The San Francisco call., 1898-04-22
The Death of the Popular State Treasurer at
 Sacram entO.
Was a Veteran and Educa- tor Before Elected to
 High Office.
State Senator Cox Refuses to Fill she Vacancy and the Governor Will
 Call Upon w. Fl. AIvord.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, April 21. - State Treasurer Levi Rackliffe, who has been In i'll health for a long time, a victim of dropsy, died shortly before noon to- day at his residence, 706 M street. The immediate cause of his death is said to have been an attack of pneumonia, the ravages of which his system was too weak to withstand. Although he was in bad health, MT. Rackliffe went to his office in the Capitol to attend to his duties, working when he should have been resting, but the State Treas urer was a man whose conscience would not permit him to shirk duty.
 Levi Rackliffe was one of the most popular men in the State, and at the last election, when he was chosen State Treasurer on the Republican ticket, he received the largest plurality of any man on that ticket. MT. Rackliffe was native of Maine, aged 55 years. He served as a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, and at the time of his death he was member of Fred Steele Post, G. A. R.. of San Luis Obispo. Mr. Rackliffe came to California in 1866, To- eating in Sonoma County, where he taught school for a number of years From Sonoma County he moved to San Luis Obispo, where he again engaged in school work, finally filling the posi- ton of principal of the schools for a number of years.
 After giving up his work as an in structor MT. Rackliffe engaged in the mercantile business, but he was such a warm friend of the public schools that he accepted the position of trustee and filled 1t a number of years.
 Treasurer Rackliffe leaves a widow and four children, two daughters and two sons. One of his daughters is the wife of F. ". Judson, Deputy State Treasurer. Besides belonging to the G. A. R., MT. Rackliffe was prominent member of the Masonic order, the Knights Templar and the A. O. U. w. It has not yet been decided when the funeral will be held.
 As soon as Governor Budd learned of the death of Treasurer Rackliffe he Instructed Deputy Treasurer Judson to take charge of the office temporarily. The vault door was closed and sealed The State Board of Examiners will hold a meeting tomorrow for the purpose of counting the money in the vaults An extra guard was appointed towatch the treasury. The flag on the Capitol is flying at half-maSt in honor of the dead Treasurer.
 During the afternoon the Governor rendered the treasurership to ex-Sena- tor Cox of Sacramento, who is presi- dent of the California State Bank and member of the State Board of Agri- culture. When eX-Senator Cox was asked tonight whether Governor Budd had rendered him the treasurership he replied:
 Governor Budd telephoned me this afternoon and asked me if I would ac- cept the appointment. I replied that it would simply be impossible. My busi- ness in behalf of others and in my own interests requires constant attention and in justice to all concerned I could under no circumstances accept"
 When asked if the Governor had asked him to accept the position for thirty days the Senator replied:
 When MT. Shields, the Governors private secretary, asked me to do that I was also compelled to decline While l would very much appreciate an ap- pointment to favor or accommodate the Governor l do not feel the urgency is so great as to necesSitate my Sacri- ficing personal and other interests. While l very much appreciate the offer l feel that other and prior demands upon me compel me to decline. If it was case of absolute necessity in or der to meet urgent public demands I would hesitate in declining, but feeling that the Governor will have an abun- dance of material fully qualified to se- feet from I do not feel that I am prov ing unworthy of his confidence in de- clining. Under no circumstances can l accept the appointment"
 It is understood that the Governor will tender the appointment to William H. Afford, who served as Assembly, man from Tulare County, and who is at present chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee.