The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-13

last year as governor his health wa
none too good.
When it was learned that he was
victim Of IOcOmOtOr ataXia his friend
gave him up. but he rallied. aIthOuG-
he was never again his old vigorous
self.
Lately, however, the disease marke
him strongly, and quite recently b
appearance caused grave fOrebOdinf
and anxiety. His mind was just
clear and active as Of old, but thou
his spirit was willing the flesh ".
weak.
Criticises Lord Grampus.
Clarence DarrOw, a lifelong frien
and later law partner of the former
governor, reached here this morning.
He said the governor died as he had
lived, pleading the cause of the lowly.
Mr.. Altgeld, in the speech which was
fated to be his last, declared that all
friends of humanity owed a debt Of
gratitude to Governor Yates for issuing
a proclamation soliciting assistance for
the BoeT women and children in their
concentration camps which the British
are maintaining in South Africa.
The speaker said the people Of Amer
lea had raised q large sum of money
the Boer women and children, but were
unable to send it to them because Lord
PaunCefOte. the British ambassador at
Washington, objected to it. He fur
Their charged that Lord PaUncefote had
for years meddled in American affairs.
1t was a speech typical Of the old
governor. who had risen from the tow
path to the chief Office Of the state.
Death was at hand, but his voice had
all the old fire and all the old sympathy
which had won him the hearts Of many
persons. It was Governor Altgeld who
pardoned the three Chicago anarchists
and whose views were frequently
called anarchistic, yet his sincerity
was questioned by few.
kilograms of Co9dolence.
Mr.. Darrow, upon his arrival, took
charge of the body and opened scores
Of kilograms from all parts of the
country. Some sent before death had
come, asking for early information of
the patients condition, while those
that came late expressed the deepest
regret at the former governors de
mise.
No post mOrtem will be held on the
body OF Mr. Altgeld- The family does
not wish it, being content with the
statement of the physicians that he
died from cerebral hemOrThage. The
remains will be embalmed and brought
TO Chicago late this afternoon.
John Peter AItgeld was born near
Berlin, Germany, Dec. 50, IS4T. He was
brought to this country when a child
by his parents, who lived on q farm in
Rushland county, Ohio. After a linn
tied elementary education he enlisted in
the volunteer army in 1864 and after
ward taught school for several years.
In 1859 he went to St. Louis, a great
part of the way on foot, and later
taught and studied law in northwest
ern Missouri. being admitted TO the
bar in 1872. In 1875 he removed to Chi
cagO, where he built up large prac-
tice.
Protest Against Sending Troops.
In 1884 he was an unsuccessful Demo-
cratic candidate for congress. In 1885
he was chosen judge Of the Cook COUn-
ty superior court, and in 1890 he became
its chief justice. After serving at judge
for five years he resigned, giving as mis-
reason the necessity Of devoting all his
time to his private business. IN 1892 he
was nominated by the Democrats for
governor, and during his canvass Wis
tied ali parts Of the state, seeking to
meet voters personally as well as by
holding public meetings. He was
elected by a plurality of $4,000 over
JOSEPH W. Fifer, his Republican pre-
decessOr.
The most striking incident of his adj
minisration was his protest against
the sending Of federal u<Ops to Chi
cago during the railway strikes in
Trvf- II he r1aF FlH
reelection by John r. Tanner by a
plurality of more than 100000.
During Mr. AltgeId's term as COVER
nor he Tardoned several OF the Chicago
anarchists who had been convicted Of
participation in the Haymarket riot, in
which a number Of policemen were
killed For this action he was strongly
criticised.
Suffered in Silence.
In spite Of the fact that AItreId spent
his early life on a farm and lived out
of doors, he had not been robust for
the past twenty years. .e was not an
old man by any meaGs-bOTn in Ger
many during the revolutionary days
of 1S4S-but the last ten years have
been years of suffering Shortly after
his Inauguration as governor, in 1873,
capitol and go to the Hot Springs Of
Arkansas, his nervous system having
been entirely shattered by the great
strain Of the gubernatoTiaI campaign.
Some time after that he was attacked
with lOcOmOtor ataxia. and since then
has never been entirely free from it.
He wos quiet and philosophical and en-
duTed his sUferings without complaint.
The election of such q man as Mr.
Alleged to the SovernOrsnip of such
state as Illinois naturally attracted the
attention Of the country. His pardon of
tho anarchists and the controversy with
President Cleveland, when the latter
sent United States troops 10 Illinois
during the great strike Of 1894, are mat
ters of history. Mr.. Alleged always
maintained that he won d victory over
the president in the matter, for after
the protest, the federal troops We're
withdrawn and state troops substi-
tuted.
PecuIiarities Of Altgeld.
Being thoroughly in earnest in every
thing he did. Alteeld had a devoted
following, politically speaking. During
the mayoralty campaign all his agents
served without pay. Even in the height
Of his financial success AItgeId was not
EOu1lAEAEA d p E4AEl Jus Ai4eAt4 II llH -rriN =
away money TO charity or for the pub
lie benefit it was by stealth. He dressed
in clothes that would be called common
He would stop on the street to speak
to any man he knew, and his gait in
walking can be described as loose and
stumbling. There was nothing about
his small. spare figure to attract at
tention, and were it not for the extreme
and unusual pallor Of his face no pass
er-by would even cast a glance upor
him His eyes We're not Indicative O.
anything for they were small and de-
void Of brightness; his hair was "strag-
gly'' and lay upon his head something
like straw thrown upon the TOP Of
box His chin did not indicate strength.
his mouth was not what would be