ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

Memorial Addresses

Remarks by Representative Shafer

Of Michigan

Mr. SHAFER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you and the Members of the House for the privilege of extending my remarks, through the courteous assistance of Hon. Roy O. Woodruff, in order that I might pay a tribute to my late friend and colleague, the Honorable CARL E. MAPES, on the occasion of this memorial service.

To those who knew the able and distinguished Member who passed out of this life on December 12, 1939, no word of mine is needed to add to their esteem for him, or to his stature in the history of the House of Representatives in which he so long and so ably served.

Perhaps in these tributes to our departed colleagues we serve the cause of our own hearts more than we do their memory. It is too difficult to let pass this occasion on which I may voice a deep and sincere tribute to the ability, the integrity, the worth of a man who was my friend; one who gave me much valuable assistance when I first became a Member of this House; a coworker from my home State of Michigan; and a man whose sincerity, whose sterling character, whose rugged integrity, whose courage, endeared him to those who knew him and worked with him, while at the same time, commanding the respect, not only of his colleagues but of all those who had occasion to know anything about his work as a representative of his people in the House.

Nothing his friends can say about him could create a monument to the memory of CARL Mapes equal to that which he created for himself by his work in the National Legislature. He came to Congress back in 1913, and during his years here he saw a vast amount of world history made. He saw changes

take place not alone in other countries, but in his own country. In all those years I think it is accurate to say that CARL MAPES never compromised his own conscience. He was absolutely steadfast in his course as he saw his duty. He never temporized with injustice or political expediency. His sense of right and wrong, his concept of his duty as a Representative, his convictions as to the requirements of good citizenship, were his guiding lights both in his private life and in his public career. The result was that whether or not one agreed with CARL MAPES' viewpoint, or his votes, there was never any question about his earnest and sincere honesty in the stand he took and the vote he cast.

He was a quiet, cautious legislator who never permitted his emotions to sweep him off his feet or to move him from a position of sound and honest judgment.

As someone well said of him:

In the tumult of strange ideas and extreme passions, in the face of threatening rumblings of sinister things, CARL MAPES, with enviable wisdom and poise, could not be perplexed or frightened, but went on, in fortune and misfortune, at his own pace.

Mr. Speaker, always an occasion of this sort brings to the thought of all of us the great question of what may be the real meaning of this vast enigma which we call human existence; of what change really takes place when we pass from the earthly scene. But always when those thoughts come, there must come, too, a deep sense that an all-wise, allpowerful, ever-present, all-loving, infinite Creator could not and would not bring into being one with such fidelity to principle, to truth as he saw it, one who so earnestly endeavored over the years to serve his people well and faithfully, only to snuff out all of that character and effort in an instant by that which we call death.

No, Mr. Speaker; it must be that the CARL MAPES we knew goes on. It must be that in another state of consciousness he pursues his work and his way, and it must be that sometime, somewhere, we will meet our beloved colleague face to face again.

Remarks by Representative Sabath

Of Illinois

Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, "Death is come up into our windows and entered into our palaces."

I speak briefly on this sad occasion, not because any poor word of mine will add to the story of courage and achievements of our late colleague, the Honorable CARL E. MAPES, who has, by passing beyond the reach of human help or harm, and I would fainly hope, through grace, above our praise, left such a void, and in the front ranks here, but because of the especially high esteem in which I held this honorable dead.

Mr. MAPES entered the Congress on March 4, 1913, or 6 years after I entered; and during all the years of our association our relations were most cordial, especially since I became chairman and he the ranking Republican of the Committee on Rules. A more affable and accommodating gentleman I have never known. In the differences that naturally develop in our system of party government I never once heard this gentleman utter one unkind or uncharitable word against a living soul, and he was ever proffering to facilitate action on measures pending before our committee. Mr. MAPES contradicted the oft-repeated assertion in ill-informed circles that legislators cannot place weal of country above political expediency.

His high degree of intelligence and simplicity are too well known to this membership to require restatement. If you would observe a specimen of his simplicity and self-effacement, consult the biographical section of the Congressional Directory, which does not indicate that he was the ranking minority member of two of the most important committees of the House.

Our departed friend needs no eulogy. His work is finished and will be a worthy monument for many years. I feel sure

that Mr. MAPES would not have any of us say anything laudatory of his life and work, but we can take advantage of him now.

In the tumult of strange ideas and extreme passions, in the face of threatening rumblings of sinister things, at the eve of uncertain tomorrows, Mr. MAPES, with enviable wisdom and poise, could not be perplexed or frightened, but went on in fortune and misfortune at his own private pace, like a clock in a thunderstorm. He taught us by example that the most certain sign of wisdom is a continued cheerfulness. Again, he taught us by example that talk which does not end in any kind of action is better suppressed altogether. He always squared promise with fulfillment, mouth with hand, and he was very seldom outclassed in capacity and never in courage. Indifference to his personal welfare was actuated by his complete devotion to his onerous and important duties. Our late friend did not change his mind to suit men and circumstances, he relied upon the reward given to men who do not flinch before the cries of the multitude, and who do not seek their political fortune in the success of the moment. He walked straight in what he thought was the right path as a good citizen and faithful servant of all the United States.

Our late friend and colleague has left the memory of really a good and able man, one who during a busy and useful life ever did his best in every way to promote equality of opportunity and happiness, and he had an unappeasable and uncompromising detestation for all that was baneful or iniquitous or menacing in actuality or potentiality.

Faithful and intelligent servant of the Republic, rest in peace, ever garlanded by the love of friends and sanctified by the adoration of family and kinsmen.

Remarks by Representative Cannon

Of Missouri

Mr. CANNON of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, one of the privileges of membership in the House is the opportunity afforded for association with men from so many sections of the country, and of such varied talent and interests. And one of the tragic experiences of our service here is the last farewell to a colleague whom we have learned through many hard-fought battles on the floor to love and cherish as a comrade on this side of the aisle or to respect and admire as a generous antagonist on the other side of the aisle. In the last few sessions there has been a long list of both-most of them fallen before their time-dropping beneath the growing load which has steadily increased in the last strenuous years through which the country and the world have been passing.

Since I have been on this floor-from the Sixty-second to the Seventy-sixth Congresses-1,888 Members have been elected to the House. Of these I have seen the flag drop to half mast for more than 200, among them some of the greatest men of the Nation. With few of them have I been so closely associated or enjoyed such intimate friendship as with CARL MAPES, of Michigan. For many years his office adjoined mine in the old office building. And when we moved across the street together we again found offices on the same floor. Daily I had the opportunity for a social word or for conference on some of the more serious problems with which the Congress has had to deal. Our last trip together on the pioneer flight of the Yankee Clipper, when through the night, suspended between sea and stars, we crossed the Atlantic, further cemented our friendship and strengthened my warm regard for him. And while we were not of the same political

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »