^64 K-- Bbwin a. /Ifterritt Jr. ptoceebings of tbe Xegtslature of tbe State of mew l^otl; on tbe Xife ant) public Services of Ebwin H. /Iftertitt Jr. Speaker of tbe Hssemblu •Representative In Conaress bcK> at tbe Capftol, Hlbans, mew 13orh ^IClc^ncs5ap Evening, 5anuar^ 20, 1915 3. ». Xten Compsn? prtntcrs 1915 9161 CI a3J D. of D. FEB 13 1916 N "fln flDemodam Ebwin H, /Ifterdtt 5t* Speaker of tbe assembly? IRcpresentative in Conoreee Un Hssemblie Januatg 6, 1915 R. SEAKER offered for the considera- tion of the House a resolution in the words following : Resolved, That the Assembly of the State of New York enter upon its record this meager and unsatisfactory expression of the irreparable loss sus- tained by this State, and the inexpressible sorrow and regret of his former associates, in the death of Hon. Edwin A. Merritt Jr., member of Congress from the thirty-first district and late Speaker of the Assembly. Resolved, That when the Assembly adjourns this day it be in respect to his memory. Mr. Speaker put the question whether the House would agree to said resolution and it was determined in the affirmative by a unanimous rising vote. Mr. Everett offered for the consideration of the House a resolution in the words following: Resolved, That a memorial service for the late Edwin A. Merritt Jr., former Speaker of this House, be held in the Assembly Chamber, Wednesday even- 7 tin flDcmorlam ing, January 20tli, and tliat the Speaker appoint a committee of five to arrange for and conduct said memorial service. Mr. Speaker put the question whether the House would agree to said resolution and it was determined in the affirmative, a majority of all the members elected to the Assembly voting in favor thereof, three-fifths being present. Pursuant to resolution Mr. Speaker appointed Messrs. Everett of St. Lawrence, Hinman of Albany, Maier of Seneca, Brereton of Warren, Kerrigan of New York, a committee to arrange for and con- duct a memorial service for the late Edwin A. Merritt Jr. Pursuant to resolution Mr. Speaker declared the House adjourned until Wednesday, January 13th, at 8 o'clock, P. M., in respect to the memory of the late Edwin A. Merritt Jr. IptoceeblnGS of the Xegtslature Iptoceebtnos SSEMBLY CHAMBER, State Capitol, Albanj', N. Y., Wednesday evening, January 20, 1915, 8:00 p. m. Hon. Thaddeus C. Sweet, Speaker of the Assembly, presiding. In the presence of Honorable Charles S. Whit- man, Governor of the State of New York, and the Members of the Senate and Assembly. Speaker Sweet : Prayer will be offered by the Rev. W. J. Hamil- ton of Potsdam, N. Y. Reverend 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 destruc- tion: 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 asleep: and fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green, and groweth up: but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. For we consume away in thy displeasure: and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. Thou 11 In HDcmoriam 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 three score years and ten ; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years : yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow: so soon passeth it away, and we are gone. O, teach us to number our days: that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. So endeth the lesson. Let us i)ray. Direct, Oh Lord, in this and all our doings A\ith 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. Oh, Merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the Life; in whom whosoever believeth. shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth and believeth in Him. shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us, by His holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, 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 from 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 Thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all who love and fear Thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, 12 fit)vpin H. riDcrritt 3r. 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. Oh, 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 con- stancy on earth, we may be joined hereafter with Thy blessed saints in glory everlasting ; through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Oh 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 after Thy likeness ; 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 cannot be 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 misery 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, having the testimony of a good conscience, 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. 13 In nDcmorlam Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name ; Thy kinfjdom 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 temi)tation; but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Speakek Sweet: Those who were associated with him as a Mem- ber of Assembly, who served under his helpful direc- tion as Speaker, and those who are familiar with his faithful and intelligent service in the State and National Legislatures, meet to night to honor the memory of Edward A. Merritt Jr. Those who served with him can bear witness to his high qualities of mind and heart, and to his charm- ing personality which drew around him at all times a band of faithful and admiring friends, and which endeared him to all his jissociates. 