, were unable to force consideration
of the measure in that Congress. This was a great disappointment
to him, but instead of discouraging him it nerved him to greater
effort. Even before the adjournment of the Fifty-eighth Congress
he had commenced a campaign throughout the country which was
destined to bring him victory. He solicited the support of agricultural
colleges everywhere, and through his influence farmers' institutes
discussed the legislation, and as a result pressure was brought
to bear until at the opening of the Fifty-ninth Congress, because
of the universal demand, the bill was reported from the committee
and passed without material opposition during its first session.
This one important measure, which was enacted into law during
his second Congress solely because of his individual efforts,
was an accomplishment which any Member could well be proud of
securing, even after a long term of service.
He also took prominent part during the last session in securing
the enactment of the pure-food law, it being admitted by
all that his technical knowledge of the subject and his clear
conception of the need for governmental regulation was of great
advantage to his associates in formulating and passing the legislation,
which in now conceded to be most practical and beneficial.
He again came into prominence during the consideration of
the meat-inspection provision of the agricultural
appropriation bill as the first session of the present Congress
was nearing its close. It was generally conceded that his broad
knowledge, sound judgment, honest of purpose, and strong personality
had much to do in smoothing out the differences which at times
seemed to endanger the possibility of securing adequate legislation.
With less than two terms' service he had compelled legislation
of the greatest importance and had taken rank with the best debaters
in the House. His clear statement, sound logic, personal magnetism,
and forcible and eloquent expression, together with the fact
that he invariably spoke with a purpose, enforced attention in
this body, where it is so difficult to secure listeners.
In the death of Representative ADAMS this House has lost
an able, conscientious Member, and his family, the country,
the party, and his State have suffered an irreparable loss.