^ ^^'ji'&Sr^} HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES {^^No^l?!?^ EDWIN A. MERRITT, Jr. ( Late a Representative from New York ) MEMORIAL ADDRESSES ^ DELIVERED IN THE -Xi HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS Proceedings in the House Proceedings in the Senate February 7, 191S December 7, 1914 PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING ] L'-'2.L2.L(^ WASHINGTON 1916 B^6 6 4 D. of D. MAR 28 1916 Oo 5^ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page. Proceedings in the House of Representatives 5-27 Prayer by Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D 5, 9 Memorial addresses by — Mr. William M. Calder, of New York II Mr. Edwin S. Underbill, of New York 14 Mr. Irvine L. Lenroot, of Wisconsin 16 Mr. John J. Fitzgerald, of New York 17 Mr. Luther W. Mott, of New York 19 Mr. J. Hampton Moore, of Pennsylvania 21 Mr. Samuel Wallin, of New York 22 Mr. James S. Parker, of New York 24 Proceedings in the Senate 29 Exercises in the Assembly Chamber of the New York State Capitol -- 31-57 Prayer by Rev. W. J. Hamilton, of Potsdam, N. Y 32 Memorial addresses by — Mr. Thaddeus C. Sweet, Speaker of the Assembly. 34 Mr. Frank L. Young 36 Mr. Alfred E. Smith 44 Mr. James W. Wadsworth, Jr 47 Public memorial meeting in village hall, Potsdam, N. Y 59-65 Tributes by — Mr. Clarence S. Ferris 59 Dr. F. L. Dewey 60 Mr. Edward A. Everett 61 Mr. Harry M. Ingram 62 Mr. John L. Brown 64 Mr. Sylvester Nicolette 64 Resolutions adopted by the bar of Potsdam, N. Y 65 [3] ■^ 9 # ■> HON. EDWIN A.MERRITT DEATH OF HON. EDWIN A. MERRITT, JR. Proceedings in the House Monday, December 7, 1914. This being the day fixed bj- the Constitution for the annual meeting of the Congress of the United States, the House of Representatives of the Sixty-third Congress met in its Hall at 12 o'clock noon for its third session, and was called to order by the Speaker, Hon. Champ Clark, a Representative from the State of Missouri. The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D., offered the following prayer : O Thou who art from everlasting to everlasting, the be- ginning and the end; creating, re-creating, life-giving, life- sustaining Potentate; our God and our Father, our hearts turn to Thee at this, the beginning of the end of the Sixty-third Congress, for we realize that without Thee nothing is strong, nothing enduring; that if its work lives and bears fruit, it must be in consonance with the eternal laws which Thou hast ordained. Inspire, we pray Thee, the heart of each Member of this House with patriotic zeal and fervor; give wisdom and strength to its Speaker, that with characteristic candor and courage he may continue to preside with justice and equity in its deliberations. Let Thy favor be upon our President and his counselors, that the affairs of state may be wisely administered at home and abroad. May the people uphold and sustain him in solving the problems which confront us in the present crisis. May those who are called to sit in judgment upon the laws enacted, [5] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt national and international, be guided by wisdom, that their judgments may be true and righteous altogether. Continue us, we beseech Thee, in peace among ourselves and with all nations. And now, O God our Father, our hearts touched by the death of one of the Members of this House since we last met, we pray for Thy comfort to sustain us and those to whom he was nearest and dearest. Teach us how to live now, that we may be prepared to live in the larger life which Thou hast in store for Thy children, and all praise shall be Thine, in the name of the world's great Redeemer. Amen. Mr. Payne. Mr. Speaker, it becomes my sad duty to announce to the House the death of my colleague, Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., which occurred on Friday last at his home in Potsdam, N. Y. I offer the following resolu- tions, and at some future time I shall ask the House to set aside a daj' to be devoted to the delivery of eulogies upon the life, character, and public services of the deceased. The Speaker. The Clerk will report the resolutions. The Clerk read as follows : House resolution 663 Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., a Representative from the State of New York. Resolved, That a committee of the House, with such Members of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the funeral. Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms of the House be authorized and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of these resolutions, and that the necessary expenses in connection therewith be paid out of the contingent fund of the House. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. [6] Proceedings in the House The Speaker announced the following committee: Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Payne, Mr. Brown of New York, Mr. O'Leary, Mr. Wilson of New York, Mr. Dale, Mr. Maher, Mr. Calder, Mr. GrifTin, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Metz, Mr. Riordan, Mr. Goldfogle, Mr. Loft, Mr. Levy, Mr. Conry, Mr. Dooling, Mr. Carew, Mr. Patten of New York, Mr. Chandler of New York, Mr. Cantor, Mr. George, Mr. Bruckner, Mr. Goulden, Mr. Oglesby, Mr. Taylor of New York, Mr. Piatt, Mr. McClellan, Mr. Ten Eyck, Mr, Parker of New York, Mr. Wallin, Mr. Mott, Mr. Talcott of New York, Mr. Fairchild, Mr. Clancy, Mr. Underhill, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Danforth, Mr. Gittins, Mr. Smith of New York, Mr. DriscoU, and Mr. Hamilton of New Y'ork. The Speaker. The Clerk will report the remaining reso- lution : The Clerk read as follows : Resolved, That as a further mark of respect, this House do now adjourn. The resolution was agreed to; and accordingly (at 1 o'clock and 9 minutes p. m.) the House adjourned until to-morrow, Tuesday, December 8, 1914, at 12 o'clock noon. Tuesday, December 8, 19i^. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Tullcy, one of its clerks, announced that the Senate had passed the follow- ing resolution : Senate resolution 493 Resolved, That the Senate has heard with deep sensibility the announcement of tlie death of Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., late a Representative from the State of New York. Resolved, That a committee of six Senators be appointed by the Vice President, to join the committee appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to attend the funeral of the deceased at Potsdam, N. Y. Resolved, That the Secretary communicate a copy of these reso- lutions to the House of Representatives. [7] Memorial Addresses : Representative Merritt In compliance with the foregoing resolution, the Vice President had appointed as the committee on the part of the Senate under the second resolution Mr. Root, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Martine of New Jersey, Mr. Dillingham, and Mr. Saulsburj'. Wednesday, January 6, 1915. Mr. Calder. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent Mr. WiNGO. The point of no quorum was made. The Speaker. Will the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. Wingo] withhold his point, so that the gentleman can offer a resolution? Mr. WiNGO. Just so long as the parliamentary status is maintained The Speaker. It will be maintained. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Calder] offers a resolution, which the Clerk will report. The Clerk read as follows: House resolution 697 Resolved, That Sunday, February 7, be set apart for services upon tlie life, character, and public services of the Hon. Sereno E. Payne, late a Representative from the State of New Yorli, and of the Hon. Edwin A. MERRirT, Jr., late a Representative from the State of New York. The Speaker. The question is on agreeing to the reso- lution. The resolution was agreed to. [8] Proceedings in the House Sunday, February 7, 1915. The House met at 12 o'clock noon, and was called to order by Mr. Fitzgerald as Speaker pro tempore. The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D., offered the following prayer : Father in heaven, we thank Thee for the gift of life, its wonderful opportunities and far-reaching purposes, the earnest of that personal immortality which Thou hast woven into the warp and woof of our being, which through faith, hope, love, lifts us in our better moments up even to the throne of Thy divinity, and fills our hearts with longing, hopes, and aspirations; forces, though un- seen, which are ever moving us on to the betterment of conditions in our homes, in society, in governments, in religion. We are here on this sacred day to memorialize the life and character of two Members of this great body who, though dead, still live in our hearts and in the works they ■wrought as servants of the people. Make us strong to emulate, wise to pursue, earnest, faithful, that we may achieve and leave the impress of our personality behind us and be worthy of the gifts Thou hast bestowed upon us. May we look forward with those to whom the departed were near and dear in the unbroken continuity of life which shall bring us to them in the realms of larger light, life, and purity; through Him who taught us the way, and tlie truth, and the life. Amen. The Speaker pro tempore. The Clerk will read the order of the day. The Clerk read as follows : On motion of Mr. Calder, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That Sunday, February 7, 1915, be set apart for services upon the lives, characters, and public services of Hon. Sereno E. Payne and Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., late Repre- sentatives from the State of New York. [9] Memorial Addresses: Representativ'E Merritt Mr. Calder. Mr. Speaker, I offer the following reso- lution. The Speaker. The gentleman from New York offers a resolution, which the Clerk will report. The Clerk read as follows: House resolution 725 Resolved, That the business of the House be now suspended, that an opportunity may be given for tributes to the memory of the Hon. Sereno E. Payne, late a member of the House of Rep- resentatives from the State of New York, and to the memory of the Hon. Edward A. Merritt, Jr., late a member of the House of Representatives from the State of New York. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, and in recognition of their eminent abilities as distinguished public servants, the House, at the conclusion of these memorial proceedings, shall stand adjourned. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate. Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to the families of the deceased. The resolution was agreed to. [10] MEMORIAL ADDRESSES Address of Mr. Calder, of New York Mr. Speaker: A man who rises to distinction above his fellow men does so by reason of some exceptional value as a public servant and as a man, and it is this question of the value of a man in public service that I desire to discuss briefly in connection with the late Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., whose memory we revere in the ceremonies to-day. Mr. Merritt entered the Sixty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of another great man from New York State, Hon. George R. Malby. He took his seat at the convening of the short session of the Sixty-second Congress in December, 1912. He had been elected to the Sixty-third Congress and, recognizing his unusual ability as a legislator, the Republican membership in the House selected him to represent them on the Committee on Rules. Just at that period, however, he was taken ill and was unable to render very much service. Last No- vember he was reelected to the Sixty-fourth Congress, although at the time confined to his home. In December he passed away at his home in Potsdam, in the northern part of New York State. Mr. Merritt's public service was performed largely in the Legislature of the State of New York. His work in the assembly began in 1902, and he served in that body continuously for 11 years. During much of that time he was Republican leader of that body, and in his last year of service was Speaker. It was my privilege to become acquainted with Mr. Merritt during his first year's service [11] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt in the legislature, and I learned to regard him as a very strong character. He devoted himself to mastering all the State's business. He familiarized himself with the in- tricacies of the different departments. He was easily the best informed man upon the needs of government in New York State during his period of service. I can recall a conversation with former Gov. Hughes, now a member of the Supreme Court of the United States. He told me that the man who was most helpful to him in the matter of the State's finances was our deceased friend. I have heard him often discuss New York matters of great moment. When he rose to speak it was with the fullest of informa- tion, and when he presented a case it was with a wealth of illustration. Not only his supporters but his opponents profited by his industry and his painstaking labor. The people of a community can receive and deserve no higher encomium for their intelligence, their integrity, steadfastness, and patriotism than by their continued and hearty support of such a man as Mr. Merritt, who for many j'ears was afforded an opportunity for such public service. He earned and received and appreciated it, and the people reaped their full reward by the dedication of a rare life solelj' to their welfare. The close of such a long, useful, and honored life could not arouse a poignant sorrow, except as one would sincerely mourn that such a departure is the divine dispensation and that such a friend has finally left us. To his dear old father, a hero of our great war between the States, now an old man, and to his loving wife and daughter, all of us here extend our heartfelt sympathy, and in their sorrow I am sure it will be some comfort to them to feel that their beloved one had the confidence and esteem of everj' man with whom he had come in contact during his years of service for the State and the Nation. [12] Address of Mr. Calder, of New York I do not know to whose memory could be more fittingly applied this tribute to a moral hero : He never failed to march breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break; Never thought though right were worsted , Wrong would triumph; Held we fall to rise, are beaten to light harder. Sleep to wake. [13] Address of Mr. Underhill, of New York Mr. Speaker: I did not know the late Edwin A. Mer- RiTT, Jr., intimately. He came to this body in the last session of the Sixty-second Congress, and attended, so far as he was able, the first session of the Sixty-third Con- gress. His reputation in the State of New York was very high, as he had given his services to the State from 1896 until 1912. He had served his town as supervisor for 7 years, his assembly district in St. Lawrence County for 11 years, and the last 4 years he was the Republican leader in that body. When he was elected to Congress, he oc- cupied the position of speaker of the assembly. He was one of the best informed men in the State regarding affairs that affected that Commonwealth, and had his health permitted, he would have undoubtedly taken high rank in the Congress of tlie United States. He was a successful man in political work because he loved to work. He was interested in legislation and enjoyed the game of politics. He worked hard, and the success of his career is due not only to his ability and his education, but in great part to his industiy. He did not succeed because he was lucky. He succeeded because he worked — constant work and close attention to duties. I was one of the delegation who attended his funeral at his former home, Potsdam. A finer tribute could not have been rendered than that which took place there, that cold December day, when the pulse of business was still, and people gathered from manj' parts of northern New York, Albany, and New York City, as well as from the National Capital, to offer their last tribute of respect to one whom they had learned to love and admire. The services were of the most dignified character. It was [14] Address of Mr. Underhill, of New York remarked that those who participated and those who attended seemed to be filled with a personal obligation which they were endeavoring to discharge in the most fitting manner possible, A man of the life, character, works, and faith of Edwin A. Merrftt, Jr., does not die, for in the words of an un- known author — There is no death; the stars go down To rise upon some fairer shore, And bright in heaven's jeweled crown They shine forevermore. There is no death; an angel form Walks o'er the earth with silent tread; He bears our best-loved things away. And then we call them dead. Born into that undying life. They leave us but to come again; In all, in everything, the same, Except in grief and pain. And ever near us, though unseen. The dear immortal spirits tread. For all the boundless universe is life; There are no dead I 4093°— IG 2 [15] Address of Mr. Lenroot, of Wisconsin Mr. Speaker: Mr. Merritt was not as well known to his colleagues as he would have been had not the hand of illness fallen upon him early in his service here. How- ever, he was a man of such strong personality that he gained for himself in a few months a position that it often requires years of service of men of more than average ability to secure. At the beginning of his second term he was appointed a member of the Committee on Rules, one of the most important committees of the House, and in some respects the most important. Membership upon this committee is eagerly sought, and usually at- tained only after many years of service. Mr^ Merritt's appointment, however, was recognized by all who knew him as being due to his special qualifications for service in this important place. As a leader in his great State, as speaker of the New York Assembly, he had not only a special knowledge of parliamentary law, but intimate knowledge of the many important subjects of legislation. He attended only a few of the meetings of the Com- mittee on Rules, for the illness which caused his death came upon him shortly after his appointment to that committee; but in the meetings he did attend he so im- pressed himself upon his colleagues, that we have a keen realization of what the committee, the House, and the countrjr has lost by his death. He was a man of but few words, as we knew him, but when he did speak we knew that it was from a mature and well-considered judgment, formed after carefully considering all sides of the ques- tion involved. His modesty, his kindliness, and his wise counsel we shall always remember. The House has lost a valuable Member, his State and country a faithful servant. [16] Address of Mr. Fitzgerald, of New York Mr. Speaker : Death lays a hea\'y toll upon the House of Representatives. It exempts no group from its levy. We have just paid merited tribute to the memory of the late Sereno E. Payne. For more than a quarter of a century he had served in the House with distinction. We now commemorate the services of another Member from the State of New York who has been called from this life. His service in the House was too brief to enable him to attain commanding place in it. Protracted ill health prevented the advancement otherwise possible even in his shortened career. Few who knew him, however, were not convinced that, had Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., been spared for long service in this body, he would have won the confidence of the House by his industry and sagacity, his wide knowl- edge, and by virtue of his peculiar capacity for con- structive work in a legislative body. He was hardly known to the Members of the House. The confidence of his friends in the brilliancy of his career was based upon an intimate knowledge of his work in the Legislature of the State of New York. Gifted with a powerful physique, his was a command- ing figure. Highly educated and widely read, his logical and retentive mind was stored with a mass of useful infor- mation which he commanded with facility. Possessed of the peculiar gifts which adapt some men preeminently for a parliamentary career, his great talents had been utilized in the preparation of many important laws which to-day are of inestimable benefit to the State of New York. With his training, experience, knowledge, and adapt- ability he would unquestionably have been a valued and influential Member of the House had he lived sufficiently [17] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt long to have had full opportunity to display in this new field his wonderful gifts. Inscrutable, indeed, however, are the ways of Divine Providence. His predecessor, the late George R. Malby, had had an equally brilliant career in the Legislature of the State of New York. Like Mi-. Merritt he had been the leader of his party and tlien speaker of the assembly. He had also served in the senate for a number of years, while Mr. Merritt's service had been confined to the assembly. After a brief service here, during which he had demonstrated his value to the House, he was unexpectedly called to another life. The brevity of the service of these two men from the same district, after their useful careers in the State legislature, is a unique coincidence. Either one of them would have achieved distinction had his service been sufficiently extended. Those who knew Mr. Merritt admired him sincerely. He had a most attractive personality and, despite his unusual gifts, was modest and attracted and attached men to him. For many years I enjoj'ed his acquaintance. Familiar with his activity in the field he quit to take up the duties of this body, I was one of those who believed that he would speedily impress his personality upon the House. In his death the country has lost a capable and a useful public servant, his family and friends one who will long be mourned for his many good and lovable qualities. [18] Address of Mr. Mott, of New York Mr. Speaker: Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., represented the largest district in area in the State of New York. It was the great Adirondack district, comprising the counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and St. Lawrence. Mr. Merritt was in touch with the district as thoroughly as a Repre- sentative could have been. The leading manufacturing interest was in the making of paper, and he was an officer or stockholder in several companies. It is the hunting and fishing ground of New York State, and Mr. Merritt knew the woods and waters well. He knew the wants of his people by intimate association with them, and tried to see that they were filled. He was a born leader whether in public or private life, and his people in his own home county of St. Lawrence lionored him by sending him 11 terms to the State legislature, and, afterwards, the congressional district twice elected him to the House of Representatives. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., was a big man; that was the impression he left on all who met him. Not alone a big man physically, for he had a giant's frame and strengtii, but proportionally big mentally. It was just the strength of body and mind that one would expect, knowing his splendid father, who still lives at the family home, and knowing the kind of men who succeed in the north country where courage and perseverance and ability to fight are brought into daily play. He was the typical giant of the north. But few men at Washington came to know Mr. Merritt well. He was not here long before he was attacked with what proved to be a fatal sickness. But he was here long enough to study out things and long enough for his [19] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt friends to realize that if he were continued in service, as he would have been, he would have heen as successful and useful a Member to this House as he had proved to be at Albany in the Assembly of the State of New York. At Albany Mr. Merritt spent the best years of his career. Elected to the assembly in 1902, in 1908 he became leader of the majority in that house, under Speaker James W. Wadsworth, just elected to the United States Senate. In 1912 he was elected speaker of the assembly. In these two oflBces he left his mark on all the leading legislation passed by the legislature. Our highway law and our public-service law were matters of careful study to him, and not a bill passed the assembly with which he was not familiar. The men who served with him during these 11 years, even if all of them could not agree with him on various questions, all respected Mr. Merritt as a leader and loved him as a friend. The State of New York, with- out regard to party, paid tribute to him at his death. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., was brave, generous, loyal, and true. He will long live in the affectionate regard of those who knew him, and they will not cease to mourn for him. He has passed on to rest, but his hold on tlie hearts and affections of his friends is undiminished. [20] Address of Mr. Moore, of Pennsylvania Mr. Speaker: It is a sad commentary upon human affairs that Hfe must end, not always in youthful maturity or ripened old age, but sometimes at that period when it is best equipped for useful public service. The career of our late colleague, Mr. Merritt, at the bar and in the Legislature of the State of New York, had prepared him for those higher duties which are imposed upon a Rep- resentative of tlae people at the Nation's Capitol. In good part and with becoming enthusiasm he had entered upon that work. One of his first assignments was to the Com- mittee on Immigration and Naturalization, of which I am a member. It was there we began to know him better and to understand him and the purposes which animated him in coming to the House. His legislative experience and the readiness and ability with which he took up the duties assigned him gave promise of excellent future service. He was of the minority of the Immigration Committee and tlie benefit of his counsel and advice had just begun to be appreciated when word came of his illness. Then followed the last sad message. Our col- league had passed from the responsibilities placed upon him by his constituents to that higher service which none may resign. Mr. Merritt was stricken when we were beginning to avail ourselves of his mental powers and his legislative experience. What may we say of so sudden a taking off? It was not our way, nor is it for us to com- plain. The grief we share with those who knew and loved him best may in part be assuaged by the satisfaction we have in knowing that the work he did here was well and faithfully done. In tribute to his memory we can truth- fully say what is most commendable of the public servant, that the silver cord which bound our colleague to his earthly task was broken when the best that was in him had been dedicated to the public weal. [21] Address of Mr. Wallin, of New York Mr. Speaker: To-day it is meet to pay tribute to Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., who died while in the service of this House. Mr. Merritt was a man of such pronounced physical attainments that rash would he have been considered who should have forecasted his demise at a period so early in his career. Strong as he was bodily, his men- tality was fully as great. For years a member of the New York Legislature, he soon took rank with the leaders in that capitol and the State, and was everywhere looked upon as unquestionably among the most able of his col- leagues, both as an originator and a framer of legislation. From a modest newcomer in the assembly, in less than 10 years he had worked his way up until he attained the leadership of that body and acquired an acquaintance and distinction with the public men of the State enjoyed by few in recent years. Mr. Merritt was well educated, graduating from Y'ale College in 1884. He was possessed of a comprehensive mind and mental attainments which soon marked for more than ordinary heights in his chosen field. How well he fulfilled the early expectations of his many home friends the record shows. His influence in public affairs was always toward the right. He was forceful and ardent in his labors, and once having formed his opinion nothing could change his position save proof that his conclusion was wrong. He was man enough to realize that every question has two sides and his ambition was to be in the right, whether the matter was one relating to public or private aff"airs. His rapid development as a statesman was a matter of gratification, especially to those whose good fortune it was to know him intimately, and thus, [22] Address of Mr. Wallin, of New York when he was selected to fill in this body the place made vacant by his former leader and associate, the Hon. George R. Malby, his constituents were commended for their recognition of those abilities which make for good representation in the councils of the Nation. Mr. Merritt's service here was brief, but it was suffi- ciently long to premise a brilliant and useful career in the House, when a fatal malady attacked him and he gradually succumbed to the inevitable. When his life went out a bright light was extinguished and a wide circle mourned. The sympathy of an empirical State and of his colleagues in this Chamber from every State in the Union was extended in their sorrow and affliction to the mem- bers of his family, and it is now we place on the record our tribute of appreciation and recognition of his ability and worth in every walk of life, and our expression of grief that he will be with us no more. Of him, as of another, it may be said : A man that Fortune's buffets and rewards Hast ta'en witli equal thanks. [23] Address of Mr. Parker, of New York Mr. Speaker: I consider it indeed an honor to pay my tribute to the memorj^ of the Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., a truly great and remarkable man. Probablj' no man in this body knew Mr. Merritt as intimately as I, having been associated with him in legislative work for over a decade, and during that time having been his intimate friend. He was a giant in stature, with a mental equipment to match. The surroundings of one's youth have a great influence upon the habits and characteristics of life. Mr. Merritt was raised among the rugged foothills of the Adirondacks. He came of a hardy race of pioneers, men who had blazed the trail into that north country, and the natural character of his mind and body was that of the hardy, capable, self-reliant pioneer. Endowed with a brilliant mental equipment which was polished and trained by his education at Yale, his was indeed a mind that was fitted to grasp and deal with the complex ques- tions that confronted him during his legislative career. He entered public life early in the struggle of the people to control vast corporate interests. He had given this question much studj' and thought, and he had very certain and pronounced convictions, as, years before the final creation of a commission to regulate public scrsice corporations, I had discussed this matter with him and understood his views. He believed in the power of the Government, and believed that that power should be exercised to regulate, and regulate for the people's interests. The first legislation along this line which he drafted was legislation which made the then existing railroad commission in the State of New Y6rk a State [24] Address of Mr. Parker, of New York charge instead of having the expenses of the commission paid by assessment on the railroad corporations. This proposed legislation was misunderstood and defeated, but I well remember Mr. Merritt's remarks concerning it, when he said that no adequate regulation can be had when the regulators are paid by the corporations that are to be regulated. Soon after the defeat of this bill he was a dominant figure in an investigation regarding the conditions of the gas companies of New York City, and drew and introduced a bill which created a gas commission, and saw his theorj^ put into effect by seeing the expenses of the gas commission paid by the State. He was a great admirer of Gov. Charles E. Hughes, Gov. Hughes attain- ing wide public recognition on account of having been counsel for this investigating committee. When Mr. Hughes was elected governor, it was natural that Mr. Merritt should be the man selected to draw the public service corporations bill, which was to regulate the great corporate interests of our State. He saw what few men see, his theory, which had been called impractical only a few years before, put into full force and operation in the great State of New York. He had the most accurate mind of any man with whom it has ever been my privilege to be intimately associated. There were few spectacular flights of brilliancy, but his mind always worked like an accurate, well-oiled machine. His final determinations and opinions were so universally accurate that his opinions and judgment were eagerly sought by his friends and acquaintances. He gave the best years of his life to the service of his Stale, and there is no question but what the same energy and abilitj' expended in private life would have brought him tre- mendous personal advantages. He left his decided imprint upon the policy of the State of New York, and knowing him as I did, I am absolutely [25] Memorial Addresses: REPRESENTATrvE Merritt certain that had he lived his tremendous force of character would have made the same imprint upon the policies of national legislation. Personally, he was a most lovahle man. The primitive surroundings of his youth strengthened his regard for friendship, and a man that was his friend was indeed fortunate, for there was no sacrifice that he would not make for that friendship. One of his strongest char- acteristics was his entire and absolute loyalty to his friends. He was big-hearted, generous, intolerant of the petty meannesses of little minds, but alwajs tolerant of honest convictions, although differing from his. He was a man of unlimited courage, the kind of moral courage that permitted him to stand by his friends if he thought they were right, and to stand by his convictions on public questions although those convictions were at the moment unpopular. The most dominant characteristics of his nature, to us who knew him well, were his accuracy of judgment and his unflinching courage; characteristics that are indeed all too rare. I doubt if there was a man in the State who had more friends than Mr. Merritt, and these friends were not confined to his political associates, but numbered many of his political adversaries, all of whom recognized that he was a hard, courageous fighter, but that he always fought fairly. He had the gift of so many able men, of illustrating a point or administering a rebuke with an anecdote, which was always to the point, and many times illustrated the point or made unnecessary the harsh and cutting statement that must have been uttered had it not been for the milder way which he used to accomplish the same result. In the death of Mr. Merritt the National Legislature loses the influence of a great, big, broad-minded, able man, and we who knew him well lose an esteemed and loyal friend. [26] Address of Mr. Parker, of New York Mr. Speaker, I desire to ask unanimous consent to print in the Record the proceedings of the memorial services held in honor of the late Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., in the assembly chamber at Albany, N. Y., on Januarj' 20, 1915, and also to include the proceedings of the public memorial services held at Potsdam, N. Y., on December 14, 1914. The Speaker pro tempore. Is there objection? There was no objection. The proceedings referred to are as follows : (See pp. 31-57 for proceedings of memorial services in tlie as- sembly chamber at Albany, N. Y., and pp. 59-65 for proceedings of public memorial services at Potsdam, N. Y.) leave to print Mr. Calder. Mr. Speaker, as there are several Members of the House who desire to take part in these memorial proceedings who are unable to be present to-day, I ask unanimous consent that all Members of the House who desire to do so have leave to print. The Speaker pro tempore. If there be no objection, unanimous consent will be given to print remarks ap- propriate to the occasion. There was no objection. The Speaker pro tempore. Pursuant to tlie resolution heretofore adopted, and as a further tribute to the memory of the deceased, the House will now adjourn. According!