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 Representatives, his intellectual powers in the highest interests of the SUite and of the Nation. We cannot lose sight of such a man, the work he j)erformed 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 edu- 14 £&win H. fIDcrritt 3r. cational 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, usefulness and power of good citizenship, will cherish his memory and hold his example in loving remembrance. It is character only which lives, and his character, combined with honorable public service, cannot be forgotten. »a>5 Selection, "Lead, Kindly Light," by Double Quartette, 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, Hoy 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 ! Keep Thou my feet 1 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 I loved the garish day ; and, spite of fears Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years. 15 In HDcmortam So long Thy power has blest ine, 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 Committee to conduct the exercises of the evening in harmony with the life led by our departed brother and friend, and we have invited as the speakers of the evening his former and closest associates. I take great pleasure in presenting to you the first speaker of the evening, Hon. Frank L. Young. Mk. Young: Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen: Memorial services are as old as recorded history, and even in the days before written history, the memory of lead- ing men in every land and every clime was perpetu- ated in the manner characteristic of their country. In his oration on the xVthenian dead. Pericles, after speaking eloquently on tlie characteristics of his country, the elements which had made it great, and the sources of its strength, stated of the men who were being memorialized, the honored dead, "Such did these men prove themselves, as became the char- acter of their countr)'." In every land there is an ideal manhood, ex- pressed or unexpressed. This ideal is composite, 10 iet)win a. riDerritt 3r. 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 country 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 alone from service, self-sacrifice and patriotic devo- tion to duty. In . every land honor and renown are accorded to every citizen who fills his life with ser- vice, 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, our ideals seem 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 will- ing to endure anything that they might enjoy free- dom 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 giv- ing of equal opportunity. We visualize the Ameri- can ideal in the self-reliant man, who asks no favors, 17 In ni>cmoriam but demands an opportunity as his right; in the self- sacriticing man, who is wiUing 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 liv- ing, fair dealing, equal oi)portunity to all, industry and devotion 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 mejusure of praise, and, whether or not their memorials consist of statues or other material constructions, they earn and they pos- sess an indestructible memorial in the hearts and affections of the American people. We are now observing a simple memorial ser- vice, 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 spontiineous expression of esteem from his personal and political associates. His great soul has passed to "that bourne from which no traveler 18 jebwin a. riDerritt 3r. returns." We have gathered in honor of his mem- ory, because we appreciated and loved him. Weakly, we say that Edwin A. Merritt Jr., is dead — weakly, because in the friendships he established 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, bighearted 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 1 / Tin fiDemoriam The salvation and the benefits of the American RepubUc depend upon the fact that from time to time, in various places, exemplars of the ^Vmerican ideal appear to give substantial proof that our insti- tutions and our laws are not bjised upon hopes that are impossible of human achievement. Edwin A. Merritt Jr. is one such exemplar. Useful and inspiring as were the lives of Wash- ington and Lincoln to their own times, they have been more useful and more inspiring to the American people since They gave back their honors to the world. Their better part to heaven, and slept in peace. For the generations which succeeded them have drawn, are still drawing, and will continue to draw, useful inspiration from their works and their char- acters. Doubtless history will not record the name of Edwin A. Merritt .Ir. as high on the roll of fame :is the name of \V\ashington stands, but it is true, never- theless, that Mr. Merritt solved greater financial problems than ever confronted our first President; and in that work for his State, his rugged lionesty, his spotless integrity and his magnanimous unselfish- ness were as great as those of the " Fatiier of His Country." Nor will his name appear on the pages of Ameri- can history as luminous as that of Abraham Lincoln, and yet it is a fact that in his discernment, his meas- 20 je^win a. flDerritt 3r. ure of men, his hatred of sham and hypocrisy, his faith in the American 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, truth- telling man, to whom such praise 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 eleven 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 counselled and advised with him about many topics of great importance. Without meaning to draw invidious comparisons, I want to say that in my opinion he had a more com- prehensive and accurate knowledge of the State's affairs than any other man connected with the State government in those days. His great brain was a veritable storehouse of information, and, regardless of physical consequences, he devoted 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 21 "Hn fiDcmorlam that in all the recent constructive legislation in this State, his was a guiding, if not a controlling, hand. But in addition to these great mental powers, the possession 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 acknowledg- ment of the assistance of others, and to give full credit to all to whom credit was due, notwithstand- ing the fact that his own prestige might not seem so great by so doing. He seemed able to forget and forgive everything 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 reputa- tion of another that his own reputation might be thereby enhanced, 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 wjis made upon his 22 jEDwin H. HDerritt 3r. friend, and after listening patiently to the arraign- ment Mr. Merritt said, with more feeling than was usual with him, ' ' That man may be all you say he is, but I do not believe it. Whether he is or not, is of no consequence to me. 