New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11

DANIEL w. VOORHEES,.
ports. however were that he was showing some
signs Of Improvement. and his death, therefore,
while not entirely unexpected, came with the SUI
dcnness OF n shock.
Mr. Voort ness death was caused by an attack OF
angina pectoris His health was poor during me
recen, political campaign that he could NOT take part
In H. but after his return to Washington IN NoVem-
Der he seemed TO improve In health Two weeks ago
the old rheumatic troubles returned anu tii'e Jay
ego they became even alarming. but MI Noor-
hees sill id not conine himself 70 MS Deu anu Ms
family felt immediate alarm II was h'l' ''''ceu'
until half an hour before the final summons came
that any one realized death was near Reese ~
Voorhees, had remained In the room during the night
and was awakened about o'clock this morning oy
his father who was then suffering great pain III the
reg on OF the heart He refused. however, 10 ailo"
physician 10 be called, saying the pain would pass
away Half an hour later he appeared nuch pet'e'
and 20; ont OF bed walk 10 the bathroom MS sun
being with him. When they entered the halfway
Mr. Voorhees, was attacked by a more severe spash
than he had yet experienced and fell In semi-con-
sc.ois condition into his sons arms. The latter car
red the now dylng man back to his bed ana sum-
mcned Dr Shoup, a neighborlns physician IL was
too late howeve'. for aid to be OF avail anu the
ex Scra5r soor passed away without regalning Iuii
consc.ousness Only his son. Reese; his daughter
Miss Halle Voorhees,. and the physician were pres
Inc iodg viii he taken 10 Terrc IIaute, Ind, Mr.
home io g eny ySa!s death ho became
known at The capitol to-day Expressions OF deep deep
in public life thai he was known to every employe
about IT," buildinr nnd all fet an aiIectloLih nG
treatment Of them. II was generally remarked as
fitting that Senator voorhees, should nave Gied o az
he did within stones throw o! the Deautiiui , new
Library building and as Rar bsss tb
opening of this institution which is soon to take take,
place He introduced the first resolution looking
rise from the foundation stones with all the pride
OF creator. i will sta1d in ,, large part mohu-
The death OF Daniel W. Voorhees, removes from
the stage Of National politics another of the few
remaining figures whose activities and regulations
date back to and beyond the stormy period OF the
War OF the Rebellion. Rising in 1862 IA young and
untried HoOsier lawyer 10 almost National fame by
his defence OF one of the unfortunate participants
In John Browns raid on Hnrper's Ferry his ca
reer in National politics has stretched almost with
out break over the thirty-cight years intervening.
ending only a month ago In his final retirement
from the United States Senate and from public
life. For those thirty-eight years. as minority
leader in the House OF Representatives, party
counsellor I'm the Senate, n dominant force in the
politics OF his own State. and factor TO he reck-
oned with at each succeeding Democratic National
Convention Mr.. Voorhees, has easily kept his place
IN the front rank OF Northern Democratic poll
ticians Almost alone among the men VINO fougnt
the battles OF Democracy in the sixties and seven
ties-Seymour Tilden Hendricks, Cox. Kerr. Ran
dali Bayard Thurman-he retained into another
generation his seat IN Congress and his unbrokea
mold or political power To stem revolution
in public sentiment like that Of 1896 his political
skill and popularity were alike powerless. and he
went down in the general ruin Of the Bryan cam
pagn in the Middle West. He had already. how
ever practically withdrawn from politics, broken
down in health and despairing OF recovery. Death
has followed therefore, with tragic suddenness on
las: falls aral check In his political fortunes.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
Mr. Voorhees, was born in Butler County Ohio.
Just north OF Cincinnati September 20, 1921 but
In early infancy was carried by his parents to the
rich sycamore lined valley OF the Wabash. from
which he was hereafter draw his political nom
de euerre." He was graduated from the Indiana
Asbury now Depauw) University In ls4e. and stud
led law and began the practice Of that profession
in 1851. In 1858 President Buchanan appointed him
United States Dstrct-Attorney for Indiana and he
held that Office until he entered Congress in 1861.
His first prominence before the country was ac-
CURED through his defence OF Cook, who was a
participant In the John Brown raid Cook was
scarcely more than a boy, an enthusiast VINO calmly
sought martyr1om He was the brother-m-law OF
A. p willard then Governor OF Indiana Gov
ernor Willard was friend OF young voorhees,. and
on account OF that friendship the latter undertook
the case At the trial the hitherto obscure Hoosier
attorney delivered address which arrested the
attention of every auditor. He had neither manu-
script nor notes yet profound was the impress
sion made that the distinguished lawyers and poll
ticians who thronged the Charlestown courthouse
urged him eagerly 10 reduce his effort to Writing
without loss of time. This de did as pest ne
could and the speech got n at pnSs nto half
IN 5 Mr. Soorhees was elected to thcxxxvh
Congress a Democrat from the Terre iiaHie DIS Se,
trct OF Indiana. and he was reelected IN lsoZ Iooi
600 Ittrfn 10
OF the leaders OF the Democratic opposition IN tne
the iron rule Of Thaddeus stevens In 1872 Mr.
Voorhees, was defeated for reelection. and from sS
g M Be- Sf@ no R RSO Was 0 pped by
Governor Williams and took his seat on November
T. 81, He Term was oy n & na w9 9S
elected again in 1855 and In 1891. He thus served
I'm the Senate continuously for neary twenty years.
SERVICE IN THE SENATE.
In that body he became one OF the most conspicu-
Gus Democratic leaders attaining in 1898. on the
reorganization OF the Senate by the Democratic
majority the most highly priced post In that branch
the Craftsmanship OF the Committee on Finance
Mr. Voorhees, had long been radical advocate OF
currency inhatlon-eliher by unlimited issues OF
greenbacks or by the unlimited coinage OF silver
He took the lead. however. at the extraordinary
session OF 1893 In urging the acceptance by the
Democratic party in Congress OF Mr.. Clevelands
policy OF unconditional repeal OF the purchasing
the party In the Senate deserted him. and after the
successful; passage OF the repeal oMsneay by ne ne
Finance Committee and his influence in Democratic
Though nominaly chairman unti December lS SS;
as the real spokesman OF the majority side. II may
be added that the repeal bill once passed MI Noor,
bees returned gradually 10 his old attitude toward
free silver coinage and was an eager supporter OF
the Democratic National Platform on which Bryan
ran for the Presidency.
Mr. Voorhees's name will always be gratefully as
ISOLATED with the great task OF projecting and build
ing the new Library OF Congress- on May 1880. he
made carefully prepared speech In the Senate set
ting forth the deplorabe and dlsgracefu CONDITION
adequacy OF the present home OF the library for the
sccrrn NOD ,,on ~ the collection OF books The