Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-06-08
SENATOR GORMAN IS DEAD
MARYLAND SOLON SUDDENLY EX,
PRES WHEN HE WAS BELIEVED
TO BE IMPROVING.
WAS A NOTABLE FIGURE.
Of Little Education He Started as a PAGE
of Upper House at the Age
of Thirteen.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June Ar
thur Pue German, United States senator
from Maryland died suddenly at his
residence here today. While Senator
German had been i'll for many months,
he had shown some Improvement lately.
heart trouble was the immediate cause
of death.
Up to the moment of death Senator
German was conscious. At the bedside
were Mrs. German, Miss Ada German.
the senator's eldest daughter, and Il
nurse.
Senator Gorman,s illness extended over
i've months. He had not left his house
since January 16. He suffered, in addi-
ton to his heart affection. with more or
less stomach trouble. Up to last night
he was in the best of spirits and chattcd
with members of the family. AS soon as
he passed away word was sent to the
Senate.
Senator German leaves widow and
SIX children, as follows: Miss Ada Cor
man, Mrs. Wilton j. Lambert, Mrs T.
a. johnson, Mrs. II. w. Hills. all of this
city; Mrs. Stephen Gambrill of London,
England, who arrived here Il week ago.
and Arthur Pue German, Jr., of LAUREL
Md, member of the Maryland assem-
bly,.
Notable Figure in Senate.
Senator German long had been a no.
able figure in the national Congress- He
first took his seat in 1881, and served
continuously for eighteen years. and
nearly all of that time he was the leader
OF his party in the Senate. Winning
early reputation for sagacity and the
keeneSt Judgment in congressional affairs
he attained prominence, not only as a
leader in the Senate, but in the country
at large and by many men was consid-
cred the most available man in his party
Tor the presidency. He was chairman of
the executive committee and managed
the campaign that resulted in the cleo
ion of Cleveland in 1884.
In Notable Contest.
The most notable contest of his con-
gresSIonal career was when he led the
Senate minority in 1S90-91 and defeated
the federal elections bill, which was so
obnoxious to the south.
When the Democrats had control of
the Senate Mr. German was the recog-
nlzed leader. 1t was at that time that
the tariff bill of 1894 was passed. He
had so much to do with shaping that
measure that his name is often given
to it.
His Break with Cleveland
1t was during Cleveland's last admin
lstration that a break occurred between
the Democratic president and the leader
of the party in the Senate. In speech
which always will be remembered by
those who heard it, Senator German Sc
yerely arraigned the President. TO this
opposition the defeat of Senator German
a few years later is attributed. although
his party lost Maryland in the silver
campaigns.
Reelected to Senate.
AS soon as the Democrats rcgaincd
control of the state he. was at once re-
elected to the Senate.
1t was a tribute to his leadership that
as soon as he was again in the Senate
he was made leader of the minority and,
although the seniority rule is strictly en-
forced, German was given committee
places that were equal to those he had
held after long continuous service.
Senator German was vigorously Op-
posed to the acquisition of the Philip
pines and fought the ratification of the
Paris treaty.
Condemning extravaganza in public eX-
pendltureS, Senator Germans pleas for
economy voiced the views of his party
that less money should be spent for big
ships and more for river and harbor inn
prOyementS.
Career of Dead Senator
Arthur Pue German was born in How
ard county, Maryland, March II, 1889.
He went to the public schools and at the
age of 13 years he became a page in the
United States Senate. Early in 1866 he
was made postmaster of the Sen
ate. Later in the same year he
was appointed revenue collector in Penn
sylvania, which office he held until 1869,
when Grant became President. He then
became connected with the Chesapea Ike
& Ohio Canal company, of which he
later became president.
He served as a member Of the state
Legislature of Maryland for number of
years until 1880. when lie was elected to
the United States Senate. In 1867 lie
married Miss H. d. Donnigan.
An Aggressive Politician
After his election in 1881 he served
in the Senate until 1899 and was the
Democratic leader in the upper house.
He was one of the ablest men in the
Senate despite the fact that his early
book learning was exceedingly limited
He was a politician in the truest sense
of the word and often resorted to meth
DDS in Maryland which, while he saw
them as sharp tricks, were decidedly
wrong. He was master parlia-
mentarian and a speaker of great force
aggressive and fearless.
1t was German who defeated Blaine
by Selling upon Burchard's hapless
Rum, Romanism and Rebellion This
was III lCct anu NOllIldH up 10 llle Tune
of his death was still living in that
notable battle, with its bitterness.
Opponent of Roosevelt.
German was always bitter opponent
of President Roosevelt When he
learned that the reciprocity plan pro-
ceeded from the executive he opposed it,
although when it came to a vote he sup
ported it. deserted by his followers He
supported the Panama canal issue and
was astonished when his following did
not rally to him. This marked the fall
of German. for the Democrats began to
look askance at their leader and at home
his old-time campaign methods failed
him. Bailey came to the front, and
when anyone mentioned German lie
said. "Oh, yes, German" But after he
would go on talking about Bailey.
German accumulated a large fortune.
1t is estimated that he was worth $1O,-
100000.
The Senate adjourned today imme-
diately upon receiving the announcement
of Senator Germans death. No business
whatever was transac ted.