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 feet, 1 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 their 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 discomfiture and defeat of a fraud by the simple telling of a story which illustrated his point. He was well adapted by nature and training for the very highest legislative and executive offices. I believe that circumstances prevented a proper recog- nition 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, 23 Tin fiDemoriam but looked upon all his experiences as merely neces- sary, temporary incidents, and kept true to the spirit that was wthin 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 characteristics of our deceased friend, as I saw him and understood him. He was a trul}' great man, worthy of all the best traditions of American manhood, entitled to full praise 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 memory ot our great associate remain among us for the betterment and improve- ment 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 frii lully social, honest man, Wiiate'cr he be, 'Tis he fuKills great nature's plan, And nane but he. The State has lost a capable servant and may well mourn for him; but the keenest loss is felt among those who i)crsonally enjoyed tlie honor of his friendsliip and the inspiration of his character. We shall remember him jls One who never turned his back, hut marched breast forward, 24 lE^win a. fiDerritt 3r. 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 quartette, " Crossing the Bar": Sunset and evening star. And one clear call for me ! 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; 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 crossed 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. Honorable Alfred E. Smith. 25 In nDemoriam Mr. Smith: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I feel very deeply honored to be permitted 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 of the majority side of the House. I served with him through the years until 1912, when he was elected Speaker, and in that time 1 developed for him as strong an affection as it is possible for one man to have for another, not of his own relationship. His many noble qualities of heart and mind endeared him to every man who sat in this Chamber with him, 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 memoirs of his distinguished father. I read this passage from the retrospect: "Without boasting I can truly say that in a long life wliich has not been free from many contests I have never knowingly taken imfair advantage of my opponents, and if I have fought hard I have fought fairly." I thought, as I read, how forcibly this trait was impressed on the life and character of Edwin A. Merritt .Ir. He wils a strong partisan. He believed very firmly in the principles and precepts of the Republican party. IJut he j)ut the good of the State first atid supported any measure which he 26 je&win a. fIDerritt 3r. believed to be in the interest of the commonweal. He was a forceful orator, and drew the sword of debate with as much strength and vigor as any man who 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 have meant something of advantage to his party. Public life makes many fair weather friends. Many there are who shake your hand and pat your back when you are in the heyday of your power; but Merritt's fiiendship was of the kind that was much stronger when the clouds of political adver- sity frowned upon you. He had a smile and a good word for everybody, from the highest to the lowest, who were connected with the busy life of the Capitol. He loved the great 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 home in the Assembly than in the larger field of activity to which he was called by an admiring constituency. He knew the Legislature thoroughly — ^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 memory of " Ed." Time and time again he 27 in fiDemoriam asked me to go up and stay at Potsdam wliere he might show to me what he called "Our Great North Country." It shall always be to me a matter of regret that I did not see the little village until I found it plunged in mourning the day of his funeral — its business places darkened and the countryside gathered in it to pay tribute to his memory. I brought with me my oldest son and I gave him a copy of the Red Hook of 1912, asking him to always remember what it was that brought him on his first long journey from home. I could talk through the night about Ed. Mer- ritt and all that I could say would be inadequate to express what I really thought of him. I will con- clude, therefore, leaving with you this thought: Almighty God asks nothing for nothing, and when we in our prayers to-night said to Him, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven — if we meant that — if it came from the heart — He will respond 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 consolation in that almost univer- sal belief that Divine Providence makes all things equal and solves for the just man the mystery of death as life everlasting. 