Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-15

Washington, d. c.. April 10. Daniel
Woleey Voorhees,. ex- United States Sena-
tor from the State of Indiana, died at
b O'Clock this morning at his home in
this city, No. los Maryland avenue,
North East. He had been in poor
health for several years, and for at
least two years had taken little part in.
the proceedings in the Senate. He had
heen constant sufferer from rheuma-
tism OF the heart and his friends,
therefore, had come to expect that they
might hear of bis death suddenly. The
last reports of him, however, were that
he was showing some signs Of improve
mont, and his death, therefore, while
not entirely unexpected. came with the
suddenness Of shock.
At the time OF his retirement
from the Senate, ''ths tall Syca.
more Of the Wabash" as be waa
affectionately called by his devoted fol
lowers in the Hoosier State, was the
ranking Democrat on the finance COM
mittee and. by virtue of this position,
tho nominal leader at least of his party
on the floor of the Senate on tariff and
financial questions. He was not very
active, however. owing to his i'll health,
In the work on the Wilson Tariff bill,
most of tho numerous Senate amend
ments to this bill and it's final passage,
after stormy career, in which it was
in serious danger several times, being
due to Senator Jones of Arkansas. In
the repeal Of the Sherman silver law
the Hoosier Senator, however, took a
very prominent part. 1t was his. last
important work in the Senate. and the
final accomplishment of the repeal was
due largely to the effective support he
rendered to the Cleveland administra-
ton, which had made the repeal ono of
its chief purposes. The finance com
mittee at this time was almost evenly
divided on the financial question. and
the balance of power in the COMMITTEES
lay practically with Mr.. Voorhees,.
Mr.. Voorhees, was 76 years OF age last
September, and had been for many
years one of the most picturesque
figures in the Senate. He was born in
and in his early infancy was carried by
his parents to their pioneer home in
the Wabash valley, Ind. In 1919 he
was graduated from the Indiana Asbury
New Depauw) University, and in
1851 he began the practice Of law. His
first public Office Was entered upon in
1858. since which time be had been
almost continuously in the public
service. That Office was United States
district attorney for Indiana. HIS Con-
gressiopal career began. in 1861. He
served in the House of Representative
for five terms. In his autobiography
he said that he was defeated for this
Forty, third Congress- only by reason Of
the nomination of Greeley on hia 1.-THE
Democratic) ticket. He. entered nthe
Senate in 1877, by appointments foafill
the vacancy caused by the death iof
Oliver p. Morton, and because Of his
long experience in the House was a.
signed Immediately to the finance
committee, very unusual honor In the
case OF new Senator. Moreover he
retained his connection with that COM
mittoe, being its chairman during the
last Democratic era in that body, and
was leading figure in all debates in
volving questions of finance or tariff.
He was one of the ardent admirers and
supporters of the United States green
back currency and, beginning his Sena-
torial service with a most eloquent
speech in favor of the preservation Of
the full legal tender quality OF this
money. he never abated at any time bis
earnest advocacy of tho greenbacly
In appearance Mr.. Voorhees, was ono
of the most striking figures 10 the Sen
ate. He was Familiarity known as the
"tnll sycamore of the Wabash, - by
reason of his large and agDificsntly-
proportional figure. As an orator he
had few peers, commanding magnifi-
cont vocabulary anti imbuing his utter
ahces with degree of earnestness and
feeling that strangely influenced his
auditors.
His legal reputation was based largely
on his forensic powers, and 1t is an I'm
doubted fact that SUCCESS attended his
efforts in many cases commonly re-
garded "a almost hopeless, owing to his
ability to sway the jury by the mag
natic qualities of bis address: The
suvere strain, physical and mental. to Z
which ho was subjected. as the leader
of the majority in the Senate, during
the campaign resulting in the passage
of the Sherman repeal law permanently
impaired his health. After that cam
paign he was obliged tn retire for q
long rest to his Indiana home, and
when he returned to Washington il was
evident to his friends that the splendid
stock Of vitality which had always been
his most valuable possession never
could be restored. As time ran on he
began to appreciate the fact, and for
some time had taken the advice of his
physicians and friends. and had done
everything possible to conserve his