Legion, Department of Wisconsin, and as a Member of Congress for 16 years, LAWRENCE SMITH gave continuing and consistent proof of his deep devotion to his Nation, his State, and his fellow Americans.

There were some who questioned his strong, conservative views, but there were none who questioned the sincerity with which he held these views.

Perhaps that is finest tribute that can be paid him.

[From the Waukesha (Wis.) Daily Freeman]

REPRESENTATIVE SMITH'S DEATH BIG LOSS TO FIRST DISTRICT The death of Racine's Congressman LAWRENCE H. SMITH in Washington yesterday represents a distinct loss to the people of that district and to the lower House. As dean of congressional Representatives from Wisconsin, his opinion on vital policy questions was often sought and during the 16 years he served as a Representative his influence in national affairs was considerable. As an unyielding foe of fruitless foreign-aid expenditures, he will be missed by those who could depend upon his support.

[From the Sharon (Wis.) Reporter]

LAWRENCE H. SMITH

Wisconsin-particularly our First Congressional District-lost a hard working representative of the people with the death yesterday, January 22, of the Honorable LAWRENCE H. SMITH.

A conservative Republican, Mr. SMITH was never an on-thefence politician. One knew, every minute, where he stood on every question.

His people-not those in Racine alone, his home city, but in the entire district-were ever in his heart and always received his immediate attention.

He paid the going subscription rate for newspapers from his district, and through them, reading them carefully, he knew always what was going on at home.

As an example: we received, some time ago, a packet of materials from Congressman SмгTH, containing information on how the Federal Government assists communities like Sharon in securing new industry. We passed it on to Commercial Club officers.

Sharon didn't have to ask for the materials; Mr. SMITH, through his reporter, learned that to secure industry was one of Sharon's goals. Without a letter from us, his secretaries assembled materials to assist us as well as possible.

That was but one of many instances which prove LAWRENCE SMITH went many an extra mile for his people. Anyone who has written Mr. SMITH on a subject knows his answers-received immediately-were always direct and to the point, never evasive.

Democrats and liberal Republicans alike never questioned Mr. SMITH'S honesty nor his sincerity. Though they may not always have agreed with him 100 percent, they ever respected him and weighed his words of wisdom.

As long as there are dedicated men and women like the late Mr. SMITH in the Government our American form of life will be preserved.

Thousands of folks in the First District who knew him personally have lost a friend-and all have lost a sincere, hard working public servant.

We have long had a personal conviction that to return to public office a man who has had a coronary is to present him with a death warrant. Such men must know this as well as we-and desire to die with their boots on. That is real dedication to the democratic way of life.

[From the Kenosha (Wis.) Evening News]

A DEDICATED MAN

Three years of living and working with a serious heart condition came to an end yesterday for Congressman LAWRENCE H. SMITH. He died, as they say, in harness. The distinguished Member of the House from the First Congressional District of Wisconsin continued his earnest work for his constituents right up to the moment of collapse.

He was, as Republican House Leader Martin said, a dedicated Congressman. In all the more than 16 troublesome years he served in the Congress he was known by his own Republican Party and the opposition as a diligent, hard-working Representative.

Representative SMITH was a most capable man with a mind of his own and he acted as his conscience dictated, with the result that many differed with him on his voting record. For instance, he carried Kenosha County in the special election of 1941, and in the general elections of 1942, 1944, and 1946, but failed to carry this county in the next five successive elections. However, as his long term in office indicates, he fared much better in the remainder of his five-county district, particularly in Rock, Green, and Walworth Counties.

Despite the fact that the majority of Kenosha voters opposed him politically, Representative SмITH continued to give of himself

for all residents in his district and for the State and the Nation. He was never bewitched by the vote pattern to favoring any area over another.

No one, for instance was more alert to the possibilities of the Richard I. Bong bomber base now taking shape in Kenosha, Racine, and Burlington areas. No one worked as hard as he did to get all the facts at the earliest possible moment to all the persons affected. Through his channels to the Defense Department, he was on top of the airbase subject from the moment the idea was hatched until his death.

