The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-13
State Senator From Ramsey
Couaty Called Home.
BRIcAT's DISEASE CAUSE
Author Of the Bill to Keep the Capitol
Control Out Of The Governors
a Hands.

st. Paul, April lO.-Hiler H. Horton
of st. Paul, member of the state sen
ate and one of the best known public
men in Minnesota, died Saturday nigh,
at Nassau, in the Bahama islands, where
he had gone to recover his health. Deatl
was due to Brieht's disease, which ha6
been fastening its hold on him TO.
years.
Senator Horton left st. Paul NOR,
than a month ago and went direct tC
Nassau, where he had sister living A
few days later word was sent back that
his Illness had taken serious turn, ant
Mrs. Horton went to join him. He
sank rapidly after her arrival.
Mrs. Horton arrived Sunday at Miami
Fla, with the body and will reach st
Paul tonight or tomorrow. Arrangements
will be made by members of the state
senate and state officials to attend the
funeral services in a body.
Hiler III. Horton was a leading figure
in the legislature of the state for the
last five sessions, and exerted a greater
influence in the state senate than any
other one man. He had exceptional
ability as debater and was the chosen
champion of many a cause, more often ir
opposition to new legislation, for he
was born conservative. During his ser
vice in the senate he had charge of the
new capitol bills and handled the cam
paign for larger appropriations to erect
the building. He was author of the bill
to take control of the building out o.
the hands of the governor and keep i;
during that term in the control of the
capitol commission. He showed his mas
terful influence over his fellow senators
by getting the bill passed over the gov
ernor's veto in spite of strong sentin
ment against it.
But for failing health, Senator Hor
ton would probably have been candi
date for congress this year against +
C. Stevens. He announced his intention
to make the run year ago, but recon
sidered later when he realized that hi
would not be able to stand the strain O.
a campaign.
Senator Horton came nearer defeat
ing Moses E. Clapp for the United State.
senate last year than any of the an
nounced candidates against him. Hor
ton was, like most of The Ramsey dele
CATION, opposed to Clapp and ready to
take up with some other st. Paul man
They did not, however, warm up to thu
candidates. of j. b. Gilfillan or Gov
efnor Van SAINT. The Friday before thu
senatorial coucus was held the anti
Clapp forces held a secret conference anc
decided to spring Horton. He took tho
offer under consideration and lOoket
over the ground, but was disappointed
to find some of his personal friends
whom he counted on, so bound to Clapl
that they did not feel able to breal
away. Senator Horton then sent bach
word that he could not be a candidate
and in the caucus he voted for Clapr
with the rest of the Ramsey delega
ton.
Senator Horton was a native OF Wis
eonsin and fifty-one years of age. He
took an academic and a law course al
Washington university, st. Louis, ane
went in 1873 to st. Paul, where he had
practioed law ever since. He served or
the park board four years, and was its
president one term. In 1893 he was a
member of the lower house of the legis'
lature. In 1898 he was elected to the
state senate from the thirty sixth dis
trict and reelected in 1902. He was the
third member of the senate elected ir
that year to break the ranks. A. +,
Ferris of Brainerd and Governor A. K
McGill of ST. Paul preceded him.