The herald., 1897-10-30
The Grim Reaper Claims
the Candidate
A VICTIM OF APOPLEXY
No Warning Was Given of
the Stroke
BITTERNESS TURNS TO GRIEF
ERsTWHILE FOES PAY TRIBUTE
TO HIS WORTH
Remaining Candidates Busy Figur-
ing UP Advantages to Accrue
to Them-Henry George
Jr. Nominated

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK, Oct. 29.-Henry George
is dead. In the midst of the strife and
bitterness of the political campaign the
specter death came and touched with
ruthless hand the leader of one of the
hosts. On the very eve Of the climax Of
human passions and ambitions and
party prejudice, the grim reaper provid-
ed an ante-climaX so much greater than
the one which is still to come that men
of all parties have forgotten their anger
in grief at the blow which has fallen with
such suddenness.
Last night noisy, shouting crowds
crushed into halls and streets to hear
speeches that in great part were filled
with personality and bitterness; rock
cts flared, fires burned, men argued and
urged and all signs bore witness that
the campaign was at white heat. But
when today dawned all was changed.
Men seem lOath to believe that one who
had been so much in the public eye in
the last few weeks is no more and for
the time being the complexion Of the
political situation is forgotten in genu-
inc grief. Those who last night bitterly
denounced the man who said "I stand
for real democracy, the democracy Of
Thomas Jefferson" today recalled the
many touching. kindly acts in the life
of the dead man, which showed his ma
ture, and Joined in the words which came
naturally to the lips of all: "An-llonest
man is dead"
In his great Cooper union speech ac-
cepting the nomination for mayor less
than month ago, Mr.. George said:
'"I'll make this race, if it costs me my
life. This is a call to duty, and as a good
citizen 1 have no right to disregard it on
account of mere personal considera-
tion."
Today the cheers of the workers have
suddenly been changed to sighs for, true
to his words, Henry George, the apostle
of the rights of man, died as he wished
to die-in harness, fighting for the cause
toward the close of the greatest NUM-
cipal political contest the world has
ever seen.
The end was peaceful, and he died
without pain. This man of mighty brain
and undaunted courage was physically
frail and the strain of an exciting CAM
paign requiring speech-making OF
points miles apart, night after night,
was more than nature could stand. He
kept it up to the end and only few
hours before the dread messenger cried
halt Henry George had addressed en-
thusiastic audiences in three of the
towns of the borough Of Queens and
10 in q
hall.
He spoke at Whitestone at o'clock
and made a speech at College Point and
Flushing before returning to New York
to speak at the Central opera house.
Mrs. George went with him. All the
halls in which he spoke were filled. and
at College Point and at Flushing crowds
were turned away. AT Whitestone he
drove from the railroad station to the
meeting hall at gallop. TO the cheer-
ing crowds he said: Il believe that all
the needed reforms are summed up In
that philosophy-the right of every man
to eat, to drink to speak as he sees mt,
so long as he does not trench on the
rights of any other man. believe that
God, the Father, can take care or ms
laws-there is no need for us to get into
trouble trying to meddle with Gods
laws, to enforce them. If 1 am elected,
and I believe that I will be elected,
will enforce the law upon the rich and
poor alike.
"I have pledged myself to search out
the charges popularity made against
Mr.. Richard Croker. If I am elected
these charges shall be investigated. II
they shall be proved untrue, let him go
unscathed back to England or to any
land he pleases. But If they are true,
Mr.. Georges voice rang out in menacing
tones that visibly excited his audience.
"let the law be enforced. Let him go
to the penitentiary. He shall go there"
Mr.. George picked up his hat, saying
goodbye, and started for the door. The
crowd rose, cheering, elbowed and
fought to get near him. They reached
out their hands to touch his clothing.
At College Point there were 1900 conf
mon laborers, a rough crowd close
packed in the hall. Mr.. George was in
troduced as the friend of the working
men. He began: "I have never claimed
to be friend of the working man. do
not make any such claim (there was a
pause of dead silence); have not and
do not intend to advocate anything m
the special interest Of the laboring man."
(Another dead pause.) Mr. George
walked the full lengthof the platform
and let out his full voice in a shout: II
am for men," (The crowd set up such
cheering and stamping that the room
was filled with choking dust.) II am
for men, the equal rights of all men.
Let us be done with asking privileges
for the laboring men,"
There was much cheering and shouting
as the speaker pushed his way out of the