Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-11
DANIEL v. VOORHEES, DEAD.
lndiana'S Ex-senator Expired at His
Washington Home.

Several Years and Consequently
Had Not Taken a Very Active
Part in Senate Proceedings
Sketch of His Career.
Washington, D. c., April 10.-Daniel
Woolseley Voorhees,, ex-Unlted States
Senator from the State Of Indiana, died
at o'clock this morning at his home
in this city, No. 1O5 Maryland avenue,
Northeast.
The Senator had been in poor health
for several years, and for the last two
years past had taken little part in the
proceedings in the Senate. He had
been constant sufferer from rLeuma-
tism of the heart, and his friends there
fore had come to expect that they might
hear of his death suddenly. The last
reports of him, however, were that he
was showing some signs of improve
ment, and his death, therefore, while
not entirely unexpected, came with the
.suddnness Of a shock.
At the time of his retirement the
"Tall Sycamore Of the Wabash" as he
was called by his devoted followers in
the Hoosier State, was the ranking
Democrat on the Finance Committee,
and by virtue of this position the NOM
inal leader at least of his party on the
floor of the Senate on tariff and flnan"
cial question. He was not very active,
however, owing to his i'll health, In the
work on the Wilson tariff bill, most Of
the numerous Senate amendments to
this bill and it's final passage after
stormy career in which it was in serious
danger several times being due to Sena-
tor 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 one 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 committee
lay practically with Mr.. VOORHEES,.
Mr.. voorhees, was 76 years of age last
September and prior to his retirement
from public life on March last has been
for many years one Of the most pictur-
esque figures in the Senate. He was born
in Liberty township. Butler county, Ohio.
and in his early infancy was carried by
his parents to the pioneer home in the
Wabash valley. Indiana. In 1919 he grad
uated from the Indiana Asbury (now De-
pauw) University. and studying law, be-
gan its practice in 1851.
His first public office was entered upon
in 1858. since which time he has been al
most continuously in the public service.
That office was United States district at
torney for Indiana. His Congressional
career began in 1861. He served In the
House of Representatives for five terms.
In his autobiography he said he was de-
feated for the Forty third Congress by
reason Of the nomination of Greeley on his,
the Democratic ticket. He came into the
Senate in 1877 by appointment, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Oliver +.
Morton, and because of his long expert
ence in the House was assigned immedi-
ately to the finance committee, very un-
usual honor in the case Of a new Senator.
Moreover, he retained his connection with
the committee. being it's chairman during
the last Democratic era In that body. and
was a leading figure in all debates in
volvlng questions Of finance or tariff
Senator Voorhees, was one of the ardent
admirers and supporters Of the United
States greenback currency. and beginning
his Senatorial service with a most elo-
quent speech in favor OF the preservation
Of the full legal tender quality TO this
money, he never abated at any time his
earnest advocacy OF the greenback.
The severe strain. physical and mental,
TO which Senator Voorhees, was subjected
as the leader OF the majority in the Sem
ate during the campaign resulting in the
passage of the Sherman repeal law. per-
manently impaired his health. After that
campaign he was obliged "a retire for
long rest to his Isdiana home, and when
he returned to Washington again 1t was
-.
of vitality which had always been his
most valuable possession, never could be
restored AS time ran on, the Senator
himself began to appreciate this fact, and
for some time had taken the advice of his
physicians and friends and had done every
thing possible to conserve his health.