Remarks by Representative Sadowski

Of Michigan

Mr. SADOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of paying a brief and humble tribute to the memory of my distinguished colleague, JOSEPH L. HOOPER, of Battle Creek, who, with marked ability and distinction, for 9 years served in this great legislative body the Third Congressional District of Michigan.

The sudden death of Congressman HOOPER on February 22, 1934, came as a distinct shock to all. Seemingly enjoying his usual good health and in the best of spirits, he spoke before the House of Representatives that afternoon. After the adjournment of the House for the day, he returned to his office, as was his custom, and was later found dead, the result of a heart attack.

Although I had had the pleasure of serving with Mr. HOOPER but one term, I had come to know and respect him as a man of unusually high principles and ideals, one who always followed what he considered to be the path of truth and wisdom. Although we were members of different political parties and were in disagreement on many subjects, I had great admiration for Mr. HooPER as a man of convictions and courage to back up these convictions.

Our association during my service in Congress was most pleasant, and I deeply mourn the loss of a good friend, with whom I was happy to serve.

Remarks by Representative Taber

Of New York

Mr. TABER. Mr. Speaker, JOSEPH L. HOOPER served in Congress for nearly 10 years from the Third District of Michigan. In the House of Representatives, when his party was in power over the major part of his service, he was frequently called upon to preside when the House was in Committee of the Whole. He made one of the ablest presiding officers we had; always courteous, dignified, and always had himself in hand. His knowledge of parliamentary law was probably as great as that of any other Member of the House. He took a keen interest in his work. For years he served on the Committee on Banking and Currency and was on the Committee on Insular Affairs. In his last term he was a member of the Judiciary Committee and had important assignments on the subcommittee having to do with the investigations which have been undertaken by that committee in recent years.

JOE HOOPER was a patriot. He was not only a party man but he was a lover of the American Constitution and of American liberties. He felt, as keenly as any of us can feel, the dangers to American liberties in the trend which the present administration has developed. It was just after making an impassioned appeal for liberty and our Constitution on the floor of the House that he suffered a heart attack and was taken from us. America never needed men of his type and his caliber more than it did at the time he was taken.

He was an outstanding, exceedingly able, and efficient legislator. The people of his State, and the people of the country as a whole will miss him.

Remarks by Representative Lehr

Of Michigan

Mr. LEHR. Mr. Speaker, in the death of Hon. JOSEPH L. HOOPER this Congress has lost one of its most able and conscientious Members; the Third Congressional District of Michigan has lost its most prominent citizen, and the State of Michigan has been deprived of the services of one of its most loyal servants, and I feel most deeply the loss of a friendship which has been one of my most cherished associations in my service with this Congress.

Many years ago I had become acquainted with JOE HOOPER, then a young lawyer in his home city of Battle Creek, Mich., and that acquaintanceship became renewed during my service in this session of the Congress. On more than one occasion it was my privilege to discuss with Mr. HOOPER matters of legislative moment, and I learned to have the greatest degree of respect for his mental attainments and his knowledge of public affairs and his sincerity of purpose. While he was deeply partisan, he was conscientiously so. His partisanship was not of a blind character that sees nothing good in the principles of the opposition. He was deeply sensible of the responsibilities of his public position, and he entertained a keen sense of his responsibility to his constituents at home.

There was no man in our Michigan delegation for whom I had a more profound respect and admiration than I had for JOE HOOPER. That respect was entertained by me not only because of his ability as a lawyer and a legislator but also because of his honesty and sincerity of purpose. We may differ in matters of policy; but when we differ conscientiously and honestly, then no one can question the propriety of such differences.

JOE HOOPER was a cultured gentleman, a scholar, and a student in all that those terms imply, and above all else, to those of his associates for whom he had a high regard he was the truest kind of friend. Our friendship became very close and very dear in our renewed association in this Congress.

He had planned on not seeking reelection to the next Congress, feeling, in justice to himself, that he should withdraw from public life and take up again the active practice of his profession. And he had looked forward, as I well know, with pleasurable anticipation to the time when he could again be within the bosom of his friends at home, devoting himself to the further enlightenment of his mind and to the rehabilitation of his private fortune. But proposes and God disposes ", and his ambition to retire from public life and take up again the reins of his private life among his friends at the conclusion of this term of Congress was not to be carried out, in accordance with the will of the Almighty. His death came as a great shock to us who had been so intimately connected with him.

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And so as a Democrat, I consider it a privilege to pay this little meed of respect to my Republican colleague. He was a man among men, a loving husband and father, a splendid citizen, and a friend whose memory I shall cherish in my heart as long as time lasts.

Remarks by Representative McLeod

Of Michigan

Mr. McLEOD. Mr. Speaker, I am indeed grateful for this opportunity to raise my voice in tribute to the memory of my late colleague and fellow Member from Michigan, the Honorable JOSEPH L. HOOPER. Mr. HOOPER was my warm personal friend. It was my privilege to know and work with him in the most cordial of relations since he was first elected to Congress. Mr. HOOPER devoted himself unselfishly to his career of public service, and during his long term in the House of Representatives his stalwart uprightness of character and proven ability won for him the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. HOOPER represented the finest type of American citizen, and his early training was of that sort which produces the strong and noble character possessed by him. He was born in Battle Creek, Mich., December 22, 1877. Since early manhood he had been a member of the legal profession. He launched his career of public service as city attorney of Battle Creek, later accepting the position of prosecuting attorney of Calhoun County. After serving with distinction as prosecuting attorney, his call to serve the public led to his election to the Sixty-ninth Congress, where he served brilliantly and with distinction until his unfortunate demise in the early part of this session.

His sudden death came as a great shock to his colleagues in the House of Representatives and to his host of friends throughout the State and the Nation. His outstanding achievements and his lovable personality will cause his name to be long remembered in the State and Nation for whose advancement he devoted his life.