The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-11-04
Washington was Shocked.

Washington, Oct. 31.-The news that
Vice-President Hobart had suffered a
severe relapse and might not be able
to survive the latest attack yesterday,
shocked Washington, where he is de-
cidedly popular and highly respected.
Ii had been known for some time that
a sudden attack might completely
PROSTATE him at any moment, n 1t
was realized that his days of activity
were over; but nevertheless his friends
here were not prepared for yesterdays
advices.
The vice-president's case was alarm
ing a large part of last winter, and ut
Townsville, Ga, his condition be-
came so grave during a visit with the
president to the home of Senator Han
na that it could no longer be concealed
from Mrs. Hobart, though kept from
the sick mar himself.
Vice-President Hobart returned
much earlier than expected because
the southern climate did not give him
the relief sought, but failed to improve
much and has been almost an invalid
ever since.
His LOsaWOuld be Much Regretted.
His loss, should his present attack
result fatally, will be regretted SIN
cerely by his colleagues in the senate
with whom he had a much greater in
fuence than his predecessors in the
vice-presidential chair.
One old senator said last night that
during his long congressional career
no other person who had filled that
position had been so constant in his
attendance on the senate and sessions
as Mr.. Hobart. AS a consequence he
became a very efficient presiding OIL
Ger. He was freely consulted and his
advice asked OIL party affairs.
"He was" said the senator, "open,
honest and square in all his rulings,
and e~ndeavored to treat everybody
justly"
The President Pro Tenn.
Senator William p. Frye, of Maine,
is now president pro tenn. of the sen
ate, and as such presides during the
absence of the vice-president. In the
event of the death of Mr.. Hobart, Sem
atcr Frye, as president pro tenn, will
call the senate to order when it meets
in December next.
Relations between the Families.
The relations between the families
of the president and vice-president
were of an unusually cordial charac-
ter. The members of the two house
holds saw more of each other informal
ly than has been the case for a long
time previous TO the present admin
istration. The vice-president's resi-
dence is Just a stones throw from the
White House. and it was no uncommon
SIGHT to see the president walk to the
Hobart house and the vice-presiGent
ard Mrs. Hobart and their young son
return the call in the same informal
manner. Frequently in the evening
the vice-president and Mrs. Hobart
would go over to the White House and
spend an hour or more in conversation
before the president went up stairs to
his office.
Mrs. Mckinley and Mrs. Hobart were
close friends. During Mr.. Hobart's ill
ness the president was a frequent vi:-
itor to the house, inquiring after the
health of the distinguished patient,
and if the latter's health permitted
would go out driving with him. The
night the vice-president and his fam..
ly left their home for the seaside the
president went to the house and re-
-,,.-,J ,,otII +ho n,rr,n ,a apntaininu
the party had left for the railroad sta.