The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-13
JOHN R. PROCTOR DIES
At THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Civil-Service Commissioner and a
Personal Friend of President
Roosevelt.
HIS DEATH WAS SUDDEN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-John r. Proc
tor, of Kentucky, president of the United
States Civil-service Commission. and an IN
innate friend of President Roosevelt, died
of angina pectoris at the Cosmos Club IN
this city to-day, aged fifty-nine years. He
spent last evening in Baltimore, where he
attended the annual meeting of the Ma
tional Civil-service Reform Association and
made an address, apparently being in the
best Of health. He was with some friends
this morning at the Cosmos Club, of which
he has been a prominent member for many
years, but became suddenly i'll about 10
o'clock. Civil-service Commissioner Cooley
notified Mrs. Proctor and also the Pres
ident. who expressed concern and kept In
touch with the patients condition. Shortly
after o'clock there was another attack.
the stricken man gasped twice and then
death followed.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt were
shocked at the news. They called person
ally at the clubhouse and spent consider
able time at Mr.. Proctor's bedside When
the President returned to the White House
Mrs. Roosevelt remained with Mrs. Proc
tor The remains were carried late this
afternoon to the Proctor apartments in the
Marlborough.
Mr.. Proctor has been frequent visitor
to the White House ever since Mr.. Roose-
velt's accession to the presidency. The two
met years ago in Kentucky, where Mr..
Roosevelt was travelling, and the acquaint-
ance then begun quickly ripened into close
intimacy. Funeral arrangements are de-
ferred pending the arrival of a son, Lieut..
Andrew Morton Proctor, in charge of tor
pedo boat stationed at the Norfolk
navy yard. Another son, John r. Proctor
IT, Is a lieutenant of artillery, u. S. A.
Both of the sons served in the Spanish
American war.
Mr.. Proctor was fifty-nine years old He
was born and brought up on a farm in
Kentucky. He left the University of Penn
sylvania TO enlist i'm the Confederate army
in 1863, remaining in the service until the
close of the war. He returned TO Kentucky
and pursued scientific studies, becoming
State geologist. He was a member of the
jury of AWARDS at the worlds fair in Chi
cago and was appointed by President
Cleveland member of the CiviI-service
Commission ten years ago at the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Roosevelt. During his service as
State geologist he refused, even at the die
| tation of the members of the State Legis-
| lature. TO remove competent assistants for
political reasons, and was sustained by all
| OF the Governors under whom he served
until 1885, when Ii is stated the then Gov
| ernOr wished him to make appointments
| for personal and political reasons Mr..
| Proctor resisted this and advised that the
| survey be closed rather than be used as a
machine for advancing the political inter
ests of any one by making the office:
spells to be let out to partisan favorites.
| During Mr.. Proctor's service on the COM
| mission the number of positions subject to
| the merit system increased from 5000 to
| 125, 600
Mr.. Proctor made various contributions
| TO magazines mostly on geological, eco
nomic and international subjects.