28 jet)wln H. fiDerritt 3r. Selection by the double quartette, "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 counsellor, I present to you at this time, Honorable James W. Wadsworth Jr. Mr. Wadsworth: Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislature, Ladies and Gentlemen : The invitation to say some- thing of the life and public services of Edwin A. Merritt Jr., upon this occasion and in this presence 29 Hn fiDemoriam 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 character 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 gath- ered us about him in our leisure hours and won and held our deep affection. It is difficult for us to understand that we shall never again experience that inspiring and delightful human contact. And now that we long to tell the world our estimate of him, 1, 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 cannot be denied that heredity and environ- ment are powerful factors in the formation of charac- ter and habit of mind; and in order to possess an intelligent understanding 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 30 £t)wln a. riDerritt 3r. Northern New York. By occupation an out-door man who in the early days helped blaze the way through the northern wilderness, he transmitted to his son a vigor and strength of constitution remark- able even in a country renowned for its strong men; and that simplicity and directness of mental opera- tion so characteristic of the early American. The father, true to the type, from earlj^ manhood has maintained an active and intelligent interest in public affairs. He has been a friend and confidant of lead- ing 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 moulder 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 manhood 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 neighbors of those great principles which were fought for and vindicated in the trying days of the '60s. He absorbed readily the story of sacrifice and heroism relating to those times, and from that story he learned the great prin- ciples of human liberty upon which this republic was founded. Through all his active life he never ceased 31 II n fiDemoriam deriving inspiration from the deeds of the generation just preceding him, and he never wavered in his admiration and reverence of the men who saved the nation. There was no more potent influence in his life than his contact with those men. By their example he was inspired to that simple manly cour- age which was his predominating trait. Graduating from Yale College at New Haven, Conn., in 1884, 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 a j'ear assisting his father in that interesting and broadening 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 jiart in the public affairs of the com- munity in which he lived. In fact, the stress and contention of politics, and the satisfaction of public service well jjerformed. held a peculiar fascination for him; and, commencing with his election to the St. Lawrence County Hoard of Supervisors, he was con- tinuously in public Ufe until the day of his death. His strength of mind, his clarity of vision and his integrity soon made their impression upon the i)eople of St. Lawrence and in 1002 he was elected a Member of Assembly from the district in which he resided. From that year up to and including the legislative 32 jeowin a. riDcrritt 3r. 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 hfe 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 capital at Wash- ington, his place in history rests upon the services he rendered in the Assembly. So long was his service, so many and varied the legislative tasks which he undertook and carried to a successful 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 efforts in a score of directions, it shall be my endeavor to set forth that achievement of his which his colleagues considered the greatest of all and which has exercised a most profound effect upon the govern- ment of the State of New York. It is a matter of history that the dawn of the new century was signalized by a remarkable and almost phenomenal development of the economic and industrial life of America. That period will go down in history as the one which witnessed the for- mation of great combinations of capital and gigantic organizations for the carrying on of industry in all its branches. The intricacies of modern civilization seem to have made this development logical and 33 In flDemoriam 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 discriminating eju-. In later years Merritt's friends learned that he, almost from the da}' of taking his scat in this chamber, saw the cloud upon the horizon and commenced preparing himself to take i)art in the solution of the mighty problem which he felt would confront the people later on. It is not necessary for me to describe in detail the rise of that great wave of public sentiment which finally brought to bear such irresistible pressure for the solution of the problem of the relations exist- ing between the public, on the one hand, and the great jjublic service corporations created by the pubhc, upon the other We know now that the demand for a remedy which was fiercely and irre- sistibly made at that time had its justification in the misdeeds and abuse of power on the part of some who cynically disregarded the sensibilities and the rights of the average man. 34 leDwin a. flDerritt 3r. Those of us who served in the legislative sessions of 1905-1906 can never forget the tension and stress of those days when the storm