in the best sense of the word. CARL MAPES was a leader and an eminent legislator because he was intellectually honest, because he was thorough, because he was dependable, and because he took a broad national view of his responsibilities as a Member of Congress. While he believed in party organization, party platforms, and party responsibilities, yet he was no narrow partisan in any sense of the word. He was honored and respected equally on both sides of the aisle and by both those who were for and those who were against him on any particular legislative matter. During my time in Congress, I know of no man who as an individual had more influence among the membership than CARL MAPES. His kind are all too few, and in his passing, this country and this Congress have lost a leader who could ill be spared, especially in times like these. Remarks by Representative Dingell Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I arise upon this solemn occasion to pay my humble tribute to the late CARL E. MAPES, who for 26 years represented the Fifth Congressional District of Michigan in the Congress of the United States. CARL MAPES was my friend. In fact, he was a friend of every Member of this House who knew him, and poor indeed was he who failed to make his acquaintance. CARL MAPES was as modest and honest as he was helpful and productive. He enjoyed the regard and the esteem generally of his fellow Members, and particularly those who were privileged to be included in Michigan's delegation. He towered above us because of his great public service and a record unattained, I dare say, by any other man from Michigan who ever served in Congress. Intellectually his greatness cannot be overstated; he was a student and, too, he was a master. His character and disposition were matchless, and he was fearless, outspoken, and uncompromising in his attitude toward error. He was not of my political faith, yet he was not partisan in the narrow sense of the word. He could not be compelled to suport or oppose a measure unless he was convinced that it was right to do so. The origin of a bill or proposal was not what concerned CARL E. MAPES, its purpose, effect and objective were deciding factors which governed his attitude and course. Matters that were of great concern and the expression of his own great party, Congressman MAPES would support only when he was convinced that they were fundamentally sound, correct, and, therefore, honorable. He frequently threw the weight of his superior knowledge and experience into the parliamentary fray and ever so often swayed his colleagues who drank deep of his sound philosophy and argument. Thus, he was a great help to the minority in recent years. With equal fervor and sincerity, he would aid the majority in the passage of a given bill or measure when he was convinced that the proposal was for the best interest of the people of this Nation. We are privileged to record our sentiments regarding one of Michigan's noblest sons, and certainly we all agree that he was without peer among her Representatives in Congress. I bow my head, Mr. Speaker, and I pray God our Father will grant eternal rest to the noble soul of CARL E. MAPES, and that He will strengthen and sustain the family and loved ones until once again all are reunited in Heaven. Remarks by Representative Jonkman Mr. JONKMAN. Mr. Speaker, when God in his inscrutable wisdom took away CARL E. MAPES his district, his State, and Nation lost a genuine, faithful, and valuable public servant. His fine character, marked ability, and untiring energy in public affairs were quickly recognized and drew him from his law practice into the legislature of his native State. There he served with distinction, but not for long. Soon these qualities, together with his unerring and unswerving devotion to the fundamentals and ideals of republican government, called him to a higher and greater stewardship as a Member of Congress. Here he served his district and his country with eminence and distinction for over a quarter of a century. It was not my privilege to be personally familiar with his work in Congress. It has, however, been my inspirational experience in the last few weeks to privately hear scores of my colleagues from both sides of the House eulogize in glowing terms his sincere patriotism, his outstanding ability, his able counsel, his sympathetic and helpful nature, as well as his fine Christian character. It was this same transcendent personality which endeared him to the people of his district. I cannot recall any death that caused greater shock or more profound and universal grief in the community than the passing of Carl as high and low addressed him. The services in his home city were conducted by the Reverend Dr. Edward Archibald Thompson, minister of the Park Congregational Church at Grand Rapids, of which Congressman MAPES was a member. He preached a most appropriate and beautiful sermon, which I quote, as follows: There is nothing more admirable in human nature than the impulse to honor the memory of noble men. We are assembled today to pay tribute to one to whom tribute is due. However, in keeping with his fine taste, his modest, unassuming nature, his antipathy to ostentation, and in conformity to his wish, often expressed after funeral services held for some of his friends, this service must be one of sincere simplicity. It is not our purpose here to eulogize the life of one who was so well and so favorably known and one who was so much beloved by the thousands who knew him best. High tribute has already been justly paid by political associates and by friends in every walk of life. Yet we would be unfair to ourselves if we did not pause for a moment on this solemn occasion to at least mention a few of the vital and magnificent qualities of character that undergirded his unusual life and which have made him an outstanding and trusted leader, not only in his own city but throughout the State and Nation, then to here pledge ourselves to carry on those high principles by which he lived and through which he gave to his fellow men and to his country such humble yet such distinguished service. CITES TRIBUTES OF OTHERS In printed and in uttered tributes to the memory of this real American, this truly great servant of his country, we find an unusual list of words and some striking sentences, all of which are markedly true. He was dependable yet modest, able yet quiet, tolerant yet conscientious, loyal yet sincere. He was scrupulously honest. He was winsome, clean, wholesome. He was a charitable friend and helpful neighbor. Congressman MAPES was a man of real courage, yet he was always fair to those who disagreed with him. He had the welfare of his people at heart. He felt a deep sense of responsibility to them. To an unusual degree he was able to sit where other people sat and see life from their point of view. His masterful strength, sometimes concealed by his rare modesty and always combined with his deep sympathy, gave him an insight into human problems and marked ability in helping to solve them. In the words of an outstanding associate of his: "He demonstrated as few other men have done what sheer force of character can do in human contacts and in public relationships. * He was a Christian * gentleman in every sense of the word." |