}' (at 2 o'clock and 15 minutes p. m.) the House adjourned until Monday, February 8, 1915, at 11 o'clock a. m. [27] Proceedings in the Senate Monday, December 7, :/9:/4. Mr. Root. Mr. President, I offer the following resolu- tions and ask that they be read. The Vice President. The Secretary will read the reso- lutions. The resolutions (S. Res. 493) were read, considered by unanimous consent, and unanimously agreed to, as follows : Resolved, That the Senate has heard with deep sensibility announcement of the death of Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., late a Representative from the State of New York, Resolved, That a committee of six Senators be appointed by the Vice President, to join the committee appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to attend the funeral of the deceased at Potsdam, N. Y. Resolved, That the Secretary communicate a copy of these resolutions to the House of Representatives. The Vice President appointed as the committee on the part of the Senate under the second resolution Mr. Root, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Marline of New Jersey, Mr. Dillingham, and Mr. Saulsbury. Mr. Root. Mr. President, as a further mark of respect I move that the Senate do now adjourn. The motion was unanimously agreed to, and (at 3 o'clock and 55 minutes p. m.) the Senate adjourned until to-morrow, December 8, 1914, at 12 o'clock meridian. [29] EXERCISES AT ALBANY, N. Y. Exercises in memory of Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., held in the assembly chamber. State capitol, Albany, N. Y., Wednesday evening, January 20, 1915, 8 p. m., Hon. Thaddeus C. Sweet, speaker of the assembly, presiding. In the presence of Hon. Charles S. Whitman, governor of the State of New York, and the members of the senate and the assembly. Speaker Sweet. Prayer will be offered by the Rev. W. J. Hamilton, of Potsdam, N. Y. Rev. Hamilton. We will read a part of the Ninetieth Psalm : " Lord, Thou hast been our refuge, from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made; Thou art God from everlasting, and world without end. Thou turnest man to destruction; again Thou sayest. Come again, ye children of men. For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday; seeing that is past as a watch in the night. As soon as Thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep; and fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green, and groweth up; but in the evening it is cut doM'u, dried up, and withered. For we consume away in Thy displeasure and are afraid at Thy wrathful indignation. Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee, and our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. For when Thou art angry all our days are gone; we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. The days of our age are threescore years and ten ; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years; yet is their strength then but labor and sorrow; so soon passeth 4093°— 16- [31] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt it away, and we are gone. Oh, teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." So endeth the lesson. Let us pray. Direct, O Lord, in this and all our doings with Thy most gracious favor, and further us with Thy continual help, that in this and all our works, begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may always glorify Thy holy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, in whom whosoever be- lieveth shall live, though he die, and whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall not die eternally; who also has taught us, by His holy apostle St. Paul, not to be sorrj', as men without hope, for those who sleep in Him. We humbly beseech Thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness, that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in Him, and that, at the general resurrection in the last day we may be found acceptable in Thy sight and receive that blessing which Thj' well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all who love and fear Thee, saying. Come, ye blessed children of My Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech Thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. O most merciful Father, who hast been pleased to take unto Thyself the soul of our brother, grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage and who walk as yet by faith that having served Thee with constancy on earth we may be joined hereafter with Tlw blessed saints in glory everlast- ing, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. O Lord, who by Thy death didst take away the sting of death, grant unto us. Thy servants, so to follow in faith where Thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in Thee and awake up after Thy like- [32] Exercises at Albany, N. Y. ness, through Thy mercy, who livest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. O God, whose days are without end and whose mercies can not he numbered, make us, we beseech Thee, deeply sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of human life, and let Thy holy spirit lead us through this valley of miseiy in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives, that, when we shall have served Thee in our generation, we may be gathered unto our fathers in the confidence of a certain faith, in the comfort of a reasonable religious and holy hope, in favor with Thee, our God, and in perfect charity with the world. And all we ask through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. [33] Address of Mr. Thaddeus C. Sweet Speaker of the New York Assembly Those who were associated with him as a member of assembly, who served under his helpful direction as speaker, and those who are familiar with his faithful and intelligent service in the State and National Legisla- tures, meet to-night to honor the memory of Edwin A. Merritt, Jr. Those who served with him can bear witness to his high qualities of mind and heart and to his charming person- ality, which drew around him at all times a band of faith- ful and admiring friends and which endeared him to all his associates. Possessed of great mental vigor and physical strength, he used to the best of advantage in his long service in the assembly and in the House of Repre- sentatives his intellectual powers in the highest interests of the State and of the Nation. We can not lose sight of such a man, the work he performed, or the influence he exerted upon the inter- ests and activities of the Commonwealth. He had a wide knowledge of the affairs of state. He was interested in its financial, commercial, and educational welfare, was always active in promoting all measures which had for their object the uplift of the people, and throughout his legislative career was a faithful and energetic public servant. He exerted an influence among his associates which they will long remember, and all who believe in the power of education and honor to advance the integrity, useful- ness, and power of good citizenship will chefish his memory and hold his example in loving remembrance. It is character only which lives, and his character, com- bined with honorable public service, can not be forgotten. [34] Address of Mr. Thaddeus C. S%veet Selection, "Lead, Kindly Light," by double quartet, composed of the following: Sopranos, Mrs. Charlotte Bord Gilbert, Miss Alice E. Taylor; contraltos, Mrs. Edith Cleghorn Weaver, Mrs. Edna Herrick Peck; tenors, Ben Franklin, George W. Franklin; bassos, Roy H. Palmer, John N. Edwards. Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead, Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on I Keep Thou my feet! I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears. Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years. So long Thy power has blest me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. Speaker Sweet. It has been the purpose of your com- mittee to conduct the exercises in harmony with the life led by our departed brother and friend, and we have in- vited as the speakers his former and closest associates. I take great pleasure in presenting to you the first speaker of the evening, Hon. Frank L. Young. [35] Address of Mr. Frank L. Young Mr. Speaker, Ladies, and Gentlemen : Memorial services are as old as recorded history, and even in the daj's before written histoiy the memory of leading men in every land and clime was perpetuated in the manner characteristic of their country. In his oration on the Athenian dead, Pericles, after speaking eloquently on the characteristics of his country, the elements which had made it great, and the resources of its strength, stated of the men who were being memorial- ized, the honored dead, " Such did these men prove them- selves as became the character of their country." In every land there is an ideal manhood, expressed or unexpressed. This ideal is composite, made up of the opinions of all the different grades of men and of every school of thought, and yet is, on the whole, capable of definition. The man who receives honor is the man whose life and work are most consonant with the ideal of the countrj' in which he lives. To be true to such an ideal means honor and renown. In no land has such honor ever been purchased by wealth. It comes along from service, self- sacrifice, and patriotic devotion to duty. In everj' land honor and renown are accorded to everj' citizen who fills his life with service, self-sacrifice, and patriotism in any walk of life, public or private, civil or martial. No one can point out the source of the American ideal of manhood. Like our people, the source of our ideals seems to have been drawn from every part of the civilized globe. In them are to be discerned the religious teachings of all denominations, the self-sacrifice of the early founders of our Republic, who were willing to endure [36] Address of Mr. Frank L. Young anything that they might enjoy freedom of conscience, and the courage and bravery of the early colonists whose bold patriotism compelled them to take up arms to fight for a place where their ideals might be worked out in human conduct. From whatever source this well-recognized American spirit came, in these days and times it expresses itself in self-reliance, fair play, and the giving of equal oppor- tunitJ^ We visualize the American ideal in the self- reliant man who asks no favors but demands an oppor- tunity as his right; in the self-sacrificing man who is willing to spend and be spent that good may prevail; and in the patriotic man who, under heaven, finds his country's demand superior and undeniable. The American ideal demands honesty, clean living, fair dealing, equal opportunity to all, industry and devo- tion to her institutions, and the American citizen who is true to that ideal, who is alert, active, unrestrained, and devoted in the performance of his duty, the American people have always crowned and will always continue to crown with honor. And as men who have lived consistently and honorably up to that ideal pass away, the hearts of the American people are proud to acknowledge their service with the highest measure of praise, and, whether or not their memorials consist of statues or other material construc- tions, they earn and they possess an indestructible memorial in the hearts and affections of the American people. We are now observing a simple memorial service in appreciation of a really great man, who was more than a friend to many in this chamber who grieve with his honored father and his gracious wife and lovely daughter