reached its greatest fury. Some there were who i^ersisted in maintaining an attitude of indifference and declaring that it would blow over in good time. There were even some, although their number was few, who refused to admit that there was anything genuine or im- portant 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, con- scious of their unpreparedness. Of all the men in the New York Legislature of those days, Merritt seemed to have the clearest conception of the situ- ation, and, starting almost alone in his efforts, he proceeded to lay the foundation for a great piece of constructive legislation which we believe today has solved the problem. It was characteristic of Merritt 's viewpoint toward life in general that he should believe in the power of government, 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 35 Hn fiDemoriam 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 i)urj)0sc and his mind, it was of vast significance. During the administration of Governor Higgins, Merritt introduced a bill in the Assembly providing that all the expenses incident to the support of the then existing State llailroad Com- mission should be borne by the treasury 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 commence by relieving them of this comparatively light burden?" Mcrritfs answer was that the gov- ernment must shortly jissume new powers of super- vision and regulation over these corporations, and in preparation for that day the government must free itself of any sense of obligation, however remote, toward the corporations which it proposed to regulate. This act of Assemblyman Merritt, while failing of success for the moment, was the jilanting of the seed in the legislative mind. More and more from that time, men listened to his i)roposal and came 36 jetJwtn a. flDcrrltt 3r. to recognize its ultimate wisdom. Events moved quicklj'. The pressure was enormous. In 1905 a special committee of the Legislature was appointed to investigate the distribution and the sale of illumin- ating 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 investigation was the drafting and final enactment of a bill entrusting to a State Commission, known at the time as the *' State Gas Commission," the function and duty of regulating the rates charged for illuminating gas and electricity by all the lighting companies of the State. The strong hand of Merritt was readily seen in the provisions of this bill. It was his first definite proposal directed toward the solution of this great problem. Imperfect in many respects, 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 derived from this acceptance of the principle which he had laid down a year before and which had met such discouragement. And I remember well the in- tense gratification which 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 37 tin fiDemoriam hastened to his support, confident that, through the great influence and abihty of that exceptional Execu- tive, success would come, as come it did. He was one of tlie responsible authors of the Public Service Commissions bill of 1907. He worked in collaboration with others, day after day, and week after week, until that measure was complete. His influence can be read in ever>' line of it. When it was enacted into law, it bore his name jointly with that of Senator Page. If I may be ])ermitted to express an opinion, this law, establishing as it did a standard of relationship between the government, 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 adminis- tration of Governor Hughes. Merritt's work did not end with this achieve- ment. The following year the Legislature appointed a special committee to investigate the feasibility of bringing the telejjhone 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 immediately 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 38 jet>win a. flDerrttt 3r, in 1905, assisting powerfully in its progress through 1906-1907-1908, performed a service for the State of New York of immeasurable importance. During all that struggle, through all the varying phases of the conflict 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, Memtt was the least vain. His simplicity, 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 INIerritt did in the Assembly, in addition to the great achievement which I have attempted to describe, it should be noted that he was, first, Chairman of the Committee on Agricul- ture, 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 leader- ship, and which he held for three years; minority leader in 1911 and finally Speaker of the Assembly 39 In fIDcmoriam in 1912. The State will not forj^et the great work he did in helping to revise the Highway Law and inau- gurating the building of improved highways through- out 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 ex- pressed in the ajjpropriation bills. The burden he carried was enormous. Only a man of his great mental and i)hysical strength could have stood up under it. His career in the Assembly culminated in his election to the Speakership. He wiLs i)ermitted to hold that difficult and responsible position for but one year. The death of his long-time friend, George II. Malby, left vacant the seat in Congress held by that representative of the North Country congressional district. It was inevitable that the people of that district should demand that Merritt represent them in Washington. They did so demand and he accjuiesced 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 appre- ciated the honor and the opportunity. He was familiar with this atmosphere here in the Capitol where he had spent the greater i)art of his public life, where he had impressed himself upon the life of the State which he loved ; here were his intimate friends — and their name was legion. He felt that other tasks 40 le&win a. flDerritt 3r. 