The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-14
GRIEF PREVAILS
IN WASHINGTON
How Crushing Blow Was
Received at Capital.
CABINET MEMBERS
TO RESIGN AT ONCE
-%-
No Extra Session of Congress
Will be Necessary.

Ahe expected Qeatn or FEeslueuL Nc
Kinley came as crushing blow TO thu
nations capital. Nowhere, perhaps,
had the citizens been so full of CON
fidence in the recovery of the presi-
dent and the buOyant bulletins OF tht
past week from the sick bed had lulled
them into a false sense of security
which made the shock terri BILE whe:
the news that Tho p--He-'~ $780,
would have a fatal ending came to
them.
All day long the bulletin boards were
surrounded by crowds waiting for the
latest word from the Milburn house.
Little work was uOne in the SreaL
ecutive departments, as d. go. ,.4el-~
est excuse the clerks dropped Lnei.
pens and turned to talk of the chances
that - cir chief magistrate had against
depth In the gallant struggle ne was
making in the Tar away city on thu
lake.
The three cabinet officers in the cap
ital today We're pictures of distress.
Two days ago Secretary hay had left
his chief apparently on the road to
recovery, and today Postmaster Gen
eral Smith. who had left Buffalo even
later and reached here this morning
said that when he came from the
Milburn home yesterday the president
was, according to his best Information,
surely on the mend. The postmaster
general returned to Buffalo on the 7;1J
o'clock train tonight.
Secretary Hay had engaged accom-
mOdatiOns on tcnight's New England
train, intending to return to his New
Hampshire summer home for much
needed rest. but Cancelled the order
early in the day, as on him devolVed
important functions q once on the
presidents demise. He divided his
time between the state department and
mis- home, waiting for the end, pre-
pared for his sorrowful duty of con-
veying to the nations of the world in
othcial forms the news Of the demise
Of the third AR ~ican president
through the agency of an assassin's
bullet within the short space of one
humsn life.
hr. Hays Responsibilities.
As the senior member in rank of the
cabinet. upon Mr.. Hays shoulders also
viii rest the burden Of the government
OF the great republic in the short but
important interval that must eIapse
before the vice president, under the
terms of the constitution, assumes the
cares and responsibilities of the presi-
Dental Office.
At his home at Woodley. Secretary
Gage mOurnfTiiy awaited the close Of
his chiefs life. DurinS the day he had
been at the treasury department and
had kept in touch with financial affairs
in order that the presidents end might
not cause any commercial disturbance
dhlt foresight on the part Of his de-
partment could avert.
war stuck at his post in the war de-
partment for the purpose of making
Such army orders as the sad event
would force him to issue. He got into
communication with General Miles at
Seattle and the latter notified the de-
partment that he would return imme-
diately.
Talk of Extra Session.
The fact that the physicians had Civ
en- up all hope caused some discussion
among the public men in the city of
the probability of an extra session Of
congress and of early changes in the
cabinet, but the cOncensuS of opinion
was that no cabinet changes or i'm
portant departures in public policy
were at all likely for some time to
come and that congress would not be
assembled until its regular session in
December. All the cabinet. the chief
diplomatic officials and heads of i'm
portant bureaus, according 10 custom
VIII tender their resignati lions, to re-
neve the president of embarrassment
but II IS believed Mr.. Roosevelt will
FOLLOW the precedent of President Ar
thur after Garfield's death and request
them 10 continue in office.
Some of the cabinet officers are not
In good health and would sincerely
welcome relief from their Offices but
All would waive their personal desires
and continue until such time as they
could be relieved easily. if. indeed. they
request relief at all
nder the pres idential succession act
a cabinet officer becoming chief magis-
trate would have to summon congress
IN special session. but this requirement.
does not apply 20 a vice president
succeeding to the Office Of his dead pre-
ueceSSor, and IL is believed no extra
session would be called in the absence
or statutory requii ements as the three
months intervening until Decem be-
can be bridged over without difficulty.
And there is no special occasion for
congress assembling.
News of the Death.
When the blow fell and Official an
noun snen- came that President No
HlhieS' had PASSED away at 2:15 O'Clock.
tne cfLWOs which lad been on the
streets restlessly and sorrowfull,-
awaiting news OF the end had retired
Tor the night as had all the govern
ment officials save few clerks at the
state. war and navy departments. Sec
TetSry Hay had given directions what
shoIld be done. and Acting Chief Mar
TIN and other employees. as soon as
they received official confirmation of
the news, Immediately sent cablegrsms
10 each and every United States am
bassador ana minister or the charge.
Wnere the chief diplomatic officials
were absent from their Posts. notify
ing them that President Mckinley died
at 2,l5 O'Clock this morning in Buffalo,
and instrucung them SD to inform The
credited
There were no details i'm the mes
saEe-nothing but its brief announce
ment-and they were Identical in lam
guage. except in the names OF the per-
sons addressed The ambassadors and
ministers were expected 20 commune
cate the information in turn to the
United states consular officers within
the limits IF their posts In cases of
countries Ike Australia and Canada.
where the United states government
IS not represented in a diplomatic ca
paCity. messag es Of like character were
sent to the united states consul gen.
eral who were to repeat them TO the
cousuls-
Ihe original message was signed by
Secretary Hay. Mr. Babcock, his pri-
VaJe secretary. having taken IL from
the state department TO the secretary
home lOr that purpose. This was al
that the department Of state could dc
tonight. As soon as possible procia-
nation viii be issued announcing tne
presidents demise 70 the United States
and the world at large, and direct the
closing Of the executive department.
snd navy yards and army posts as
mark Of mourning. But this procla-
nation requires the signature Of Pres
ident Roosevelt. and II must be coun-
tersigned also by SECRETARY Hay.