in their sorrow and affliction. It is not an empty, formal service, but it is a sincere and spontaneous expression of esteem from his personal [37] Memorial Addresses : Representative Merritt and political associates. His great soul has passed to " that bourne from which no traveler returns." We have gathered in honor of his memory because we appreciated and loved him. Weakly we say that Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., is dead — weakly, because in the friendships he estab- lished he is not dead, nor has his enduring work for the State of New York been diminished by his demise. We remember him for his wonderful powers of body, brain, and heart which he consecrated without limit to his friends and to his State. We remember him because he was an intensely human, big-brained, big-hearted man. We remember him because he fulfilled and represented the very clear and definite ideal which the American people accept as the best expression in human form of American manhood. This ideal is beautifully and eloquently expressed in the metrical prayer of John G. Holland: God, give us men! A time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, true faith, and ready hands; Men whom the lust of office does not kill; Men whom the spoils of office can not buy; Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who love honor, men who will not lie; Men who can stand before a demagogue. And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking; Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog In public duty and in private thinking; For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds. Their large professions, and their little deeds, Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps, Wrong rules the land, and waiting Justice sleeps. The salvation and the benefits of the American Republic depend upon the fact that from time to time, in various places, exemplars of the American ideal appear to give substantial proof that our institutions and our laws are not based upon hopes that arc impossible of human achievement. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., is one such ex- emplar. [38] Address of Mr. Frank L. Young Useful and inspiring as were the lives of Wasliington and Lincoln to their own times, they have been more useful and more inspiring to the American people since. Thej' gave back their honors to the world, Their better part to heaven, and slept in peace. For the generations which succeeded them Iiave drawn, are still drawing, and will continue to draw useful in- spiration from their works and their characters. Doubtless historj"^ will not record the name of Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., as high on the roll of fame as the name of Washington stands, but it is true, nevertheless, that Mr. Merritt solved greater financial problems than ever con- fronted our first President, and in that work for his State his rugged honestj% his spotless integritj% and his mag- nanimous unselfishness were as great as those of the " Father of his Countrj\" Nor will his name appear on the pages of American historj^ as luminous as that of Abraham Lincoln, and yet it is a fact tliat in his discernment, his measure of men, his hatred of sham and hyprocrisy, his faith in the Ameri- can people, his courage while under attack, and in the humor which saves, he was not so unlike that martyred President. God forbid that we should be fulsome in this service, for our deceased friend was a plain, truthtelling man, to whom sucli praises would have been abhorrent, but those of us who knew him best in his public life accord to him as high a place as any other statesman who ever gave his services to the State of New York. Entering the assembly in 1902, he gave 11 years of his life to the State, and in his last year he was the speaker. During four of those years I knew him intimately, and counseled and advised with him about many topics of great importance. Without meaning to draw invidious comparisons, I want to say that he had a more compre- [39] Memorial Addresses : Representative Merritt hensive and accurate knowledge of the State's affairs than any man connected with the State government in those days. His great brain was a veritable storehouse of infor- mation, and, regardless of physical consequences, he de- voted all his mental powers unselfishly and without stint to his public duty. He came to the legislature in his mature years, in the plenitude of his physical and intellectual powers, and he immediately rose to first rank among the lawmakers of the State. It is not too much to say that in all the recent constructive legislation in this State his was a guid- ing, if not a controlling, hand. But in addition to these great mental powers, the pos- session of which has always been conceded by those who knew him, he possessed other attributes which made him a positive and beneficent force among his associates. Among these traits was his great magnanimity. Even in the heat of conflict he was generous to his opponents, caring nothing for the adventitious issues, but always looking forward to the accomplishment of his purposes with a firm reliance in their righteousness. It was easy, too, for him to make acknowledgment of the assistance of others, and to give full credit to all to whom credit was due, notwitlistanding the fact that his own prestige might not seem so great by so doing. He seemed able to forget and forgive eveiything except meanness and littleness of soul. But, even for such men, he almost invariably exhibited a tolerant charity. He was never known to tear down the reputation of another that his own reputation might be thereby en- hanced — a somewhat exceptional record in these days of self-constituted professional reformers. Friendship was to him a sacred thing to be cherished and not to be lightly forfeited. I well remember an occasion when the fortunes of one of his friends, who is even now in this company, were being discussed. A bitter attack [40] Address of Mr. Frank L. Young was made upon his friend, and, after listening patiently to the arraignment which was made against him, he said, with more feeling than was usual with him, " That man may be all you say he is, but I do not believe it. He is my friend. That may mean much or little to you, but it means a lot to me, and I will hear nothing further about him." This is one instance only of the tenacity and sincerity of his friendship. In fact, I never knew him to be severe except when dealing with a fakir or a hypocrite ; with his keen insight into the intricacies of human conduct, he was never deceived by them, and with remarkable swiftness he could dissect their flattering and deceitful propositions and expose insincerity in all its nakedness. In such circumstances his wit and humor were as keen as a rapier, and many a time have I witnessed the dis- comfiture and defeat of a fraud by the simple telling of a stoiy which illustrated the point. He was well adapted by nature and training for the very highest legislative and executive offices. I believe that circumstances prevented a proper recognition of his wonderful powers. He knew perfectly well the enmities he created by plainness of speech, which to him seemed necessary. He knew that in public life — Men will hate thee. Men will love thee; Men will flatter, Men will slight. but looked upon all his experiences as merely necessary, temporary incidents, and kept true to the spirit that was within him. He was willing at all times to pay the price of his popularity whenever he felt the justice of his cause. In this brief manner I have summarized the character- istics of our deceased friend, as I saw him and understood him. He was a truly great man, worthy of all the best traditions of American manhood, entitled to full praise [41] Memori.\l Addresses : Representative Merritt for the self-sacrificing and efficient service which he gave to our State. May his example be a stimulus to all of us, to prepare for that practical patriotism which gives service as well as tribute to the State! Long may the memorj' of our great associate remain among us for the betterment and improvement of the American commonwealth. True to his times, and true to himself, he performed his fullest obligations both as a man and as a citizen. The friendly social, honest man, Whate'er he be, 'Tis he fulfills great nature's plan. And none but he. The State has lost a capable servant and may well mourn for him, but the keenest loss is felt among those who personally enjoyed the honor of his friendship and the inspiration of his character. We shall remember him as One who never turned his back, but march'd breast forward; Never doubted clouds would break; Never dream'd, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph; Held, We fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, sleep to wake. Selection by double quartet, " Crossing the Bar " : Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for nic! And may there be no moaning of the bar When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam. When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell When I embark; [42] Address of Mr. Frank L. Young For though from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar. Speaker Sweet. Men in all walks of life may oppose one another, whether it be commercially or politically, but though opposed they may still be friends. I take pleasure in presenting to you the next speaker of the evening, the political opponent but the fast friend, Hon. Alfred E. Smith. [43] Address of Mr. Alfred E. Smith Mr. Speaker, Ladies, and Gentlemen : I feel very deeply honored to be pei-mitted to speak a word at this memorial service to our late lamented friend and comrade, Edwin A. Merritt, Jr. I met him in 1904 when I entered this chamber for the first time. He was then a prominent member on the majority side of the house. I served with him througli the years until 1912, when he was elected speaker, and in that time I developed for liim as strong an affection as it is possible for one man to have for another, not of his own relationsliip. His many noble qualities of heart and mind endeared him to every man that sat in tliis chamber, and it is gratifying to see so many of them here to-night from all parts of the State to join in this gathering and to do honor to his memory. In the memoir of his distinguished father, I read this passage from the reti'ospect: "Without boasting, 1 can truly say that in a long life which has not been free from any contests, I have never knowingly taken unfair ad- vantage of my opponents and if I have fought hard, I liave fought fairly." 