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��Hon. Rodney Wallace.
��respect of his associates. True moral principles have been united with un- questioned probity, business tact, and liberal, intelligent management." He has won a large fortune, without parting with his honesty in earning a single dollar. As his property has increased, his generous spirit has seen larger op- portunities and at once embraced them. He has not been among those who withhold more than is meet and tend to poverty. Property in such hands is not a grinding monopoly, but a wide bless- ing. Such men can afford to be wealthy. They represent the true socialistic spirit, .vhich is, that private capital should be held as a public good.
Largely through the influence of Mr. Wallace various improvements have been made in Fitchburg, which contrib- ute to its attractiveness. The business of the city is in no small degree in- debted to him for facilities with which communication can be had with the world outside. Prominent mention may be made of the beautiful Union Railway station at Fitchburg in securing whose erection, and in planning which, Mr. Wallace was largely instrumental.
MR. WALLACE IN POLITICS.
Mr. Wallace has had no ambitious longmgs for political life. And yet his fellow citizens would not be liLely to let such a man remain wholly out of public life. So it is true to say that whatever office Mr. Wallace has held, has sought him. He was selectman of the town during the years 1864, 1865, and 1867. In 1873 he was representative to the Genral Court, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1872 by nearly ever)' ballot cast. He was re-nomii>ated the next year without dissent or opposi- tion, but declined a re-election on ac- count of ill health. While a member of the Legislature he was on the Committee on Manufactures, a position which his
��ability and experience fitted him to fill- The most conspicuous political office he has held is that of Councillor. While holding that position he represented one of the largest and most important districts of the State. In it are included the thriving city of Worcester and the sister city of Fitchburg, which, with their varied industries, needed a man of large and ripe judgment to represent them. He served three terms, during the years 1880, 1881, and 1882, or throughout the entire ad- ministration of Governor Long. His election was so entirely unanimous that for the last two years he had no com- petitor in the field, Democrats as well as Republicans supporting him. While on the Council he was a member of the following important committees : on Pardons, on Harbors and Public Lands, on Millitary Affairs, and on Warrants.
At the close of Governor Long's ad- ministration he refused to allow furthur use of his name for the office he had so ably filled for three years. He celebrated his retirement from this position as a servant of the public by a brilliant re- ception tendered to Governor Long in the City Hall, Fitchburg, December 7, 1882. He thus gave his fellow citizens and constituents an opportunity to look Massachusett's popular Governor in the face and take him by the hand.
The following account of the recep- tion, appeared in the Fitchburg Senti- nel of Friday, December 8, which I quote :
"The reception tendered to Governor Long in City Hall, Thursday evening, by Councillor Rodney Wallace and wife, was the most enjoyable and brilliant entertainment ever given in this city, and will be long remembered with pleasure by all who participated. The reception was given by ]\Ir. and Mrs. Wallace as a compliment to Governor Long, with whom Mr. Wallace has been
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