The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-11
FORMER PREMIER DEAD
Waldeck-Rousseau Passes Away as
Result of an Operation.

Paris, Aug. 11.-Former Premier
Waldeck- Rousseau is dead at his
country residence at Corbeil, Is miles
from Paris, from the effects of an
operation which his medical attend
ants deemed to be a final necessity. A
similar operation which was perform
ed in Paris some months ago, proved
partially successful, and the former
premier was well enough to be re-
moved to Corbeil where it was hoped
rest and the effect of the country air
would restore his strength.
The evil. however. was not eradt-
Gated and alarming reports regarding
the condition of the distinguished pa
! tient have been circulated frequently
Despite the efforts of his family to
conceal the truth, NJ. Waldeck-Rous-
seau's condition during the last few
| days became much aggravated, the
patient having frequent hallucinations
and displaying extreme weakness. The
family accordingly called in two Ia
nous liver specialists, Prof. Hans
Kehr, a German, and Dr. Armour, a
| Canadian surgeon, who at a consulta-
ton decided that since the liver had
| ceased to perform its functions an inn
| mediate operation was the only hope
/ of saving the patients life. NJ. Wall
| deck-Rousseau was informed of the
necessity for this operation and re-
| ceived the news with calmneSs and
| courage. The operation was perform
ed under chloroform at noon by
| Prof. Kehr, who was assisted by Dr..
| Armour and three French surgeons.
1t at first appeared that the opera
! ton, which was admirably conducted,
would prove successful and the pa
| tient was removed from the operating
table to his bed. but the pulse became
more feeble and. despite the admins
| tration of injections of serum, the pa
tient gradually sank and died without
regaining consciousness.
Nine. Waldeck-Rousseau, Jacques
Liouville,, the patients brother-in-
law, Rene Waldeck-Rousseau, his
nephew, and three intimate friends
! were present at the time of his death.
A priest was summoned from Paris
to administer the last rites OF the
church, but he arrived too late.
AS soon as the death of the former
premier became known messages OF
| coincidence began to arrive at Corbel.
The first came from Premier Combes.
Pierre Marie Erneste Waldeck-
| Rousseau was born at Nantes. France,
December 2, 1916, and was a son or
Rene Waldeck-Rousseau at that time
| a prominent member of the assembly.
| Waldeck- Rousseau studied law at
Saint I,azaret, where he practiced for
| some time before settling at Rennes.
There he made his first entrance into
politics, being elected deputy in 1879.
He then became prominent In the
ranks of the Republican Union which
was very conspicuous in opening the
way for innovation and the present
/ repuhliciSn and was considered one
of the most prominent orators or the
! assembly. His best known work was
for the reform of judiciary. He was
reelected on August 2, 1881, and NO
vember 4 of the same year, although
only 35 years old, was admitted into
Gambetta's cabinet as minister or the
interior The short lived ministry o.
Gambetta did not offer fitting chance
| to Waldeck- Rousseau to prove ms
ability at that time. The resignation
of the government took place January
rs 1882. Having been onereo TN
same Dlace in Jules Greve'S cabinet, ne
held the same till February, 1855. II
1886 he was elected senator, althougf
he was not present at the election Ii
1889 Waldeck-RouSseau was entered
| at the bar of Paris and since ther
pleaded some of the most 1mportah
| cases of the time. He also favored
revision of the Dreyfus case. On June
22 1899, Waldeck-Rousseau wa
called upon to form his own ministry
and after having been successfully II
office for over three years, he resigned
in June. 1902, his ministry having tn
longest duration of any cabinet unde
the republican regime. Snortly aIee
his resignation as prime mlhlsle , nan
ing been repeatedly taken III VIII
trouble of the stomach. accoroIhs =
some versions cancer ana otners ~
NOR Waldeck-RousSeau retlreo lroIl
\ public life. An able statesman an
leader, he distinguished hlmsel1 as on
/ of the foremost men or the repuolc
| He also was a writer Oh enlnence Vi
| Judiciary matters.