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 questions of taxation, 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, com- pelled him to reMnquish 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 wisdom were soon recognized by his colleagues, a fact which is made evident by his appointment to the great Committee on Rules of the lower house at Washington shortly after he took his seat. He had scarcely embarked upon a career of use- fulness and distinction in the national Congress, when, with a suddenness that is incomprehensible, he was attacked by a combination of maladies which called forth eveiy atom of his gigantic strength of will and physique to combat. Accompanied by his faithful, loving wife, he was taken to the Sanitarium at Dans- ville, near my own home, in Livingston 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 shattered to an inconceivable degree, his mighty intellect never 41 II n fiDemonam lost its clarity, his soul never lost its courage. For thirteen months he endured physical and mental suffering seldom demanded of a human being. Crisis after crisis was surmounted through the might of his will power. Naturally a somewhat impatient man in the ordinary walks of life, he yielded to the neces- sities of his plight with a confiding trust and patience which was sublime. He knew his loving fiimily and faithful attendants were struggling bravely all through those weary months to save him, and he set himself to help them help him. Tiie 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 confidence, 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 re-elected to Congress by a constituency who had known him all his life and loved him best. The future looked brigiit, and then, suddenly, when we were all filled with confi- dence 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 sus- taining hand of his great son in his old age; his wife 42 leowin a. flDcrritt 3r. and daughter are crushed with gnef. Hundreds of us, his former associates, have lost a dear friend ; and the reahzation of our loss quickens and deepens the sympathy which we extend to his devoted family in this trying hour. Our consolation must be that we men who knew him are better men, and this State a better State, because he lived. ^ Selection, by the double quartette, ' ' Beautiful Isle of Somewhere. ' ' Somewhere the sun is shining. Somewhere the songbirds 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 by an open gate; Somev/here 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. 43 In HDemortam Speakf.k Swekt: With the pronouncing of the benediction, the services of the evening will close. Rev. Hajiiltox: The peace of God, which passeth all understand- ing, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, .Tesus Christ, Our Lord, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen. 44 {Public fiDeeting f n flScmorB of Monorable Ebwtti E. fIDertitt Jr. Held at IDillage Hall, potsJ)am, m. 1?. IDecember 14, 1914 public Meeting at Ipotsbam IN INFORMAL PUBLIC MEETING to pay tribute to the memory of the late Hon. Edwin A. Merritt Jr., Representa- tive in Congress, was held in Village Hall, Potsdam, St. I^awrence county, N. Y., on the evening of December 14, 1914. The meeting was attended by personal friends and neighbors of Congressman Mer- ritt. 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 sei'vices to the State have left their impress on much important leg- islation, 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 47 In fiDemoriam "While we, as his neighbors, appreciate his great service as a pubhc servant, we think of him more as a friend and famiUar 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." Dii, F. L. Dewey: Mr. Chairman, Friends and Neighbors — We are gathered here to-night to express our sincere and honest sorrow over the demise of Honorable Edwin A. Merritt Jr., Representative of this district in Con- gress. To each and every one of us his death brings a sense of pei*sonal loss. Long and serious as had been his illness, the announcement that his si)irit had taken its flight and passed on over the Great Divide came jis a surprise and a shock. To me he had always been " liig Ed. Merritt," tireless, undaunted and invincible. Born in the foot- hills of our own Adirondacks, passing his boyhood life in Potsdam, he was a simple, plain North Country gentleman. Completing his course in our Normal school, which owes its existence to the efforts of his father, he piissed on to Yale university. Graduating there in due course, he supplemented his school and university training by travel abroad and efficient and successful work in the consular service. I first met Ed. Merritt in the fall of 1885. He impressed me then as a great big, whole-souled 48 ]e^^vin a. fIDerritt 3r. 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 affairs. Never posing as an orator, he was never a "victim of words nor a phrasesmith. " Never, as an editorial in the Neiv York Sun read, was he afflicted with the ' ' pen and mouth 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 have I known a man in this 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 49 II n fiDemorlam him. He was always charitable to all, and many a poor soldier and bereft widow today will miss the efforts which Ed. Merritt 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 manliood, in private and in public life, not one can recall a mean, vindic- tive or deceitful word. Sincere in his beliefs, faithful to his convictions, steadfast in his friendships, he was loyal to every cause he esi)oused. His life has made many a man happier, his example will make many better, and his service to his const it uencj' and to this State will endure so long as our North Country shall last. Hon. Edward A. Everett: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen — Putting our thoughts in language tliat will properly express our feelings toward a departed friend is indeed a hard task. I first became acquainted with Ed. Merritt about thirty-five years ago, from an accidental meet- ing while enjoying an outing in the woods on llaquette river and our relationship ripened into a friendship that was mutually enjoyed. He was of the type of manhood that briglitened with use and there was always something tliat 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 desire to help each other. £0 ie&win H. flDerritt 3r. It has been truly said that character is not made in a day, neither is it ]30ssible for one to become acquainted with character that is worth while in a short period of time. The individuals who stand out in prominence the world over are the ones whose honesty and sim- plicity first attract you and whose gigantic ability to perform their tasks afterward impresses you. Woi'ds of praise can be used in the description of anybody who has ceased to exist, but truthful 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 I can, however, say truthfully concerning our departed friend and fellow townsman, Ed. Merritt. His ambition may have mapped out a task that his early departure left uncompleted but the honestj^ of purpose in every day's transaction is well defined in the course of his everyday life and I sincerely offer him the following tribute. "Here's 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, Harry M. Ingram: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen — It is difficult for me to talk upon this occasion. I cannot properly give expression to my feelings. I must be content with stating some personal facts. Had Congressman Merritt lived until the first day of January next, I 51 Tin flDemorlam would have been associated with him as his partner in tlie practice of hiw for six j'ears. Except for the fact that Mr. Merritt, then a member of the Assem- bly, had asked me to come to Potsdam and form a law partnership, I would probably be practicing in another part of the State at this time. He wanted to maintain a law office. He told me it was a desire which he had long entertained and in the expectation of its fulfilment 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. Finallj% I made up my mind to locate here, and 1 did so. Our law firm dated from January 1, 1909. During 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 extraor- dinary kindliness and warmth of his most unusual personality. I shall always prize the recollections of my friendship with him. 1 feel tiiat. under the cir- cumstances, I can never regret that I came to Pots- dam as I (lid. It w!Ls perhaps my fortune to have seen Mr. Merritt in the performance of his duties at Albanj' 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 i)articularly the latter years, of his service in the 52 iet)win a. riDerritt 3r. Assembly; he was regarded 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 political and State affairs. These men had an unusual State-wide acquaintance. Their suggestions, advice and counsel were sought and heeded. When Congressman Malby passed suddenly away, St. Lawrence county and the whole North Countrj^ felt keenly its great loss, but was comforted, in a measure, in the thought that Mr. Merritt re- mained. 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, representa- tive 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 53 In fiDemoriam the people, was permitted to end his days still in the service. His vast plurality at the Noveniher 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 associates in public life. Mr. John L. Brown: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen — I knew Mr. Merritt verj-^ well and counted him one of my best friends. During 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 1 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 made one feel that in tiio writer he had a friend wortli wiiile. In the passing of Mr. Merritt I know I have lost, and I believe we all have lost, a big-hearted, loyal, personal friend. Mr. Sylvester Nicolette: Mr. Chairman — I met Mr. Merritt and began to work for him many years ago. He was always my good friend. I had many business dealings witli him and my contracts were for many thousand dollars iet>win H. fIDerritt 3r. in labor and construction work. Always I found him fair in settlement and in adjusting any questions which might arise. I can say the same also of Mi. 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 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 1 ever knew. Remarks were also made by Mr. John Pert, President of the Village of Potsdam; Mr. F. L. Cubley, Dr. F. T. Swan, Dr. George H. Sweet, Mr. C. E. Haywood and Mr. E. M. Perkins. 65 "Resolutions HDopteb bB tbc HDcmbers of tbe Bar of IPotsbam on December 7, 1914 Resolved, That the members of the bar of Pots- dam feel deep sorrow :it tlie untimely death of Hon. Edwin A. Merritt Jr. Tliat they have long felt pride in his ability and power. That they appreciate the value of his many serv- ices and deei)ly dojilore his loss. They realize that he has left a void that cannot well be filled. The many ])ublic cai)acities 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 community as well jis upon the State. Resolved That we extend our deepest sympathy to his bereaved family. L. E. Wadi.eigh, Chairman of Committee. Wm. H. McCormuk, Secretary. 66 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 787 807