MEMORIAL EXERCISES 421 



Personally, I did not know of his services as prosecuting attorney, or 

 member of the State Board of Education, but all reports show that his 

 services were conscientiously performed, with more than ordinary ability, 

 ajid to the satisfaction of his constituents. The same may be truthfully 

 said of his work as member of the constitutional commission of 1873. 



In congress his services were of a high character. He was intelligent, 

 industrious and painstaking in all he did. Ever faithful and diligent in 

 performing the numerous errands and detail matters for his constituents, 

 yet unlike many others he never considered these the principal duties of 

 a member of congress. He studied hard and endeavored by every means 

 in his power to ascertain what legislation and what general policy was 

 best for the country, and having made up his mind, urged the adoption 

 of such measures vigorously" and intelligenth', not only on the floor of 

 the house, but in committee rooms, through the press, to which be was 

 an occasional contributor, and in private conversations. He had a high 

 ideal of what a politician should be, and would never stoop to anything 

 he deemed dishonorable. While he was a dyed-in-the-wool republican, 

 and believed fully in its great cardinal principles, yet, in some of his 

 convictions he showed some of the characteristics of the other belief. 

 His studious life and his conscientious defense of the constitution and 

 laws of his State and country made him a strict constructionist to some 

 of his colleagues who, from their standpoint, believed it better to be 

 more practical and less technical. While he was a protectionist, he 

 was conservative, and never took extreme positions on this question. 

 He was firm and steadfast in his views and had the courage of his con- 

 victions, but was always tolerant of the opinions of others. 



As president of the Normal School and Agricultural College I only 

 know by the universal approbation which all those thrown in contact 

 with him gave of his work in these positions, which require so much 

 knowledge, skill, tact and good judgment to fill successfully and satis- 

 factorily. He was called to the position of assistant secretary of agri- 

 culture by President Harrison because of the personal knowledge of the 

 President of his true worth. Owing to the ill-health of Secretary Rusk, 

 and the demands made upon his time by other duties, Mr. Willits was 

 called upon to perform the duties of the secretary much of the time. 

 So well were these duties performed that Secretary Morton was reluctant 

 to dispense with his valuable services. The world is better for his having 

 lived. He did much good while living, and his life is an inspiration to 

 the young men who knew him either as a teacher or in performing the 

 various duties of his busy life, showing that industry, integrity and per- 

 severance are the cardinal principles of life, in the exercise of which 

 any position in life is possible. 



EDWIN WILLITS AND THE NORMAL SCHOOL. 

 PROF. DANIEL PUTNAM, YPSILANTI. 



The faculty of the State Normal School desire through me, as their 

 representative, to unite in this public and appropriate recognition of the 

 valuable and faithful services rendered to our State by the Hon. Edwin 

 Willits. In the natural division of duties in these memorial exercises 

 it properly falls to me to speak only of his relations to the Normal School 

 and of his services in connection with that institution. 



