The Washington times., 1902-03-13


P. Altgeld. who was stricken with apo
plexy as he concluded a speech at a pro-
Boer meeting here last night. died at
O'Clock this morning at the Hotel Mon
roe, whittier he was taken after his col
lapse. He had been unconscious since 2
o'clock. and his family and business asso-
ciates had been summoned.
The body will be taken to Chicago
some time late today or tomorrow. and
the funeral services will be held there.
The career of John Peter Altgeld in
American politics was a stormy one. He
was chief executive of the State of Illi-
nois and such control had he over GER
tain elements that in later years consti-
tuted the Democratic party that it has
often been said that only his foreign
birth prevented his nomination as their
candidate for the Presidency.
Born in Prussia.
John p. Atgeld was born near Berlin.
Prussia. on December so, 1Si7. His par
ents came to this country during his
childhood and settled on a farm in Rich
land County. Ohio. Young Altgeld OBJ
tanned limited elementary education
prior to the outbreak Of the civil war,
chen he enlisted.
He was sixteen years old when he en-
tered the Union army as a volunteer. He
fought until the close of the war, and
afterward he taught school for several
years. In 1869 he decided TO go to St.
Louis, and he made the greater part of
the journey from his Illinois home on
foot. Later he taught school. and having
studied law in Missouri, was admitted to
the bar in 1872.
Selected as Justice.
1t was in 1875 that he removed to Chi
csgo, where he succeeded, by careful ap-
plication to business, in building up a
large practice. His political ambition
was always strong, and in 1884 he OBJ
tanned the Democratic nomination for
Congress, but was defeated. Two years
later, however, he was selected as JUS
tice Of the Cook County Superior Court,
and in 1890 he became its Chief Justice
For five years he serve in this court,
ana then decided to res. gn. In 1892 he
was nominated by the Democrats as their
candidate for Governor. He conducted
his campaign on somewhat the same line
as w. j. Bryan made his Presidential
efforts in later years.
In the course of his canvass he visited
all parts of the State. addressing hun
dreds of meetings. He was elected by
plurality of $4,000 over Joseph W. Fifer,
his Republican Predecessor.
Action in Big Strike.
In. the great railroad strike of 1894
Governor Altgeld took an attitude that
caused unfavorable comment throughout
the nation. The strike had spread from
the unions in the town of Pullman, where
1t began, to the American Railway Union,
and had tied UP all the railroads of the
West. The violence and destruction of
property in Chicago were very great, but
Governor Altgeld delayed in calling out
the militia. This caused President CIeye-
land to send United States troops to Chi
cago early in July to enforce the man
dates of the United States Courts.
On July Governor Altgeld telegraphed
TO the President a long protest against
the invasion of the State by Federal
troops. He declared the President had
passed the limits of his constitutional au-
thority in ordering Federal military into
service in the State without request for
help from the State authorities. He de-
manded the withdrawal of the troops.
Mr.. Cleveland's Reply.
President Cleveland replied curtly that
he was acting within the Constitution and
thersupon sent more troops. This action
broke the strike and peace was restored
On July II the Senate ratified the Pres
ident's action by an overwhelming vote
One of the acts of Altgeld as Governor
which caused great deal of adverse
comment and was thought by many to
have caused his political ruin was his
action in paTdoning Fielden, Schwab, and
Neebe. anarchists. who had been convict
cd and sentenced to life imprisonment for
the parts they took in the Haymarket
riots o. Chicago in 1886, where seventeen
policemen were killed by the explosion OF
4 dynamite bomb and scores were in
jared.
Pardon Made Him Enemies.
The granting of this pardon, which
Governor Altgeld gave in 1893, was the
cause OF turning against him many of
the influential men of the State, who
thought so grave a crime as that of the |
murderers was deserving Of |
greater punishment than few years i'm |
He was ona OF the main advocates OF |
free silver and was the central figure in |
the Democratic National Convention of /
1896 which nominated Bryan. He shouted 4
louder than any other delegate for 16 to |
and would agree to no compromise. He |
dictated several planks of the platform
which that convention adopted and which
marked its departure from the old princi
pies OF the Democratic party.
Health Broke Down.
in 1887 Ex-Governor Altgelds health be-
gan to decline. He had suffered from
nervous prostration and locomotor ataxia.
His financial affairs had worried him con-
and several times he had to
make brief soiourns at sanitarium near
Since then he had not fig
lred prominently in politics.
SCHLEY TURNED AWAY.