1 thought, as I read, how forcefully this trait was iinpressed on the life and character of Edwin A. Merritt, Jr. He was a strong partisan. He believed very firmly in the principles and precepts of the Republi- can Partj% but he put the good of the State first and sup- ported any measures he believed to be in tlie interest of the commonweal. He was a forceful orator and drew the sword of debate with as much strength and vigor as any man that ever stood on this floor, and better than all, he left behind no sting — no bitterness. " He was a good friend. His friendship was really worth having. He helped me to success when my failure may [44] Address of Mr. Alfred E. Smith have meant something of advantage to his party. Public life makes many fair weather friends. Many there are tliat shake your hand and pat your back when you are in the heyday of your power, but Merritt's friendship was of the kind that was more powerful when the clouds of political adversity frowned upon you. He had a smile and a good word for everybody, from the highest to the lowest, that were connected with the busy life of the capitol. He loved the State that he served so faithfully. He loved to talk of its future greatness. He knew it better than any man I ever met, and was more at liome in the assembly than in the larger field of activity to which he was called by an admiring constituency. He knew the legislature thoroughl}^ — its methods, its habits of thought — and no man more jealously guarded its prerogatives. He had the most profound respect for its authority as a branch of the Government and an inflexible belief in the ultimate rectitude of its purposes. Time there is indeed, and I could spend it in the memorjr of " Ed." Time and time again, he asked me to go up and stay at Potsdam, where he might show to me what he called "Our Great North Country." It shall alwaj^s be to me a matter of regret that 1 did not see the little village until I found it plunged in mourning the day of his funeral — its business places darkened and the counti-jside gathered in it to pay tribute to his memory. I Ijrought with me my eldest son, and I gave him a copy of the Red Book of 1912 and 1 asked him to always re- member what it was that brought him on his first long journey from home. I could talk through the night about Ed. MERRrrx, and all that 1 could say would be inadequate to express what I really thought of him. 1 will conclude, therefore, leav- ing with you this thought: "Almighty God asks nothing for nothing, and when we say to Him ' Thy will be done [45] Memorial Addresses: Representatu'e Merritt on earth as it is in heaven ' — if we mean that — if it comes from the heart, He responds with a balm for every wound and a joy to balance every sorrow, and He gives to us to-night in an hour of affliction abundant consola- tion in that almost universal belief that Divine Providence makes all things equal and solves for the just man the mystery of death as life everlasting." Selection by the double quartet, "Peace, Perfect Peace." Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. Peace, perfect peace, with sorrow surging round? On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus' keeping, we are safe, and they. Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers. It is enough; earth's struggles soon shall cease, And Jesus call us to heaven's perfect peace. Speaker Sweet. Side by side, shoulder to shoulder, fighting the battles of State, stood Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., and James W. Wadsworth, jr. As his closest associate and constant counselor, I present to you at this time, Hon. James W. Wadsworth, jr. [461 Address of Mr. James W. Wadsworth, Jr. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislature, Ladies, and Gentlemen: The invitation to say something of the life and public services of Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., upon this occasion and in this presence touches me very deeply. It is indeed an honor which I appreciate, and I rejoice at being afforded an opportunity to testify to the high char- acter and great achievements of that dear friend, with whom I was so intimately associated here in this capitol. So vivid and so deep is the impression he made during the years of that association that it seems but yesterday that he stood towering in the center aisle there, his voice reverberating through the uttermost spaces of this great chamber, welding the laws of New York. It seems but yesterday that he gathered us about him in our leisure hours and won and held our deep affection. It is difficult for us to understand that we will never again experience that inspiring and delightful human contact. And now that we long to tell the world our estimate of him, I, for one, realize that my poor words must fall far short of describing that picture of him which will reside in my mind as long as I shall live. It can not be denied that hereditj'^ and environment are powerful factors in the formation of character and habit of mind; and in order to possess an intelligent under- standing of Mr. Merritt, we must take into consideration these elements in relation to him. His forbears were of sturdy American stock — simple, God-fearing, self-reliant, typical of the early pioneers. His father — who still lives, honored and respected by thousands of his fellow citizens in his old age — has for years been a commanding figure in northern New York. By occupation an outdoor man, 4093°— 16 4 [47] Memorial Abdresses: Representative Merritt who in the early days helped blaze the way through the northern wilderness, he transmitted to his son a vigor and strength of constitution remarkable even in a country renowned for its strong men, and that simplicity and directness of mental operation so characteristic of the early American. The father, true to the type, from early manhood has maintained an active and intelligent interest in public affairs. He has been a friend and confidant of leading Americans since the days of the great Civil "War, has held high positions of trust and power, and has been a leader of thought and molder of opinion in that great northern country in which he has lived so long and which he loves so well. It is not surprising, therefore, that the son whose memory we now revere drew inspiration in his early man- hood from the example of his sire and found himself equipped with the same attributes of public spirit and devotion to country. Born in 1860, he attained manhood at a time when it was still possible for him to absorb a vivid conception from his father and his father's neigh- bors of those great principles which were fought for and vindicated in the trying days of the sixties. He absorbed readily the story of sacrifice and heroism relating to those times, and from that story he learned the great principles of human liberty upon which this Republic was founded. Through all his active life he never ceased deriving in- spiration from the deeds of the generation just preceding him, and he never wavered in his admiration and reverence of the men w^ho saved the Nation. There was no more potent inilucnce in his life than his contact with those men. By their example he was inspired to that simple manly courage which was his predominating trait. Graduating from Yale College, at New Haven, Conn., in 1881, he joined his father at London, where the latter at that time was holding the high and responsible position of consul general of the United States. After spending [48] Address of Mr. James W. Wadsworth, Jr. a year assisting his father in that interesting and broaden- ing atmosphere, he returned to his home in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, and immediately embarked upon that active career in which he later gained such distinction. Although actively engaged in business, he found time to take part in the public affairs of the community in which he lived. In fact, the stress and contention of politics and the satisfaction of public service well per- formed held a peculiar fascination for him, and, commenc- ing with his election to the St. Lawrence County board of supervisors, he was continually in public life until the day of his death. His strength of mind, his clarity of vision, and his integrity soon made their impression upon the people of St. Lawrence, and in 1902 he was elected a member of assembly from the district in which he resided. From that year up to and including the legislative session of 1912 his constituents, with unwavering confidence in him as their representative, continued to send him to the State capitol. It was in this chamber the great work of his life was performed. It was in this arena that he made his name known over the length and breadth of this great State; and while he was later promoted to a wider field of activity at the National Capitol at Washington his place in history rests upon the services he rendered in the assembly. So long was his service, so many and varied the legis- lative tasks which he undertook and carried to a suc- cessful completion that time will not permit upon this occasion an attempt upon my part to recite them all. With no thought of minimizing the importance of his eff'orts in a score of directions, it shall be my endeavor to set forth that achievement of his which his colleagues con- sidered the greatest of all and which has exercised a most profound effect upon the government of the State of New York. [49] Memorial Addresses : Representative Merritt It is a matter of history that tlie dawn of the new century was signalized by a remarkable and almost phe- nomenal development of the economic and industrial life of America. That period will go down in history as the one which witnessed the formation of great combinations of capital and gigantic organizations for the canying on of industry in all its branches. The intricacies of modern civilization seem to have made this development logical and therefore inevitable. This growth, however, created evils new and unlooked for in our civic life. So powerful did these organizations become that they appeared in the minds of many to constitute a grave danger to our form of government. As they grew so did the public impression grow, that unless a remedy was applied self-government would be poisoned at its source. When Merritt took his seat in the assembly in 1902 the first mutterings, as it were, of the storm which was to break over American politics could be heard by the dis- criminating ear. In later years Merritt's friends learned that he, almost from the day of his taking his scat in this chamber, saw the cloud upon the horizon and commenced preparing himself to take part in the solution of the mighty problem which he felt would confront the people later on. It is not necpssarj' for me to describe in detail the I'ise of that great wave of public sentiment which finally brought to bear such irresistible pressure for the solution of the problem of the relations existing between the public, on one hand, and the great public service cor- porations, created by the public, upon the other. We know now that the demand for a remedy which was fear- lessly and irresistibly made at that time had its justifica- tion in the misdeeds and abuse of power on the part of some who cynically disregarded the sensibilities and the rights of the average man. Those of us who served in the legislative sessions of 1905-6 can never forget the tension and stress of those [50] Address of Mr. James W. Wadsworth, Jr. days when the storm reached its greatest fury. Some there were who persisted in maintaining an attitude of indifference, and declaring that it would blow over in good time. There were even some, although their num- ber was few, who refused to admit that there was any- thing genuine or important in the demand of the hour. The great majority of men in public life at that time, however, realized that mighty forces were at work and that something must be done to meet the sentiment of the people — and prevent chaos. It is true also that the great majority of men, buffeted by the contending forces and perplexed by conflicting counsel, were groping in the dark, conscious of their unpreparedness. Of all the men in the New York Legis- lature of those days, Merritt seemed to have the clearest conception of the situation, and, starting almost alone in his efforts, he proceeded to lay the foundation for a great piece of constructive legislation which we believe to- day has solved the problem. It was characteristic of Merritt's viewpoint toward life in general that he should believe in the power of govern- ment, and that he should contend that government should exercise its power to do a certain thing when no other agency is capable of doing that thing. For four years he had been a keen observer of the play of contending forces in and about the legislature and the State government. He weighed and analyzed the good and the bad, the useful and the useless, and when he had made up his mind to act, he knew what ought to be done and where the power resided. His first move in the direction which he had marked out attracted little public attention, but to those who knew his purpose and his mind it was of vast significance. During the administration of Gov. Higgins, Merritt intro- duced a bill in the assembly providing that all the ex- penses incident to the support of the then existing State [51] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt