The Detroit times., 1908-01-20
EDH0R-SIkTEsMAN
GHAs. {. SMITH
IS DEAD
FORMER POSTMASTER eENER
AL, FRIEND OF BLAINE AND
coNKLINo, VICTIM OF HEART
DlsEAsE-AcTIvE CAREER.

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 2o.-Charles
Emory Smith, editor of the Press, for
merly postmaster-general and ex-min-
lister to Russia. died suddenly from
heart disease, at his home, yesterday
morning. He was alone and partially
dressed when the seizure came. When
his wife returned from church, she
found the body. still warm, lying
across the bsd.
Mr.. Smith had not been well since
the evening OF Nov. 80. when he at
tended dinner given by the Brother
hood OF st. Andrew. DR.. Nicholas
Michaels had been treating him for
what was then believed to be moth
ing moro than acute indigestion. He
had also been suffering from an at
tack OF the grip.
Charles Emory Smith was born IN
Mansfield. Conn, Feb. IS. 1s42, the son
| OF Emory Il. Smith, OF old New Eng
land stock. He gained his early edu-
cati,> in the village school at Mans
/ field and later at Albany. -. y, where
his father moved when smith was
years old. He was graduated from
the high school at Albany. taught In
entered Union college. with the class
| OF 81
Immediately upon hts graduation
Smith followed his ambition to enter
the newspaper feid and secured posi-
| tion on the Albany Express. then the
chief supporting organ In Albany OF
Gov. Eenton.
Passing through the apprentice stage
| OF newspaper work very rapidly the
young man severed his connection with
the Express In 1865, after he had be.
r.f al M asafi
the position OF editor-in- chief of tha
| Journal with an interest in the paper.
1t was IN his capacity or director
of the policy OF this paper that Smith
began TO take large part IN state
politics. As editor OF the paper Smith
fbegan TO be power In state conven-
platforms for Republican conventions
for several successive years until 1880,
when he refused to write the New
York state platform advocating a third
term for President Grant.
Close 60 Blaine and Conixifng.
IL was during this period in HIS
life that Smith became q close friend
both OF James G. Blaine and Roscoe
quarrel Smith took no sides and sue
ceeded IN retaining. the friendship OF
both politicians. He once said that
his choice OF political preferment in
the shape OF seat in congress or
high place In the state administration,
up in the conduct OF his newspaper
and he desired no office
When In 1876 Blaine tried to secure
the support OF Smith land the Journal
for his candidacy for the presidency,
Smith had 10 decline on the score OF
his PARTY affiliations which were az
that time all with Conkling and the
organic branch OF the regular Repub-
lcan party in the state. Because the
strife between Blaine and CUukling
! made the position OF the Journal some
4. n-aa h. In
| ducement OF superior opportunities,
Smith decided in 1880 TO accept the
position OF managing editor or the
Philadelphia Press.
Active I'm Politics.
The activity he had displayed In New
York state politics and In national af-
fairs--he was n delegate 10 the nation
al convention In lS16-gave MT smith
prominent political stanrftng TN Phffn-
delphla. He became a delegate 10 the
national Republican convention In 1880
and had large hand in the writing OF
the platform there adopted. he did
NOT lose TnrrrGyr unt tnrfururr .AS--v-
York politics during the first ten years
OF his incumbency OF the editorial chair
Blaine brought his influence to bear
upon President Harrison I'm 1880 TO Sc
lect Mr.. Smith 70 Nil the post OF min
lister TO Russia. after the editor OF the
TO urge the appointment or the prest-
dent OF the University of Pennsyl-
vania TO the same posL fTeklueut itar-
rison gave Mr.. Smith the 81. Peters
burg mission, position which he held
for two years. Then he returned 10
take up his editorial work
In 1895 when Postmaster-General
Gary resigned from President Mcxin-
Iey's cabinet. the president offered the
portfolio 10 the editor OF the Press.
who accepted He resigned from the
cabinet Dec ~. 1901. and within
few months he became involved IN the
postofiice scandal thai centered about
w Machen anu the matt pouch unt
patent letter box contracts.
The practical establishment or rural
free dsiiyery and the creation OF tho
mall service In Cuba. Porto Rico and
the Philippines marked his tenure OF
office as postmaster-general.
y Mr.. Smith was twice married. his
second wife being Miss Henrietta Mich
OILS, OF New York. whom he married at
the home OF her mother. Mrs wash
J.. on Oct 3, last. Besides his wife, he