The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-22
Tributes FROM FRIENDS.


Senator w. II. O'Brien, of Lawrenceburg,
chairman of the Democratic state COM
mittee who arrived in this city yesterday
afternoon, said that he UNNECESSARILY
shocked by the news of the sudden and
terrible death of Mr.. Morss. He and Mr..
Morss were not only closely associated po-
litically, but were warm personal friends
as well. In speaking of Mr.. Morss, the
senator said:
Personally, Mr.. Morss was a perfect
gentleman, warm hearted and loyal to his
friends, and ever ready to inconvenience
himself for others. Politically, he
thorough Democrat, intensely loyal to his
party and a warm partisan. / think he
made more personal sacrifices for the DEM
ocratic party than any one man in Indiana.
In 1896. at critical time in the history of
the party, he refused to sell the Sentinel
into the hands of enemies of the party for
a sum that approached a princely fortune.
That is something that was never known
to the general public and comparatively
few men have known of it. II shows, bet
ter than anything else, believe. his faith
in Democracy and his loyalty to the Demo-
cratic party.
ocratic editor. / feel that most people did
not really appreciate him. He was not a
man TO get down and rub elbows with every
one, but once acquainted with him man
could not but like him and appreciate his
sterling qualities, both personal and .po-
litical The Democrats of Indiana deplore
his untimely death and will feel his loss
keenly. My deepest sympathy goes out to
Mrs. Morss and her daughter in their be-
j. oscar Henderson, of this city, left the
city yesterday forenoon just at the time of
the accident and did not know of Mr.
Il could scarcely believe the news" he
said last night. "It is certainly a terrible
shock. Mr.. Morss was man of fine per-
and Of Oh
He was progressive. public-spirited and a
useful citizen.
Crawford Fairbanks, of Terre Haute, who
was a close friend of Mr.. Morss, was at
the Grand last night. II can hardly be-
lieve that Sam Morss is dead" he said.
1T is terrible, terrible. He was fine man
and a valuable man to his party. His death
was indeed untimely.
MAYOR HOLTZMAN'S TRIBUTE.
Mayor Hoffman paid the following trib-
ute to Mr.. Morss: 81 was greatly shocked
and am deeply grieved at the loss of very
dear friend. Mr.. Morsss loyalty TO his
friends and his great ability is so we'll
known that it is needless for me to say
anything on that score. His death is a loss
to the Nation, as he was one of the kind
of men who helped shape the affairs of one
of the great political parties. The Demo-
cratic party will keenly feel the loss. My
heart aches for his wife and daughter"
A. Nj. Sweeney, president of the School
Board, said: 81 first became acquainted
with Mr. Morss in 1889 and got to know
him intimately in 1880. when 1 was elected
enjoyed the friendship of Mr.. Morss knew
him to be gentleman of high ideals and
editorial on political and international mat
tiers. Democrats recognized in him a man
who was ever devoted and loyad to his
party. His untimely end leaves a void in
the journalistic and political life of the
State which will not be easily filled"
When informed of Mr.. Morss's death
Jacob p. Dunn, city controller, said: This
is an awful shock to me, although / knew
Mr.. Morss had been in very bad health for
some time, and have been fearful of serious
results. Mr.. Morss undermined his health
by excessive work on the Kansas City Star
He made il a successful newspaper, but
his nervous system was so exhausted that
he had to suspend work for some time, dur
ing most of which he was under treatment
of an eminent specialist in Paris.
when he took charge of the Sentinel he
went to work with all his old-time energy
and undoubtedly overtaxed himself Al
though apparently healthy, he was very
easily overcome and had fall of this same
character several years ago at French Lick
which injured him so severely that it was
really surprising that he survived the
shock. His little daughter had fallen into
the fountn in front of the hotel and he
was seated on the balcony on the second
floor. He to the railing and on arriving
there lost consciousness and fell over.
Mr.. Morss was a man of many admira-
BILE qualities. His mental brilliancy was
conceded by everybody. 1 have worked
with a good many newspaper men, but /
think [ never knew his superior in newspa-
per work. His only failing. if il may be
called failing, was the excessive tender
ness of his heart which made him appear
somewhat radical on any question involving
cruelty. or suffering and also occasionally
made him a victim of unworthy persons
with pitiful stories.
aside from his professional service
never knew a man OF greater public spirit
than Mr.. Morss, nor one who gave his time
and talent more generously to the advance
ment of any which he considered
beneficial TO the public. / think / have
some familiarity with the history of this
State, and / do not believe that there has
ever been any citizen TO whom this State
and this city has been more truly indebted
for beneficial service, without any compen-
sation whatever beyond the consciousness
of good accomplished, than Samuel T.
Morss.
BOOKWALTER'S FRIEND.
Charles A. Bookwalter knew Mr.. Morss
longer and more intimately than any other
man in this city and was deeply affected
by the sudden end of his old friend II
first learned TO know Mr. Morss I'm Fort
Wayne in 1874 said Mr.. Bookwaiter "At
that time he was city editor of the Fort
Wayne Sentinel and / was an office boy or
printers devil in the Office. / was there
with him for five years. In 1880 he left
Fort Wayne and went 10 Kansas City with
w. X. Nelson and established the Star.
Later he went 10 Europe for a while
and his return became of the ed
itors OF the Chicago Times. l was here In