During the 52nd and 53rd Congresses, a gentleman named Michael D. Harter served as a Democrat in the House of Representatives. These meetings of Congress saw the women of Colorado be granted the right to vote, the first protest march to Washington (Coxey's Army), and the passage of the Geary Act. This act required all legal Chinese residents to carry proof of citizenship and also allowed for Chinese people to be unlawfully detained in the event of an arrest. This law reminds me of the treatment that many Hispanic Americans face, illegal or not. It is unfortunate that we have not learned anything from this historical event.
Unfortunately, Michael D. Harter's story is one that is cut short by the tragedy of suicide.
We can't know what was going on in his head, but this article details some of the circumstances regarding Mr. Harter's death:
Such a sad ending to what appears to have been a brilliant life. I'd never heard of Michael Harter. Thanks for sharing!
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