On the national scene, Congressman SMITH carved out a highranking reputation as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The regard in which he was held was reflected in the attention which the members gave him in committee discussions and House debates.

He will be remembered by his colleagues and by his constituents for his fiery attacks in recent years on the multibillion dollar foreign-aid program. He was a most thoughtful student of foreign aid and most persistent in his insistence that it was a plain waste of money.

For years Congressman SMITH was filled with a sense of anxiety over the menace posed by the Soviet Union, wary of the Russians' peace language, yet never believed the solution could be found by buying friends.

Representative SMITH was more than alert to communism. He kept close tab on all domestic issues, including farm legislation, labor legislation, economy in government and taxes. It is well to remember that he could not vote on any issue to the complete satisfaction of all. He was returned to Congress again and again because of his past performance and his merits.

We like to remember Congressman SMгTн as a man who served his country with honor in both war and peace, and as a man ready at any time to help any individual.

[From the Milton and Milton Junction (Wis.) Courier]

THE OBSERVER'S COLUMN

Anything else that might have been on the spindle for this week's column should be laid over to pay our respect to the late LAWRENCE H. SMITH, Congressman from this district which includes Rock County.

All shades of opinion and groups of political faith agree that he stood up for his convictions and was true to what he and his

many supporters were convinced was the highest form of Americanism.

It is difficult, almost impossible, for a people or a nation to rise above its leaders. Congressman SMITH gave to this true midwestern American district a representation which will be difficult to replace. His successor will have a high mark to shoot at.

As an officer in the ranks in World War I he saw the events which brought the world to its present state of uncertainty. He saw the high promises of a war to end all wars and to wipe militarism from the face of the earth. He saw this disillusionment and futility of our first big scale participation in international or foreign affairs.

For those of a later generation it will be difficult to see things in the same perspective. The Chicago Tribune writer terms him a quiet scholarly man, whose views were respected by men of both parties, despite the growing popularity of his position on foreign affairs.

The writer continues to say that SMITH was opposed to American meddling in international affairs, of foreign aid handouts and big Government spending. He was critical of the United Nations and the hopes of finding lasting peace through the U. N.

Representative O'Konski of northern Wisconsin praised SMITH as "A great statesman who could disagree without being disagreeable."

Maybe one of these days the pendulum will swing the other way but for the past two decades gradually our Representatives have swung to the idea that our men, our money, wealth, and ideas must be spread the world over, by force of arms if necessary and that we must have these outposts of foreign contacts and trade to survive.

Yes, the world is getting smaller and interchange with nations is easier and seems more natural. But there comes to mind the words of a missionary minded speaker of years ago, who perhaps prophesied more than he knew and this was his statement.

What good is it if we have interchange, trade, and relations with people all over the world, if each new contact is to be merely another source of irritation? How true in this day if we stop to think. The work of the missionary was slow, but at least he didn't expose us to the enmity of world powers.

The life span of Congressman SMITH covers an era in American affairs, which we are afraid will not always be understood by those who come after, because present day propaganda is not favorable to this enlightenment. It is more intent upon justifying the

present state of affairs.

As we stand to respect LAWRENCE SMITH We breathe a prayer that a man will arise to fill his position with honor to himself and this district.

ATM.

[From the Lake Geneva (Wis.) Regional News]

LAWRENCE SMITH

The death of Representative LAWRENCE H. SMITH last week marked a great loss to the Wisconsin First Congressional District and to the Nation as a whole. To many Genevans, it was a personal loss, since he had many close friends in this area.

There was perhaps no Congressman more sincere than SMITH about the very high public position entrusted to him. Very outspoken for integrity in government, he strongly and unendingly advocated eliminating Federal extravagance and waste and was a foe of throwing money away on futile foreign aid schemes. In domestic affairs, SMITH constantly demanded economies and fought an increase in the national debt limit. Despite his heavy schedule, he always had time for individuals and enjoyed visits with his constituents.

The First District will not easily find a new Representative as capable and conscientious as LAWRENCE SMITH.