The evening Republican., 1902-04-28
]. STERLING MORTON
Former Secretary of Agricul-
ture Dead In Chicago.
HAD Been Ill SINCE NOVEMBER.
Left Home In Nebraska For Treat.
ment of Bronchial Difficulty
which Proved Futul-Orig-
in0tOr Of ArbOr Day,

| which Proved FHtal-OriE-
inator OF Arbor Day.
CHICAGO, April 2S.-Hon. J. Ster-
ling Morton, former secretary of agrl-
culture, died yesterday afternoon at
Lake Forrest at the home of his son,
Mark Morton. For several weeks Mr..
Morton had been gradually failing. The
nature of his illness had not been de-
termined, and week ago he was
| brought from his home at Nebraska
City. Neb., to Lake Forrest for med
ical treatment The change brought
| ly until death came
The arrangements for the funeral are
as yet incomplete. but ii has been de-
| tcrInined that services will be held
! at Lake Forrest at > O'Clock tomorrow
| afternoon, after which the remains will
| be renewed to Mr.. Morton's country
| home at .trbor Lodge, near Nebraska
! city, where services will be held on
Wednesday afternoon.
The illness of rASecretary Morton
dates from last November. when he
contracted Il severe cold while speak
ing AT the stock show in. Chicago. The
cold ran into an attack of the grip, and
Mr. Morton was in hospital for some
time. When he was able to do so, he
returned to his home in Washington,
where he suffered relapse. After a
partial recovery he left early in March
for the city Of Mexico. expecting to re-
gain his health. During his stay in the
southern country a disease Of the hron
chiul arteries developed, and he return
ed north. He suffered severely on the
return journey and reached his home
with his general health much impaired.
Three weeks ago Mr.. Morton returned
to Chicago with the hope of securing
the services of a specialist. The cond-
ton of his throat again became Aggra.
vated, and Il week ago he suffered an
attack Of npoplcXy.
From this last attack he rallied but
little. His death. however. according to
Dr. CHM his local physician, waS due
to an inflammation of the bronchial
arteries.
julius Sterling Morton was in WASH
ington for four years as secretary Of |
agriculture IN President Clrvrland's ,
second administration. He WAS Il man /
Of stcadfast convictions. answering ,
honesty and nndoub'cd ability. by ma
lure q cOntrovCrsialiSt. Mr.. Morton
came to the cabinet with many fixed !
,1,,
He was a practical farmer aud ran his
department along practical lines. but
nevertheless not without many sq,lab-
hlcs. He regarded the distribution Of
seeds as paternalistc and on hat sub
jrct found himself in opposition TO
congress.
The cX secretary was the author of
Arbor day tApril 22'. which began to
observed generally during his incum-
hency as head of the department Of
agriculture and is now generally OBJ.
served in all the states. His constant
motto was, "PlAnt trees" having it
in large letters under pic.
tHrc Of II tree on his stationery He
was an inycteratc letter writer. lie
found keen enjoyment in answering !
the communications from farmers. and
il was no unusual occurrence for him
I" call newspaper men into his office to
read the answers he waS writing to
farmers. often giving out portions of
them for publication.
The rX-ercretary WAS exactly seventy
nj ln IN, : In
of his birthday. He was
Of Scotch English descent. lie was
born in jefferson county. \. V. hut his
parents moved to Michigan when he !
was very young. He was a graduate
Tf Union college. y, Y. Mr.. Morton
with the Detroit Free Press and the
chicago Times and then located mt
Bellevue, Nrh. in November 1S:4
where in April following lie issued the
first number Of tie Nebraska CITY
News. He was elected to the terrific
rial legislature the same year and re-
elected in 1851 He was appointed sec
Ictary of the territory in 1888 to ill the
caused by the death of Thon-
rs u. Cunning and served until May,
lStl, part of the time as acting gov
rrn"r. He was elected to congress in
1850, but was unScAtcd us the result Of
a contest. He was four times nominat.
'd by his party as governor Of NCbraS-
ia. but was defeated each time. He
was Il stalwHrt gold man" and bad an
early falling out with W. j. BRYAN,
whose political aspiration he vigorous
" opposed. lie was identified officially
with many agricultural and hurticul-
lural organizations.
KILLED ut Church Door.