The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-12-08
OKLAHOMA'S
FAITHFUL FRIEND
William N. Springer a
Famous Democratic
Leader

Leader Bureau.
Washington, D. C., Dec. s.-Jrage
william NJ. Springer, Of Illinois, one
OF the leading members of the house
of representatives from the Forty
fourth to the Fifty-third congress,
where he obtained a national reputa-
ton. who died In this city last week,
was siNty-seyen years old, having been
born In 1886, and is survived by a
widow and one son. Chaplain Ruter
w. Springer, u. S. A., stationed at
Fort Washington. both Of whom were
at the bedside when he died.
Became ~ on Thanksgiving Day.
Judge springer's illness was con.
tracted on Thanksgiving day in Chi
oago. where he had been engaged for
some time as counsel for the sanitary
district of Chicago and the state of
Illinois in the drainage canal case.
He returned to his home in this city
about a week ago, and his condition
grew rapidly worse.
Judge Springer was born in Indiana,
but removed to Illinois at an early
age. In 1872 he entered politics in
that state, and was elected to the leg.
isiature. AS member of the judicl-
airy committee he took an active part
In the affairs Of the lower house. and
laid the foundation for service in the
national law making body. He was
elected to congress from the Spring
field district in 1874 and so great was
the confidence of his constituents in
him and so valuable his services that
he was returned for nine successive
terms.
Always a Democrat, he advocated
the adoption Of revenue measure for
tarlff only, and the tariff question en-
gagged the greater part of his atten-
tion. He was especially interested in
wool schedules He was a member
of the commission which investigated
the alleged frauds of the presidential
election of 1876 and a member of the
subcommittee which visited Florida
In 1873. He reported articles of i'm
peachment against George F. Seward,
then minister to China, and investi
gated the consular offices Of the
United States, exposing loose prac-
tlces.
Chairman Of Ways and Means.
He was chairman OF the committee
on ways and means of the house He
is credited with having led the move
ment against the Mckinley tariff which
resulted In the Democratic victory
which brought a second presidential
term to Grover Cleveland. AS chair
man Of other committees. Judge
Springer brought to his work zeal
and energy second to none. and II was
said Of him mere than OF any mem
ber Of congress, that he could make
the work OF small and apparently
Insignificant committee OF the utmost
importance.
Judge springer's last term in con-
Bress expired March 3. 1895, and he
was appointed chief justice OF the
court of appeals of Indian territory
and judge of the United States court
of the northern district of the terri
tory. His term expired in 1899. aud
he returned to Washington, where,
except for the time spent in Indian
territory, he had resided continuous
iy for twenty years. He practiced
law in this city.
AS an orator Judge Springer held
high rank in the house Of representa-
tives, while his printed speeches
showed the finish Of a man Of letters.
He was a frequent contributor to mag
aKInes. His best known book, Tariff
Tor Revenue" was published during