The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-22
Campbell. Bannerman, Recently
Premier of England,
Passes Away Peacefully at 9:lo
This Morning.
RESIGNED HIS OFFICE
Early in the Month Owing to
His Illness.
Loved and Respected by All
Classes and Parties.

LOnQOn, April ZZ.-Slr F1eHiy OoiiP
bell-Bannerman, former British pre-
mier, died at 9:15 o'clock this morn
ing at his official residence, No. 1o
Downing street. The end was peace
full.
The death of Sir Henry, after a lin
gering illness of more than Two
months, did not come as a surprise:
Although the Doctors bulletins had
not declared his condition critical tnat
fact was perfectly understood ana the
public had been expecting the an
nouncement of his end at any nour
during the past fortnight The news
came in the form of the following bull
letin issued at 1890 this morning:
"Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
passed peacefully away at S;Io
o'clock this morning. The cause OF his
death was heart failure.-R. w. Bur-
nett
In the death chamber when the end
came were his niece. Mrs. Campbell,
who had acted as Sir Henrys most
since the death of Lady CampoeH-
Bannerman, little more than a year
ago; DR. Burnett, who was Mr.: camp
bell-Bannerman's personal phvslclan
and who had been in constant attend
ance during his long illness. and Sir
Henry's butler.
The ex-premier had been unconscious
most of the time during the last two
or three days and his sinking was
gradual.
A few hours before his death tele-
grams were dispatched to King Ed
ward, who with Queen Alexandra, IS
visiting the Danish royal family at
Copenhagen: the Prince of Wales and
the cabinet ministers.
Immediately newspaper reporters
were keeping vigil before the house or
the dying statesman, but the only news
handed to them was in the form OF
bulletin more than one hour after MS
death. A few minutes thereafter a
crowd assembled in Downing street,
but all persons were barred from ap-
preaching the house by Gordon OF
police.
Illness Began in February.
Sir Henry's Illness dates from Feb
ruary IL, when he last arneared in the
house of commons and moved the clos
ure of the Scottish land bills, although
he had been ailing since November u,
1907, when he appeared at an enter
tainment in honor of Emperor William
at the Guild hall On November IA,
after addressing a political meeting at
Bristol he was seriously stricken with
heart weakness and later influenza
was added to his heart trouble, bring
ing on his fatal illness. The ex-prem1er
fully appreciated his condition and re
allied that his recovery was improba-
BILE. He offered to give up MS once
some time before he formally resigned
early this month. Few invallds have
been the object of much solicitude and
attention as was bestowed upon Sir
Henry, there having been constant
stream of callers at his Downing street
residence including King Edward who
visited him on two occasions, Queen
Alexandra, and the dowager empress
of Russia, the prince and princess OF
Wales, and many diplomats and proni-
nent men in public life.
Sir Henry's last published utterance
NC letter of thanks to his
Scottish friends who presented him
with a portrait of himself
It is known that the premier was
opposed to a public funeral and 1t is
believed that he will be buried with
out ostentation beside the body of his
wife at Meigle in Perthshire, Scotland
David Lloyd George, chancellor of the
exchequer on receiving the news of Sir
Henry's death, said:
"I never met a greater public figure
since / have been in political life, who
won so completely the attachment and
affection of men who came in contact
with him.
Sketch of His Life.
Sir Campbell Bannerman was born
September Z, 1886. He was the young
est son of the late Sir James Campbell
y of Stracathro, F'orfarshire, some time
lord provost of Glasgow. He assumed
the additional name under the will OF
his maternal uncle, the late Henry
Bannerman of Hunton court, Kent,whc
beoueathed TO him a large estate. He
attended Glasgow university and Trim
ity college. He married Charlotte
daughter of Major Charles Bruce. She
died in 1906, and from that time Si1
Henry's decline in health may be dated
For nearly 40 years he sat for the
same seat, the Stirlingburgs. and his
record of office goes back to 1871, wher
he was financial secretary to the wal
office, which post he held a second
time from 1880 to 1882. During the nex1
two years he was secretary to the ad-
miralty and in 1884, he succeeded Sil
George Trevolyn as Irish secretary
filling that office ably and urobstrusive.
ly until the fall of the Gladstone minis.
try in 1885, in spite of the fact that the
Irishman described him as the Scotch
sandbag."
In the short government of 1886 ht
was Secretay for wa and to that pos
he returned under the last Liberal gov.
ernment. He was chosen leader of the
Liberal opposition in succession to Si
William Harcourt in February. 1899
The Boer war proved a stumbling blocl
to the administration, but notwith
standing the difference between Liberia
imperialists and other Liberals owe,
this question, unanimous vote of con
fidence in his leadership was carried a
a meeting of the Liberal party held a
the reform club in July, 1901
In 1902 a passage of words took plac,
between him and Lord Rosebery owe
the doctrine of the clean slate" on RI,
Irish question and other public cues
tions and the Liberal league was form
ed. Sir Henry again received the SOLE
support of the Liberal party of tn
house. On the resignation of the Raj
four administration in December. 1e0F
Sir Henry was summoned by the kin,
and formed a Liberal cabinet. himseI
becoming first lord of the treasury an,
prime minister.
Career as Prime Minister.
The general election followed and Si
Henry Campbell-Bannerman entere,