railroad commission should be borne by the treasurj' of the State instead of requiring the railroad companies to meet the expense of supervision, as was then the case. He stood almost alone in his contention. Men said, " If we are to discipline these corporations, why do we com- mence by relieving them of this comparatively light burden?" Merritt's answer was that the Government must shortlj^ assume new powers of supervision and regu- lation over these corporations, and in preparation for that day tlie Government must free itself of any sense of obli- gation, however remote, toward the corporations which it proposed to regulate. This act of Assemblyman Merritt, while failing of suc- cess for the moment, was the planting of the seed in the legislative mind. More and more from that time men listened to his proposal and came to recognize its ultimate wisdom. Events moved quickly. The pressure was enor- mous. In 1905 a special committee of the legislature was appointed to investigate the distribution and the sale of illuminating gas by public-service corporations in the city of New York. The work of this committee attracted wide attention. Merritt was one of its strongest members. By far the most significant act resulting from this in- vestigation was the drafting and final enactment of a bill intrusting to a State commission, known at the time as the " State gas commission," the function and duty of regulat- ing the rates charged for illuminating gas and electricity by all the lighting companies of the State. The strong hand of Merritt was readilj' seen in the provisions of this bill. It was his first definite proposal directed toward the solution of this great problem. Imperfect in manj' re- spects, it nevertheless amounted to a declaration on the part of the government of New York that henceforth it intended to exercise its powers. I remember well the gratification which Merritt de- rived from this acceptance of the principle which he had [52] Address of Mr. James W. Wadsworth, Jr. laid down a year before and which had met such dis- couragement. And I remember well the intense gratifica- tion whicli came to him in the following year, in 1907, when the newly elected governor of New York, Charles E. Hughes, laid such tremendous emphasis upon the necessity for a solution of this sort to be applied over a much wider field. Merritt hastened to his support, con- fident that through the great influence and ability of that exceptional executive success would come, as coine it did. He was one of the responsible authors of the public- service commissions bill of 1907. He worked in collabora- tion with others day after day and week after week until that measure was complete. His influence can be read in every line of it. When it was enacted into law it bore his name jointly with that of Senator Page. If 1 may be permitted to express an opinion, this law, establishing as it did a standard of relationship between the Govern- ment, representing all the people on one hand, and the railways, the street railways, the gas companies, and electric lighting companies on the other, is the greatest monument of the four years of the administration of Gov. Hughes. Merritt's work did not end with this achievement. The following year the legislature appointed a special committee to investigate the feasibility of bringing the telephone and telegraph companies under the jurisdiction of the commission. Merritt was one of the strong men on that committee and was largely instrumental in drafting the bill reported by that committee and almost immedi- ately enacted, extending the power of the public service commissions over the wire companies. The student of government will admit that Mr. Merritt, in inaugurating this great movement in 1905, assisting powerfully in its progress through 1906, 1907, 1908, per- formed a service for the State of New York of immeasur- able importance and vast significance. Throughout all of [53] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt that struggle, through all the varying phases of the con- flict in which he took part, two of his traits of character stood out conspicuously : First, his clear courage. He never faltered; he never wavered, no matter what the obstacle. Second, his lack of vanity. He had convictions, deep- rooted and sound, but he had no false pride or conceit. He never claimed or demanded special recognition for his achievement. In fact, of all eminently successful men, men endowed with power and subject to the temptations which go with it, Merritt was the least vain. His sim- plicity, directness, and his sense of humor saved him from that which has destroyed or impaired the usefulness of many a distinguished man. In order to give some idea of the tremendous and varied work which Merritt did in the assembly, in addition to the great achievement which I have attempted to de- scribe, it should be noted that he was first chairman of the committee on agriculture, then chairman of the committee on general laws, chairman of the committee on railroads, chairman of the committee on ways and means, which at that time carried with it the majority leadership, and which he held for three years; minority leader in 1911, and finally speaker of the assembly in 1912. The State will not forget the great work he did in help- ing to revise the highway law and inaugurating the build- ing of improved highways through the Commonwealth. Nor will the State forget the three years of arduous service he rendered in helping to formulate the financial policy of the State as expressed in the appropriation bills. The burden he carried was enormous. Only a man of his great mental and physical strength could have stood up under it. His career in the assembly culminated in his election to the speakership. He was permitted to hold that difficult and responsible position for but one year. The death of his long-time friend, George R. Malby, left vacant the seat in Congress [54] Address of Mr. James W. Wadsworth, Jr. held by that Representative of the north country con- gressional district. It was inevitable that the people of that district should demand that Merritt represent them in Washington. They did so demand and he acquiesced and accepted an election to Congress from his district. I think it is accurate to say that he left Albany with reluctance. He felt that he was entering upon a new and strange field, although he deeply appreciated the honor and the opportunitj\ He was familiar with this atmos- phere here in the capital where he had spent the greater part of his public life, where he had impressed himself upon the life of the State which he loved; here were his intimate fi'iends — and their name was legion. He felt that other additional tasks awaited his efforts here; he felt that the State had not as yet solved the highway problem. He realized that the financial operations of the State were subject to vast improvement; that the question of taxa- tion, income, and expenditure needed close study and application. He longed to address himself to this work, but his sense of duty to his people at home, his gratitude for their loyalty and friendship, compelled him to re- linquish his work here and assume the duties of a national legislator. It is a matter of record that he quickly assumed a prominent place in the House of Representatives. Although a member of the minority, his strength and wis- dom were soon recognized by his colleagues, a fact which was made evident by his appointment to the great Com- mittee on Rules of the lower House at Washington shortly after he took his seat. He had scarcely embarked upon a career of usefulness and distinction in the National Congress, when, with a suddenness that is incomprehensible, he was attacked by a combination of maladies which called forth every atom of his gigantic strength of will and physique to combat. Accompanied by his faithful, loving wife, he was taken to [55] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt the sanitarium at Dansville, near my own liome, in Liv- ingston County. There he waged a battle which can never be forgotten by those of us, who, from time to time, were permitted to see him. His great frame stricken and shat- tered to an inconceivable degree, his mighty intellect never lost its clarity, his soul never lost its courage. For 13 months he endured physical and mental suffer- ing seldom deinanded of a human being. Crisis after crisis was surmounted through the might of his will power. Naturally a somewhat impatient man in the ordi- nary walks of life, he yielded to the necessities of his fight with a confiding trust and patience which was sublime. He knew his loving family and faithful attendant were struggling bravely all through these weary months to save him, and he set himself to help them help him. The time came in the autumn of 1914 when it seemed that his efforts and those of his loved ones had been crowned with victory. With indomitable courage and implicit con- fidence he started on his journey homeward. I shall never forget the day of his departure and the words he uttered on that occasion: " I have won my fight; I am going back to my people; I have work to do." He was renominated and reelected to Congress by a constituency who had known him all his life and loved him best. The future looked bright, and then suddenlj% when we were all filled with confidence that he would live to attain an even higher degree of usefulness and distinction, his malady returned in a new and unexpected form, and after a brief but heroic struggle he succumbed to the will of an all-wise Providence. His father is left stricken and without the sustaining hand of his great son in his old age; his wife and daughter crushed with grief. Hundreds of us, his former associates, have lost a dear friend, and the realization of our loss quickens and deepens the sympathy which we extend to his devoted family in this trying hour. Our consolation [56] Address of Mr. James W. Wadsworth, Jr. must be that we men who knew him are better men and this State a better State because he lived. Selection by the double quartet, " Beautiful Isle of Somewhere " : Somewhere the sun is shining, Somewhere the song birds dwell; Hush, then, thy sad repining, God lives, and all is well! Somewhere, somewhere, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere; Land of the true, where we live anew, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere. Somewhere the load is lifted. Close bj' an open gate; Somewhere the clouds are rifted. Somewhere the angels wait. Somewhere, somewhere, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere; Land of the true, where we live anew, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere. Speaker Sweet. With the pronouncing of the benedic- tion the services of the evening will close. Rev. Hamilton. The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowl- edge and love of God and of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holj' Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen. [57] PUBLIC MEMORIAL MEETING, VILLAGE HALL, POTSDAM, N. Y., DECEMBER 14, 1914. An informal public meeting to pay tribute to the memory of the late Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., Represent- ative in Congress, was held in the village hall, Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., on the evening of December 14, 1914. The meeting was attended by personal friends and neighbors of Congressman Merritt. Hon. Clarence S. Ferris presided as chairman of the meeting, and Howard E. Thompson acted as secretary. Judge Ferris opened the meeting with the following remarks : " We have come together at this time to pay fitting tribute to the memory of our deceased friend. " For many years he had been in the public service. He had attained great influence with all with whom he was associated. His services to the State have left their im- press on much inaportant legislation, and our laws are better for his having had a part in framing them. " At some future