The Washington herald., 1907-04-20
So 3 Ths - HaraId.

Special 70 The Washington Herald
Baltimore. April ls-John Van Lear
Findlay. one of the most prominent
lawyers IN Baltimore, an orator Of ma
tional reputation, an ex-member of Con
gress. and a man long Identified with pub
lie life in Maryland, died this morning at
his home, 90 South Paul street, Of heart
failure.
Mr. Findlay returned late yesterday
afternoon from New York, where he had
gone last Sunday 70 attend the Peace
Conference. He appeared 10 be in excel
lent health and spirits, and did not COM
plain Of feeling badly. He retired at his
usual hour and awoke some time after
midnight. complaining OF what was sup
posed to be an attack Of acute indigestion.
DR.. Atkinson was summoned, and reach
ed the house in a few minutes. Even at
that time Mr. Findlay did not realize the
seriousness OF his condition. a little while
after the arrival of the physician his
heart gave way and he expired suddenly.
OLD Maryland Family.
Mr.. Flndlay was member of an old and
distinguished Maryland family with col
lateral branches in Pennsylvania. lie
was son of the late John Findlay and
Sophia Van Lear. Of Washington County.
Md, and was born near WilliamspOrt on
December p. 1899. He owned at the time
of his death ''Tammany.' the estate near
Wnliamsport. that had belonged to his
family almost 100 years. He took a great
p
frequently. usually spending a part Of the
summer there.
The early education of Mr.. Findlay was
received under the instruction Of the late
John Mccarthy. a private tutor, and one
Of the scholarly men of his time. After
the thorough mental drilling at the hands
OF his tutor he entered Princeton, where
he graduated with high hOnors in ISIS
Elected 10 Legislature.
Soon after leaving Princeton he began
TO take an interest in public affairs and
political questions, and he was elected
member of the Maryland legislature Of
1S6l-lSG2.
He returned to Baltimore and was ad-
mitted 10 the bar. For some years he
was the law partner Of Judge Charles Z.
bench Of Baltimore City. The firm was
Phelps < Findlay in the late SOS he
formed a partnership with Thomas Mac
kenzie. under the name of FiHdlay q Mac
kenzie, which continued until his death.
Recently his only son also became con-
neeted with the firm.
Member of Congress.
Mr.. Findlay served as city solicitor from
= n
revenue under Andrew Johnsons admin
istration. He was offered the position of
United States district attorney, but de-
clined the honor. He was elected 10 Con-
gress on the Democratic ticket from the
Fourth district. and served from 1883 to
1857. taking an important part in public
debates. He was in Congress with the
late Benjamin Harrison, who was his
cousin, and the late William Mckinley
with both OF whom he was on cordial and
friendly terms during their terms as Pres
ident. Mrs. Findlay and himself were fire.
quent guests at the White House during
the Harrison and Mckinley administra-
tions and the late Mrs. Harrison visited
them in Baltimore.
While in Congress Mr.. Findlay was re-
garded as a high-tarif man, and on this
issue he had a split with the Democratic
party. His views on this ana some other
subjects were not in accord with those
OF the party managers in the State, and
a little later he left the Democratic ranks
and joined the Republicans.
Naturally, his leaving the party caused
some friction between him and the lead
ers, and the relations between the late
Senator German and himself became very
much strained. He was nominated by
President Harrison as a member of the
Gillian Claims Commission, but the ap-
pointment was not confirmed by the
Senate, it was said at the time. on &C
count OF the opposition Of Senator Cor
man.
Mentioned for Senate.
When Judge McC0mas was elected TO
the United States Senate Mr.. Findlay s
name was presented as Il candidate, and
he was also the nominee OF the Repub-
iicans for attorney general of the State
in 1899 This was when the late Lloyd
Lowndes who was then governor, was
running for reelection against John Wal
ter Smith. and. with his colleagues on
the ticket, was defeated.
Efforts were made last fan to get Mr..
Findlay to stand for the Republican
nomination for Congress in the Fourth
district, but he would not consent TO
make the race. His son, John Y. L. Find
lay, Jr, was then nominated, but was
defeated in the general election by Con-
gresham John Gill, jr.
Mr., Findlay was twice married His first
wife, who died years age, was Miss Mary
Mackenzie, daughter of Dr. John ?. Mac
kenzie. and his widow was formerly Miss
Mary Keesey, daughter of Vincent Kee-
sey, of York, Pa BY this marriage his
son and daughter survive. He left a
brother, Judge James Findlay, and a sis
ter, Miss Mamie Findlay, both Of Wash
ingtOn County.