Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-21
Deep Concern Over the Death of the
Vice President.
TIE NEWS AT TIE EXECUTIVE MANSION
Condolences of the President I'M
medateIy Sent.
EXPRESSIONS OF GRIEF


| Hobart was received in private telegram
at the White House at about $50 o'clock
this morning, some time before the public
| announcement. 1t read: The Vice Pres
ident passed away at $50 o'clock this
| morning" The telegram was at once
| handed to President Mckinley, who tmme-
diately took steps to have the government
honor the memory of the distinguished
dead. The flag the Executive Mansion
| was ordered at half-mast, and few min
utes later the flags on all government
| buildings were flying at half-mast At the
same time the White House was ordered
closed.
The President was deeply affected at the
receipt Of the news. The almost brotherly
feeling existing between himself and the
| Vice President was well known. When the
| Vice President lived on the east side of La
| fayette Square the two men often ex-
| changed visits, and the closest social and
| official relations were maintained. The
| President has felt greatly concerned since
| the beginning of Mr.. Hobart's Illness and
| recently became SO alarmed at the news of
| the fatality of the disease that he requested
! DR.. ?. Nj. Rixey to visit the Hobart home
| and tell him the exact condition of the pa
| tient. DR.. RiXey, who was himself a close
| personal friend of the Vice President
| found that there was no hope for the sick
| man, and so informed the President. This
| information was a blow to the President
| but he continued to hope.
| President Mckinley at once sent a mes
sage Of condolence to Mrs. Hobart. 1t was
full of the tenderest sympathy in the be-
! reavement which has come upon the Vice
| Presidents household
| Secretary Hay Calls.
| Secretary of State Hay upon whom the
| succession of the presidency now falls,
heard the news upon his arrival at the
! Sta,s Department, and Immediately re-
| paired to the White House. Meantime Sen
ators Fairbanks of Indiana and Foster of
| Washington, who had been with the Presi-
| dent, went away with expressions of deep
| sorrow at the loss sustained by the country
| and by each senator personally. Former
| Representative Outhwaite of Ohio, who
| came here with a delegation from Colum-
| bus to invite Admiral Dewey to that city,
| called at the White Housesto arrange for
| his delegation to see the President, but on
learning the news Went away.
The Cabinet Meeting.
| There were no other callers, and the cabi-
net assembled at the regular hour. Attor-
ney General Griggs said, on reaching the
| White House, that he expected TO leave in
a short time for Paterson. N. J. He and
| Mr.. Hobart were probably closer friends
| than any two men in public life. Each
| promoted the political ambitions of the
other. When Attorney General Griggs was
governor Of New Jersey he worked hard
Tor the wee presidential DOIIliHdtlOn lOI
Mr.. Hobart, and later Mr.. Hobart repaid
this by suggesting Governor Griggs' name
| to the President for a cabinet position. In
Washington the two men resumed their IN
| timacy.
Plans Discussed by the Cabinet.
No business was transacted at the cabi-
net session today, the sad death of Vice
| President Hobart deterring the President
and his advisers from any consideration be-
| bGt 70 n
the dead. The President read the procla-
| nation he had prepared, and the cabinet
then discussed the arrangements for the
funeral. 1t was decided that Attorney
| General Griggs, who has gone on to Pater-
! son, should discuss with the family of the
| &c ad man the question Of funeral arrange
| ments and that he should notify the Pres
| ident. The latter will in turn notify the
| members Of the cabinet, and on the day Of
| the funeral the President and cabinet mem
| bcrs will go to Paterson in special train
| over the Pennsylvania road. This train has
| teen arranged for.
| There has been no idea that the funeral
| ceremonies would be held here, inasmuch
as Mrs. Hobart would probably oppose that.
| The sorrow in the cabinet over The death
| oil the Vice President was not confined to
| those members who had known him the
| closest, but was shared by all.
| Mrs Mckinley was deeply affected
President temporarily forgot his own sor-
| row in caring for her Mrs. Mckinley and
| Mrs Hobart were bosom friends
| Secretaries Informed by Telephone.
The flags over the war, state and navy
| buildings were half-rnasted early in the
| day. Beyond this there were no outward
| evidences of mourning and no drapings, as
law of Congress has put an end to the
| former practice of drapng the public build
| ings on the death of an executive officer.
Among the officials the death Of the Vice
! President was the universal theme, and
| the expressions of regret were heartfelt
| and universal.
Col. Bingham, superintendent of public
| buildings and grounds, went to the White
| House soon after the announcement Of the
| Vice Presidents death, and it was expected
| that this would bring about some general
| order concerning the time. when public
| buildings would be closed and the orher
| manifestations of esteem that would be
| given.
| The general impression prevailed that the
| departments would not be closed except on
| the day of the funeral
| All of the members of the cabinet were
| made acquainted with the sad news soon
| as the President himself was Informed by
| means of the telephone from the White
| House. AS already stated Secretary Hay
| hastened over to the White House and had
| private conference with the President
| and then returned to the State Department
/ to give orders for the execution of the Off
| clal program so far as the government is
| concerned. First, Mr., Hay sent private
| message to Mrs. Hobart expressing his
| sincere coincidence, and then gave atten-
ton to the issue of proclamation an
| nouncing the death of the Vice President
to the people Of the United States. 1t was
| also necessary to convey the information
! to the nations of the world.
| Personal Loss.
Secretary Hay was perceptbIy and deeply
| affected by the news. He said: "Mr. Ho-
bart was man Of such a peculiarly amia-
BILE and delightful character that the loss
is felt distinctively as personal one by
every member of the government who had
! come in contact with him. He was one Of
| the most able presiding officers the United
States Senate has ever known and was
| universally liked and esteemed by the SEN
ators-''
| Secretary Hay had just finished writing
| a personal message to Lord Salisbury con-
| veying his regrets at the news of the death
| of his wife, when he was called upon to
| turn his attention to the nations loss
A Great National Sorrow.
Secretary Long said: "The death of the
| Vice President is great national sorrow
| He had peculiarly impressed himself upon