The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-06-02
CONGRESSMAN ADAMS OF PENN.
sYLvANIA COMMITS SUICIDE
AT WASHINGTON.
FINANCIAL DIFFICULT TIE CAUSE
MAILS LETTER TO SPEAKER CAN.
NON REGARDING PROVISION
FOR HIS FUNERAL.

Ing the morning. He died in hos
pital several hours later.
The shooting occurred In one of the
chambers of the Metropolitan club,
where Mr.. Adams was stopping. He
was found unconscious at about
o'clock, sitting upright in an armchair.
The pistol was lying on the floor. He
had shot himself through the mouth.
The discovery was made by Horace
Clark, one. of the -bellboys of the club
chambers, and Mr.. Adams is believed
to have committed the act some time
between 6 and o'clock. He was
taken at once to the emergency hos
pital, where he expired at 1880.
1t was Mr.. Adams who reported.
conducted through the house and had
charge Of in conference with the sen.
ate the Cuban resolutions and drafted.
introduced, reported and passed
through the house of representatives
in one hour the declaration of war
against Spain
He was f1fty.seven years of age and
q graduate of the University Of Penn
sylvania He has been a member of
congress since 1890.
Prominent and Popular.
Robert Adams was one of the most
popular representatives In congress-
and he has been identified with many
matters OF worldwide Importance. His
position as ranking member of the
majority after the chairman on the
house committee on foreign affairs has,
owing to the Ill health of Mr. Hit.
made 1t necessary for him to largely
direct the business of that important
committee and he was thus brought
into close contact with President
teoat.
and Taft
Mr.. Adams was society and club
man and was at all prominent social
functions In. this city Only Thurs
day, as acting chairman of the house
committee on foreign affairs, he man.
aged the diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill to it's final passage in
the house.
AS this bill has been before the
house for the past week Mr.. Adams
has been the principal figure in the
house. There was nothing in his de.
pertinent during the consideration of
the measure to indicate an unusual
condition of his mind.
Mr.. Adams became prominent at the
beginning of this session of congress
by introducing and championing the
whipping post BILL" which had been
recommended by the president. Mr..
Adams had to stand q great deal Of
good natured chafhng during the de-
bate on the bill. The fact that he was
g. bachelor and was trying to secure
the passage of a bill to punish wife
beating by whipping the man found
guilty gave opportunity for pokinz
fun at the Pennsylvania member.
Financial Troubles the Cause.
Before ending his life Mr.. Adams
wrote the following letter to Speaker
Cannon. 1t was received at the Cap
itol just before the hour Of convening
the house
MY Dear Mr. Speaker: The fact
that personal obligations exceed my
resources is my only excuse for aban.
doning my responsible position I oc-
cupy In the house. am willing to be
buried at its expense, but ask that
no committee be appointed or memo
rial services held, as have never been
In sympathy with the latter custom"
It is general knowledge among Mr..
Adams associates in the house that
he was dealer on the stock market
~nnd had been for many years He
had, however, met reverses In this
connection in the past and had at
times also been very successful op-
orator. Taking into account his sensi.
tive makeup his colleagues explain
that il he was heavily involved in debt
he would consider the taking of his
life the most honorable means of vim
dication
Several times during the considera-
tion of the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill in the house Mr..
Adams had expressed great anxiety to
get the bill through that he might at
tend to personal business which he
said required his presence in Phila.
delphia.