El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-14
PAYNE TO SUCCEED Him
As Leader Of the Repu-
bIican Party In the
House Of Rep
reSentativeS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-Nelsor
Dingley, of Maine, died last night
shortly after 10 O'Clock, at his rooms in
the Hamilton house. He had been
failing rapidly all day, and had been
unconscious for many hours preceding
his death. He died without sign OF
pain, and his death, according to the
doctors, was due to ''heart failure
resulting from his extreme weakness,
following grip and pneumonia. His
family were with him to the last.
Congressman Dingley was born on q
farm near Durham, Maine, February
Is, 1882. He graduated At Dartmouth,
and was admitted to the bar, but left
the profession to become proprietor of
the Lewiston, Me-, Journal, daily and
weekly, in 1856. He maintained that
connection until his death. He was
for many years q member of the state
legislature. and was governor of the
state of Maine in 1874-'75. In 1881 he
was elected to congress serving continu-
ously until he died.
Mr.. DiDgley was the leader of the re-
publican party in the house of repre-
sentatives, but notwith standing that he
had been for twenty years in congress-,
and was always an efficient, hard-work-
ing member, it was only within q COM
paratively recent time that he attained
real prominence.
Diugley was not brilliant, like James
G. Blaine, his famous colleague, but
he was plodding, hard-working
statesman, who attained all he had by
slow and steady persistence. He was
recognized as q scholar In many ways,
and both in writing and in debate he
was forceful and incisive.
The sense of humor was apparently
absent from Mr.. Dingley's makeup.
perpetrate q joke, and did not ap-
preciate the humor of others. Mr..
Dingley took all the world seriously,
and he accepted his public duties, in
whatever connection, as q sacred
trust. He was decidedly what is
known as q constructive statesman.
Mr.. Dingley first came into decided |
prominence when Mckinley left con-
gress. At that time the democrats |
were in control of the house, and there
was abundant opportunity for man of
unusual ability to show what he was
worth. In the first congress during
Cleveland's second term either Mr..
Dingley or Mr.. Reed was always on
the floor of the house. They did not
permit point to escape them, and
they kept the democrats guessing
what was coming next.
Mr.. Reed, brilliant, sarcastic, ter
rorizing, was recognized as the party
manager, but it was Dingley who care
fully watched all the little points of
and when the republicans
came into power In the next congress
be was made chairman of the ways
and means committee with out opposi-
lou.
In that capacity he has led in legis-
atien for the last four years. He has
oeen a strong leader rather than a skill
'ul tactician. He has~had policy and
1e has stuck to 1t. It Is said that no
nan ever saw him Disconnected. He !,
las controlled himself and his party
~ the sheer force of his ability. He
4.
,arties.
WASHINGTON, Jan IA 14-Congressmani .
)ingley's death last night brings to
he front as leader of that house Mr..
'ayne of New York, who is now serv-
ng his 7th term in the body.
Payne has been on the ways and 4
,esns committee for ten years.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-The death
+ Dingley was the sole topic of con- Il
on the floor of the house be- a
're that body convened. Representa- 4
ives gathered in knots to exchAngc fl
of the dead leaders. b
he desk he occupied was draped with
'epe and covered with flowers.
Chaplain Couden's prayer wss( q
'uching tribute to Dingley's memdry. l