The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-02-26
JUNIOR SENATOR
7 DIES in HOSPITAL
A. T.. Latilner Succumbs
After Brief Illness.
BURIAL AT BELTON.
Had Been Senator Five Years After
Serving In the House Ten Years.
Something of His Career.

died at Providence hospital at 9:15 a.
m. today of peritonitis. He had been
at the hospital since Sunday last, when
he underwent an operation for appendi-
citis 1t was then discovered that he
was suffering with a far more serious
ailment. The bowels had become twist
ed, and his condition was found to be
such that surgeons held out little hope
for his recovery. He rallied, however,
and his progress was satisfactory until
2 o'clock last evening, when he steadily
began to grow worse. At midnight it
appeared that recovery was almost
impossible.
The members of the Senator's family
were with him when he died, having
been informed that there was little
hope that he would survive the night.
Col. Ransdell, sergeant-at-arms of the
Senate, at once made arrangements for
the removal of the body to the Lati-
mer home at Bolton, S. G.
Mr.. Latimer was 81 years old. He
was one of the most earnest and con-
scientious committee workers in Con-
gress, being member of the commit
tees on agriculture, immigration, manu-
factures, public buildings and grounds
and census, as well as others of less
Importance. He was especially inter-
ested in good roads, and probably did
more to promote the national move
ment for government building of good
roads than any other member of Con-
gress. He was the author of the Lati-
mer good roads bill. AS member of
the manufactures committee he gave
much attention to the preparation of
the pure food law, and also played
prominent part in drafting the pending
copyright bill. During last summer he
visited Europe as member of the I'M
migration commission, and was prepar-
ing an elaborate report covering imml-
grafton conditions in the countries as
signed to him. Mr.. Latimer had been
Senator since 1908, and had served
five terms in the House.
There will be no official services in
Washington. The funeral party left at
8 o'clock tonight on a special train over
the Southern railway, which is due to
arrive at Bolton at noon tomorrow. The
funeral services will be held there at 2
p. m.
AS mark of respect to the late
Senator there was an unusual attend
ance in the Senate today when the vice
president sounded the gavel and the
Rev. Edward Everett Hale, the chap
lain opened the proceedings with
prayer, in which he referred with
much feeling to the bereavement that
had come to the country in the death
of a member who only few days ago
had been on the floor Of the Senate,
saying:
Father, Thou art pleased to show
to. US day ny day, month by month,
hour by hour that we are in Thy pres
ence always, and that we pass from
this life to that larger life-yea, in an
instant, in the twinkling of an eye.
Come to US today, as we learn that an
other has gone from this circle, and
that here and there Thou art pleased
that he shall be serving Thee in that
larger life. Speak to us, Father, and
lead us as only father can lead us by
Thine own care and love that we may
learn the lesson of life and of what we
call death.
'We ask for ourselves, we ask for
those who are nearest and dearest to us,
we ask for the State that he has served,
and for the nation, that we may come
nearer to Thee and enter into Thy di-
vine life"
Upon the conclusion of the reading
of the journal Senator Tillman arose to
announce the death of his colleague:
''The senators in the chamber" he
said, "were startled Monday morning
with news that surgical operation was
to be performed upon my colleague,
MIR. Latimer. 1t is now my painful
duty to announce that he never suffi-
ciently rallied to- make any headway,
and that he died this morning at 8
o'clock"
Mr. Tillman then offered a resolution
declaring the Senate's regret, which
was adopted.
Another resolution authorized the ap-
pointm ent of ten senators to arrange
for and attend the funeral, and Vice
President Fc;rbanks designated the
committee as follows: Senators Till
man Of South Carolina, Proctor of Ver-
mont, Frazier of Tennessee, Foster of
Louisiana, Overman of North Carolina,
Johnston of Alabama, Carter of Mon
tana, Dillingham; of Vermont, Dixon of
Montana and Smith of Michigan.
The Senate then, at 1920 O'Clock, as
further mark of respect, adjourned.
In the House Mr.. Finley, of South
Carolina, feelingly alluded to the death
of Senator Latimer. He offered reso-
lutions of regret, which were unani-
mousIy adopted.
The speaker announced the following
committee to attend the funeral;
Messrs Finley, Lever, Patterson, Ell
lerbe, Legare, johnson and Aiken OF
South Carolina, Bennett of New York,
Burnett Of Alabama, Cook of Colorado,
Rodenburg of Illinois, Hinshaw and
Pollard of Nebraska, Lee of Georgia,