Evening journal., 1904-10-05

Washington. Oct o. Henry c. /
Payne, postmaster general Of the |
United States, a member Of the ma
tional Republican committee and a !
stalwart Of his party, with the history !
Of which he has been identified for |
many years, is dead at his apartments |
at the Arlington hotel after an illness
Of several days. He was sixty years
old.
Mr. Payne had been in poor health
for at least two years. but his last ILL.,
ness covered only seven days, an at
tack of heart trouble last week precip-
itating the end at a time when after a
rest he seemed TO have recovered a
small measure of his vitality, impaired
by years Of arduous labor. Death
came after nearly six hours OF uncon-
sciOusness.
He had returned only recently from
a western trip and despite slight cold
apparently was in better physical con-
dition than he had been for some time
previously. Mr.. Payne himself felt
greatly benefited by his last western
trip and on returning here at once
plunged into the work Of his office. He
was at his desk at the postofiice de
partment last Tuesday, where a num-
Der of his friends spoke of his appar-
entity better health. He attended the
cabinet meeting that day. He passed
n restless night, however, and, al
though he spent Wednesday forenoon
at his office, he showed that he was
feeling badly. Stopping at the White
House on his way, he returned to his
hotel for luncheon and felt so III that
he took to his bed, from which he
never again arose.
Mrs. Payne, the devoted wife, re-
mained constantly near her husband,
rendering every possible aid, comfort
ing him and hoping for the best she
bore up with remarkable fortitude and
not once did she leave their apart
ments. Throughout official Washing
ton and in the private circles in which
Mr.. Payne moved deep solicitude was
manifested. President Roosevelt.
whose friendship for Mr.. Payne ex-
tends back number of years, was a
daily caller at the hotel.
In Six National Campaigns.
Mr.. Payne in the capacity of mem.
Der of the Republican national com
mittee had participated in six presi-
Dental campaigns, and during the
last four Of them was a member Of
the executive committee of the ma
tional committee. He was the acting
chairman of the national committee
during the interim between the death
of Senator Hanna and the election of
Secretary Cortelyou as its head, and
the trying duties that then devolved
upon him, supplementing as they did
the strain Of the postal investigation.
sapped his vitality and led to his final
| breakdown.
Henry c. Payne was born in Ash
field, Mass, on Nov. %, 1S43. He was
a son of Orrin and Eliza Ames Payne.
He was graduated from the Shelburne
Falls (Mass.) academy in 1859, and re-
moved to Milwaukee in 1863, when he
I became cashier of dry goods store
/ there. On Oct. -, 1867, he married
Lydia W. Van Dyke. Since 1872 he
had been prominent in Republican par
ty affairs and since 1880 member OF
| the Republican national committee.
He has also been a delegate to several
Republican national conventions. In
1876 he was appointed postmaster of
Milwaukee and served for four years.
He was president OF the Milwaukee
Electric Railway and Light company
and Of the Wisconsin Telephone com
pany. He was also president of the
American Street Railway association
I'm 1S93-94 and receiver of the North
ern Pacific railroad from 1898 to 1895
In succession to Mr.. Payne, George
Bruce Cortelyou. former secretary of
the department Of commerce and labor
and now chairman Of the Republican
national committee, viii become post
master general 1t is understood that
Mr.. Cortelyou win assume the duties
OF postmaster general as soon as he
conveniently can after the close of tho
campaign.
In the interim the responsibilities OF
directing the affairs of the postofiice
department may devolve upon the tirsi
assistant, Mr.. Wynne, who has just ve
turmoil from Europe.