Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-04-26

Roscoe Coukfno the worst. They
were composed chiefly of representatives
of the press and friends OF the dead Sena-
tor.
DR.. Barker called at 10 80 O'Clock and re-
NAMED until eleven p. m He SAID MI
Conkling was falling rapidly HIS extrem-
tiles were becoming cold. HIS legs were
quite cold nearly all the way up.
1t was a dreadful struggle that the
statesman had fought against grim death,
but at the last his end was peaceful ana
unaccompanied by pain. His sorrowing
wife and daughter were weeping at ms
side, but the once keen eyes were glazed
and set in the struggle.
Mrs. Conlking and her daughter both
bore up bravely, but the elder lady was
the most Frustrated. Mrs Oakman sup
ported her mother. The ashen pailor deep
ened on the emacated face and Mr. Conk-
ling gasped three or four times and passed
away. In de tth the lines about his mouth
and on his face were slightly drawn. He
was much emaciated. but still in death his
face seemed natural.
Immediately after the death Judge Coke
and DR.. AnderJon left the house. No ar
rangements were made last night for the
funeral but will be definitely settled upon
to-day when Mrs. Conkling becomes more
composed Judge Coke said that in death
Mr.. COnkling's mouth was slightly open as
though he had died with ii gasp. The
nurse gently pressed the mouth shut. Mrs.
Conkling IS alone with her daughter and
is completely Frustrated will grief.
the interment Will be ut Utica, N. Y.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Roscoe Conkling was born in Albany, N.
V, October 81, 1929; received an academIc
education, and studied law three years un-
der his fathers tuition. In SIG he entered
the law Office of Francis Herman, afterward
his colleague in the Senate, and in 1850 be-
came district attorney for Oneida County.
He was admitted to the bar in that year,
and soon became prominent both in law
and in politics. He was elected mayor OF
Utica in 1858, and at the expiration of his
first term tie vote between the two can
didates for the office caused him to hold
over for another term. In November
1858, he WAS chosen as a Republican
to Congress, and took his seat in
that body at the beginning of its first ses-
sion, in December, 1S59-a session noted
for its long and bitter contest over the
Speakership. He was reelected in 1860,
but in 1862 was defeated by Francis Ker-
nan, over whom. however, he was elected
in 1864. FL first committee was that on
the District of Columbia, of which he was
afterward chairman. He was also a mcm-
Der of the Committee of Ways and Means
and of the special reconstruction commit
tee of fifteen. Mr. Conkling's first i'm
portant speech was in support of the Four
teenth amendment to the Constitution. He
vigorously attacked the generalship of Nc
Clellan, opposed SpauldIng's legal tender
act, and firmly upheld the Government In
the prosecution of the war. Mr.. Conk-
ling was reelected In the autumn of 1866
but in January, 1867, before he took his
seat, was chosen United States Senator to
succeed Ira Harris, and reelected in
kLA hn
from the first a member of the
Judiciary Committee, and connected with
nearly all the leading committees, holding
the char of those on commerce and re-
vision of the laws. Senator Conkl ing was
a Jealous supporter of President Grants
Administration and largely directed its
general policy toward the South, advocat
ing it in public and by his personal in
huence. He was also instrum entail in the
passage of the Civil Rights ill, and fu
vored the resumption of specie payments.
He took a prominent part in framing the
Electoral Com mission bill IN 1877, and sup
ported it by an able speech, arguing that
the question of the Commissions jurisdic-
ton should be left to that body itself Mr..
Conkling received ninety-three votes for
the Republican nomination for President
in the Cincinnati convention of 1874 In
the Chicago convention of 1880 he ad-
vocated the nomination of General
Grant for third term In 1881 he
became hostile to President Gar
fields Administration on question of
patronage, claiming, with his colleague,
Thomas &. Piatt, the right to control Fed.
eral appointments in his State. The Presl-
dent having appointed political opponent
of Mr.. Conkling to the collectorship of the
port OF New York, the latter opposed his
confirmation, claiming that he should have
been consulted in the matter, and that the
nomination was violation of the pledges
given to him by the President. Mr.. Gar
field, as soon as Mr.. Conkling had declared
his opposition, withdrew all other nomina-
lions to New York offices, leaving the OBJ
jectionable one TO be acted on by itself.
Finding that he could not prevent the con.
tirmation, Mr. Conkling, on May 16 re-
signed his Senatorship, as did also his COL
league, and returned home to seek vindi-
cation In the form of a reelection. In this
however, after an exciting canvass, they
failed; two other Repu blicans We're chosen
10 MI the vacant places, and Mr.. Conkling
returned TO his law practice in New York
city. In 1886 he was counsel of the State
Senate investigating committee, appointed
for the purpose of disclosing the fraud
and bribery in the grant of the Broadway
horse railroad franchise by the Board of
Aldermen in 1854. After the taking of tes-
timony, lasting about three months, Mr..
Conkliug, together with Clarence A. Sew
the repeal of the Broadway railroad char
ter