Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/89

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

vatives


49 


of his party is {greater than many members give him credit for. He was born in Bii tier county, Ohio, the grand old "Buckeye" State which has given the nation more men than any other State in the Union, an assei-tion which no caviller can gainsay. In his youth he lived on a farm with liis parents, attending the schools of the vicinity. He went to Missouri with his parents in 1859, here the family remained for a number of years, young John being enabled to o'otain a very good ordinary education, which he after- wards brought to a very high degree of culture by his own exertions. In 1870 he went to Dakota, where he remained two years teaching school. He came to Oregon in 1872 and located in Linn county, where he taught school until 1876, when he removed to Lane county, where he has since resided, teaching school and being engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Long was married in i872 to Miss Annie Johnson. Although the position which Mr. Long took in the last Seriatoiial election brought upon him the censure of some few thoughtless and loud-talking men, yet it is a well-knowTi fact, which the record will prove, that Mr. Long's action throughout that bitter fight was strictly consistent and highly creditable to him. He is an ardent Dem- ocrat and represented one of the most respectable constituencies in the State in Lane county. For one long week Mr. Long voted for a Democrat for U. S. Senator, and understanding full well that it was impossible for a Democrat to be elected, he chauged his vote and supported that Republican candidate who was the choice of two-thirds of the Republican party and whom he believed to be the best man for the people — Hon. J. H. Mitchell. In taking this action Mr. Long was congratulated by every right-thinking man, and the criticisms of his enemies only add luster to his good name.

HON. Q. P. S. PLUMMER.

One of the most popxilar men in the Assembly is Dr. Plummer. His cour- teous manner, gentlemanly instincts and generous charity for the mistakes and shortcomings of others has rendered him an object of sincere respect to all with whom he comes in contact. His speeches on special subjects are models; they are fluent, concise, and convey the impression to the listener that the speaker is not only thoroughly conversant with his subject, btit that he brings to a consideration of the question under discussion a vast amount of careful study and conscientious thought. Dr. Plummer pos- sesses in a large degree the peculiar faculty of opposing the argument of " the gentleman on the other side" with a genial and happy irony that never fails to please even the member whom he is for the moment opposing. It seldom occurs that he employs biting sarcasm or withering satire, but the fact that he has occasionally dealt trenchant blows indicate that he is thoroughly competent to use them eflectively. He is one of the two who were honored with a re-election from Multnomah county, having served the people faithfully in the eleventh session of the Legislature. As a conse- quence he combines experience in legislative matters \\ath his theoretical knowledge of the business of the office he occupies. As a debater and par- liamentarian Dr. Plummer has few equals, and his clear perception of the merits of the question at issue has on several occasions rescued the House