Statue Given by Indiana

1900

Although each state has the privilege of placing in Statuary Hall, in the national Capitol, statues of two of its illustrious sons, ten states only have thus far availed themselves of the opportunity in full. Six other states have presented one statue each. On a recent Saturday afternoon, in the Senate-Chamber, a marble statue of Oliver P. Morton, the "war governor" of Indiana, was presented to the nation in the name of that state.

Mr. Fairbanks, the senior senator from Indiana, was the first speaker. Among those in the galleries were the widow of Mr. Morton and several of his nephews. On the floor had gathered, besides senators, several of the representatives from Indiana, and other friends of the man whose deeds were to be recounted.

"This statue," began Senator Fairbanks, "is to stand in yonder hall. Assembled there are the marble figures of citizens, soldiers and statesmen. In good time representatives of each of the states will be gathered there, when the number will equal the membership of the United States Senate. Parties here may come and go, administrations may rise and fall, but no change will occur in the members who join the select assembly in that exalted and historic hall."

The physical difficulties under which Mr. Morton labored during the later years of his life, when a member of the Senate, were brought out by Mr. Fairbanks, and also by Mr. Allison, who had served in the Senate with him. Mr. Morton had long suffered from an incurable malady, which compelled him to be seated while speaking and to go into the Senate supported by attendants. And yet he worked so hard in the committee-room and elsewhere that Senator McDonald, his old-time colleague, described him as "tireless among the tired, and pressing on where strong men gave way."

Senator Beveridge, also of Indiana, made the concluding speech of the day, after which the Senate passed resolutions accepting the statue and thanking the state for its gift.


Sugar For The Troops

German soldiers get a ration of sugar; so do British and French soldiers when on duty in the tropics. And now, by advice of the medical staff and with the approval of army officers, the United States Commissary Department has been shipping many tons of confectionery, put up in pound packages, for the use of our soldiers in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

— Youth's Companion.