The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-16
HIS LIFE PEACEFULLY ENDED.
CONGRESSMAN RICHARD p. GLANDS
INTERESTING CAREER.

Was First Elected TO Congress in
1872 and RemaIned There Untn
IS94-BeRt His Republican Oppo-
nent in the Next EIecuon-His Fa-
nous BiII for the Free Coinage OF
siiver-FelI Asleep Tuesday and
Death Came without Struggle.
Lebanon, Mo, June 15-Congressman
Richard Parks Bland died at his home
near Lebanon at 4;9O O'Clock this morning,
peacefully and without apparent suffer-
ing
Mr.. Bland returned home when Congress
adjourned in March and soon suffered a
relapse from an attack Of Ia grippe.
For more than two months ne had been
confined to his homo and his health has
gradually declined. He thought he would
not survive the attack from the first. and
showed his thorough knowledge OF his
condition.
on June Mr.. Bland suddenly grew
worse his sons who were In school, were
summoned home, and for the first time
the public was Informed of his critical
condition.
From time to time since the patient
showed signs of Improvement. but he con-
Alihth " StOW WthhtT SUNDAY ana AiOl~
day he presented an improved condition,
and Monday afternoon strong hopes for
his recovery were entertained
Az about 10 O'Clock Tuesday night how
ever, he fell asleep and continued in thar
condition until death
The funeral win take place at Leba-
non at 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Nj. BANDS remains will he placed In
the opera house tomorrow. and will lie
IN state for twenty-four hours. The
funeral will be conducted by the Masonic
orders and all the ministers of Lebanon
will be present to assist.
a dispatch was received from Col W. J.
Bryan at Chicago stating that he would
attend the funeral.
Mrs Bland has received several dozen
messages of coincidence from admirers OF
her husband all over The country. The
strain on Mrs BANDS nervous system has
been very great and her friends are some-
what concerned.
Mr. Bland leaves no life insurance and
dies comparatively poor man.
His Life and Career.
Richard Parks bland was born in Ohio
county, Kentucky, Aug. 10, 1886 His father
was educated for the Presbyterian minis
M eg H%ns 70 P99r s ssah vesSs Ster
young Bland lost his mother. He was then
compelled to earn his own living. He work.
ed ON farm in summer for his board and
81 or VI a month. Out Of this money he
saved enough TO attend school IN the win
ter. A The age OF oighteen he entered the
Hartford (ky.) Academy and took a
teachers course for one year He Obtained
a teachers certificate ana taught school
for two terms in Ohio county. Kentucky,
and for one term IN Wayne county, Mas
souri,
He went to California In 1866. lie spent
ten years In California. Nevada and Colo
RADIO, teaching school studying and aftee-
ward practising law and occasionally tax
ing hand IN fighting Piute Indians. lie.
NOD n NFaHVU T4 ~
county, Utah, He was admitted TO the bar
in Utah In 1860.
lie returned to Missouri In 1856 and prac-
tlsed iAw for three years IN Rola, thar
state Then he moved 10 Lebanon, where
he made his home until his death, COM
bining law, politics and farming.
lie was first elected to Congress In 1872.
He was re-elccted to each succeeding Con-
gress until 1884, when he was defeated by
his republican opponent, DIR. 7. ID. HUB
bard. AT the next election he turned the
tables Handsomely ON Hubbard, beating
him by nearly $3.50 votes.
As silver Advocate.
From the outset OF his long legislative
career he Identified himself with the sill
yer movement. During his first term this
money agitation was directed toward am
increase n The quantity OF legal tenders.
not redeemable In specie. He voted for
the imitation bin in 1874, which Presidenr
against the act for the resumption OF
specie payments, passed In 1910.
Mr. Bland introduced q bill for the free
coinage OF silver in 1876 A year later he
Introduced the bin with which his name
will always be associated in monetary
history-the bill which became the Bland
act OF 1873 AS introduced by MIR. Bland
and passed by the House of Representa-
lives ID provided for the free and unlfn-
IN the senate by making the coinage linz
tied SO amended Il was sent back to the
House and there passed.
President Hayes vetoed IL. but In both
branches Of Congress the necessary two
thirds vote was secured for passing y
over the veto. IL remained in force until
superceded by the Sherman act of 1890
Mr. Bland married In 1873 Miss Virginia
Elizabeth Mitchell, daughter OF Gen. r..
" Mitchell, of Rolla, Mo. She was a
Catholic, and, though Mr.. Bland was him
self a Methodist, his two oldest children
were brought up In the Catholic faith,
which caused the A. T.. A. to bestir IT.
self against him. In 1896 he had six chill
NAL personality ana popular In Congress.
He was a believer in the doctrine of So
cial equality to such an extent that in
Lebanon he was much oftener addressed
as "Dlck" than as MIR Bland He was
q prominent candidate for the Democrats
nomination in 1885, when Bryan was hard
ly regarded as among the possibilities. He
had gained this pre-emiuence by his un-
swervlng championship of silver for more
than twenty years In and out Of Congress.
Because Of his Partially for the white
metal he was nicknamed silver Dick
by his political friends and foes. Some
times they varied it by calling him silver
Dollar Bland"