Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-12-22
NOTED JOURNALIST DIES
Major Orlando ]. Smith, Founder
American Press Association.
KNOWN ALL OVER LAND.

President Of country's Largest News
paper Syndicate-He Kept In Touch
With Publishers All Over America.
Thinker. Philosopher and Writer as
Well as Executive Head Of Extern
sive nterprise-Served In Civil
War-Made Great Collections Of Fine
Trees.
Dobbs Ferry, n. Y. Dec. 2l.-Major
Orlando Jay Smith, president and gen
eral manager of the American Press
Association. died at 6:O7 o'clock Sun
day evening at his home on the Hud-
son.
Major Smith had been in since Sep.
TENDER, at which time he was operat.
ed upon for cancer of .the stomach.
Through his long illness he retained
his interest in daily events. He was
attended by Drs. Walter B. James,
Blake and Denniston.
Major Orlando Jay Smith, the found.
err of the American Press Association.
and its president and general manager
from its inception until his death. was
journalist of national reputation.
To his training and guidance many OF
the men prominent in the newspaper
world during the past two decades
owe their position and fame. As head
of the largest newspaper syndicate
in America. Major Smith came into
intimate contact with writer's and
journalists connected with newspapers
of every grade of influence and i'm.
portance. They have frequently ties.
tilted to the sterling worth of his
character, his own ability and his ca.
pacity for. developing ability in 9th.
ers. His subordnates in the Ameri.
can Press Association, many of whom
were associated with him for twenty
years or more, looked up to him as
an unfailing source of inspiration in
their work as guide. mentor and
friend
Major Smith was born June II, 1912.
on farm near Terre Haute, Ind, OF
Vermont ancestry His father. Hiram
Smith, was one of Indiana pioneers.
He sent his son to the public schools
and later TO Asbury college. now De.
paw university In later years the
university conferred on its dstin-
guished alumnus the degree, of LID.
AT the outbreak of the civil war
Major Smith enlisted. He served un.
til the end of the war in the armies OF
the Potomac, Ohio and Cumberland,
rising TO the rank of major i'm the
Sixth Indiana cavalry He was wound.
ed near Atlanta. Ga, and was taken
prisoner, After confinement in a Con-
federate prison at Augusta. Ga. Major
Smith was exchanged and rejoined his
regiment. He was a member of the
Loyal legion.
After the war Major Smith engaged
for three years in colt planting near
Enterprise Miss
Major Smith began his journalistic \
career at Terre Haute! Ind. as editor
of the Terro 1aute Mail Later he,
acquired the Terre Haute Express.
In 1878 he moved the latter newspa.
per to Chicago, continuing its publica.
tion Is the Chicago Express. In 1882
he founded in Chicago the American
Press Association. tire monument to
his lame. Later the main offices of
the American Press Association we're
removed to New York. where they ne.
main.
The association has branch offices
Throughout the country. serving thou
sands of newspapers. In all the asSocia-
tons work he was rhe head and front
ana moving spirit
Major Smith pussessed the broadcast
OF minds He was keenly interested
in life and its problems in all their
manifold phases. He found relaxa.
SiOn from material cares iiS the study
and expression of religion and phiios-
ophy and economies. He' embodied
his views in several volumes. which
have received serious attention from
the worlds thinkers THE most prom
inent of Major Smiths books are "A
Short View of Great Questions" The
Coming Democracy, "Eterualism,'
Balance ana Agreement Between
Science and Religion. =
Major Smith added to n love of
learning and study Il love of nature
and life In the open. He was sue
cessfuE horeiculturist, and his farm at
Amawalk, y, Y, and his home at
Dobhs Ferry. n. r.. contained some