time I assume appropriate services will be held by the House of Representatives, which will emphasize and commemorate the value of his public service. However, these services must be to some extent different. " While we, as his neighbors, appreciate his great service as a public servant, we think of him more as a friend and familiar figure in our midst, who has sud- denly been removed by death. It is most fitting that we should meet here to-night to give expression of his worth, not only as a public official, but as a friend whom we loved and whose death we mourn." [59] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt Dr. F. L. Dewey gave the following tribute of apprecia- tion of Mr. Merritt : " Mr. Chairman, Friends, and Neighbors : We are gathered here to-night to express our sincere and honest sorrow over the demise of Hon. Edwen A. Merritt, Jr., Representative of this district in Congress. To each and everj' one of us his death brings a sense of personal loss. Long and serious as had been his illness, the announce- ment that his spirit had taken its flight and passed on over the Great Divide came as a surprise and a shock. " To me he had always been ' Big Ed. Merritt,' tireless, undaunted, and invincible. Born in the foothills of our own Adirondacks, passing his bojdiood life in Potsdam, he was a simple, plain north-country gentleman. Com- pleting his course in our normal school, which owes its existence to the efforts of his father, he passed on to Yale University. Graduating there in due course, he sup- plemented his school and university training by travel abroad and efTicicnt and successful work in the consular service. " I first met Ed. Merritt in the fall of 1885. He im- pressed me then as a great big, whole-souled fellow. We read law together in the offices of John G. Mclntyre, and the association there formed led to a lifelong friendship. With his training and inherited tendencies it was natural that he should early turn his attention to the field of politics. His ability and fitness for public service were soon recognized, and once given an opportunity to prove his worth, his constituents never consented to his return to private life. " Ed. Merritt was an educated and cultivated man. It will surprise many of his friends to know that during his long illness he passed many hours in reading the classics. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to read or to recite a favorite passage to his friends who came to call upon him. Yet he spent his life largely among men and [60] Public Memorial Meeting, Village Hall, Potsdam, N. Y. affairs. Never posing as an orator, lie was never a ' victim of words nor a phrasesmith.' Never, as an edi- torial in the New York Sun read, was he afOicted with the ' pen and mauth disease.' He was simple and direct in thought and action; frank, truthful, and free from cowardice. Naturally, he had an unconscious courage. He was an excellent judge of men and measures, and never had I known a man in tliis State who, in the halls of legislation or in the marts of trade, won a larger or more loyal following. The attendance at his funeral bore silent testimony to this. " Strenuous at times as were his political contests they never left bitterness or revengeful feelings with him. He was always charitable to all, and many a poor soldier or a bereft widow to-day will miss the efforts which Ed. Mer- RiTT was wont to put forth in their behalf. Not always understood or appreciated by his own townsmen, among all the multitudes who knew him in boyhood and in man- hood, in private and in public life, not one can recall a mean, vindictive, or deceitful word. Sincere in his beliefs, faithful to his convictions, steadfast in his friendships, he was loyal to eveiy cause he espoused. His life has made many men happier, his example will make many better, and his service to his constituency and to this State will endure so long as our north country shall last." Hon. Edward A. Everett, being called upon by the Chair, responded as follows : " Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen : Putting our thoughts in language that will properly express our feelings toward a departed friend is indeed a hard task. I first became acquainted with Ed. Merritt about 35 years ago, from an accidental meeting while enjoying an outing in the woods on Raquette River, and our relationship ripened into a friendship that was mutually enjoyed. He was of the type of manhood that brightened with use and there was [61] Memorial Addresses: Representati\'e Merritt always something that linked us closer together after each meeting. We were interested in the business affairs of each other, not as actual business partners, but from a true feeling of a desire to help each other. It has been truly said that character is not made in a day; neither is it possible for one to become acquainted with character that is worth while in a short period of time. The indi- viduals who stand out in prominence the world over are the ones whose honesty and simplicity first attract you and whose gigantic ability to perform the tasks after- wards impress you. Words of praise can be used in the description of anybody who has ceased to exist, but truth- ful words describing a character that had to do with all of the different phases of human nature and came through without a scar is indeed the exception. This, however, I can truthfully say concerning our departed friend and fellow townsman, Ed. Merritt. His ambition may have mapped out a task that his early departure left uncom- pleted, but the honesty of purpose in every day's transac- tion is well defined in the course of his everyday life, and I sincerely offer him the following tribute : " Here is to Ed. Merritt, born in this world of trouble and care; dies, and he goes, he knows not where, but he was a thoroughbred here and he will be a thoroughbred there." Mr. Hariy M. Ingram made the following remarks : " Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: It is difficult for me to talk upon this occasion. I can not properly give expres- sion to my feelings. I must be content with stating some personal facts. Had Congressman Merritt lived until the 1st day of January next I would have been associated with him as his partner in the practice of law for six years. Except for the fact that Mr. Merrftt, then a mem- ber of the assembly, had asked me to come to Potsdam and form a law partnership, I would probably be practic- ing in another part of the State at this time. He wanted [62] Public Memorial Meeting, Village Hall, Potsdam, N. Y. to maintain a law office. He told me it was a desire which he had long entertained, and in the expectation of its fulfillment he had kept together the old Dart & Erwin and the Tappan law libraries. I went to Potsdam and looked over the library and met some of the people of the village. Finally I made up my mind to locate here, and I did so. Our law firm dated from January 1, 1909. Dur- ing the years we were together I learned to know Mr. Merritt as I had never known him before. I came to realize more than ever his great broadness of mind, the vastness of his intellect, and above all, perhaps, the ex- traordinary kindness and warmth of his most unusual personality. I shall always prize the recollections of my friendship with him. I feel that under the circumstances I can never regret that I came to Potsdam as I did. " It was perhaps my fortune to have seen Mr. Merritt in the performance of his duties at Albany more than any other person here to-night. I know the great subjects and works of importance to the people of the State with which he labored during the years, and particularly the latter years of his service in the assembly. He was re- garded as the leader not only of the assembly but by many the leader of the legislature. Often I have felt that the people of his home county did not at all appreciate the prominence of their representative in the legislature. I had this same feeling regarding the late Senator Malby. Malby and Merritt were indeed a strong and powerful combination of representatives for any county to have in the State legislature at the same time. No wonder the county of St. Lawrence became so widely known in po- litical and State affairs. These men had an unusual State- wide acquaintance. Their suggestions, advice, and coun- sel were sought and heeded. " "When Congressman Malby passed suddenly away, St. Lawrence County and the whole north country felt keenly its great loss, but was comforted in a measure in the 4093°— 16 5 [63] Memorial Addresses: Representative Merritt thought that Mr. Merritt remained. In the death of Mr. Merritt, so soon after, we will feel more than ever the loss of Mr. Malby, and now that both are gone we have indeed much reason to mourn. It requires years of time for a county to prepare for public life two such men as these, strong men, influential legislators, representative citizens. " Mr. Merritt made a wonderful fight for life. He wanted so much to enter upon the public service again. His plans were all made for the future. We can rejoice in the fact that such a man, stricken down largely because of overwork in the service of the people, was permitted to end his days still in the service. His vast plurality at the November election and the great tribute rendered him at his funeral are worthy testimonials of the general and sincere esteem in which Congressman Merritt was held by the voters of his congressional district and his asso- ciates in public life." Mr. John L. Brown spoke as follows : " Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen : I knew Mr. Merritt very well and counted him one of my best friends. Dur- ing his stay in Albany I had occasion to write him several times. Some of my letters were on matters that seemed to me quite small, and I am sure must have seemed to him very small and trivial, but I always received a prompt reply. Several of these replies I prized very highly, as they were not cold, expressionless, typewritten letters, dictated by ' E. A. M.,' but were personal pen-written letters that make one feel that in the writer he had a friend worth while. " In the passing of Mr. Merritt 1 know I have lost, and I believe we all have lost, a big-hearted, loyal personal friend." Mr. Sylvester Nicolette spoke as follows : " Mr. Chairman: I met Mr. Merritt and began to work for him many years ago. He was always my good friend. [64] Public Memorial Meeting, Village Hall, Potsdam, N. Y. I had many business dealings with him, and my contracts were for many thousand dollars in labor and construction work. Always I found him fair in settlement and in ad- justing any questions which might arise. I can say the same also of Mr. Tappan, who was his partner in the work at Hannawa Falls. We never had any difficulties about our work. It was a great pleasure to work for such men as these. They always treated me squarely and paid me every cent owing to me for all the work I did for them. From my dealings with Mr. Merritt I can say of him that he was the most honest man I ever knew." Remarks were also made by Mr. John Pert, president of the village of Potsdam, Mr. F. L. Cubley, Dr. F. T, Swan, Mr. C. E. Haywood, and Mr. E. M. Perkins. Resolutions Adopted by the Members of the Rar of Potsdam on December 7, 1914 Resolved, That the members of the bar of Potsdam feel deep sorrow at the untimely death of Hon. Edwin A. Mer- ritt, Jr. That they have long felt pride in his ability and power. That they appreciate the value of his many services and deeply deplore his loss. They realize that he has left a void that can not well be filled. The many public capacities in which he has acted are too well known to need enumeration here, and in all of them he has reflected credit and honor upon this com- munity as well as upon the State. Resolved, That we extend our deepest sympathy to his bereaved family. L. E. Wadleigh, Chairman of Committee. Wm. H. McCormick, Secretary. [65] c LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 787 8112 ■■■im