New-York tribune., 1908-06-12
TRY TO REACH F0ELKER
albany Physicians Turned A7cdy by
Faithful attendants.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

made to reach the bedside of Senator L roelnSA
before he went to the Capitol to vote on the
racing bills to-day. 1t was frustrated os the
nurse, the attending physician and Canon Chase.
Early this morning an automobile whisheo ap
to the house where Senator Foelker is staying
and two physicians, Drs. Elting and Theodore
Bailey of Albany. we'll known and reputable
alighted and asked to see Senator Foelker. Ihe
nurse declined, and Or. Murphy ana canon
Chase supported the refusal of the nurse.
1t was Immediately rumored about the Capi.oi
that the racetrack interests had made an unsuo-
cessful effort to reach the bedside OF the sich
Senator. and speculation is still rife as to just
what was behind the visit
DR.. Elting said he had been called on oy Dr'
Bailey to go to see Senator Foelker. Ihls was
corroborated by Dr. Bailey. who made the fol-
lowing statement:
Two men called at my Office this morning
and stated that the attending physician OF Sem
ator Foelker desired a consultation with two
Albany physicians and requested that Dr.. Elt1ng
and I call as early possible to see the
Senator with his attending physician. mace
an appointment with DR.. Elting ana we ioahu'
on seeing DR.. Murphy, the attending physician
of the Senator that no such request had peel
made. We never entered the house. but made
our apologies to DR.. Murphy and took our de-
parture."
Dr. Bailey said he knew one Of the men ana
supposed him to be thoroughly trustworthy. he
declined to give his name and said he dld not
know the other one. Whether the men Were
friends of the bills and wanted to make sure
that everything possible was being done Tor the
Senator or whether they had a contrary In
tention is a subject of much speculation. Inc
manner in which the two physicians were re-
ceived. together with the presence or the sen
ator in the Senate. has given satisfaction TO ms
friends, because he was carefully guarded
throughout his sickness.
Canon Chase was particularly vigilant IN his
watch at the house of the Senator. He sat on
the adjoining porch from early morning uhti
the Senator was taken TO the Capitol
Dr. Murphy said late this afternoon that Dfs.
Railev and EIting called through misunder-
standing. He said that he talked over the
telephone with Drs William T. Bull and Grant
in New York last night, and they suggested that
he might consult the Albany doctors He did
not saw he followed out this suggestion
Senstor FoeIker expects to return Tomorrow
70 the home of his father-in-law, at Staatspurg'
Toutchess County where for a month he mas
been confined to his bed. recovering from an
operation for appendicitis performed on May ~
Dr. Murphy visited Governor Hughes at the
executive chamber late this afternoon. he
said he called merely to pay his respects. lie
confirmed the impression of all observers that
the Senator could hardly have endured another
moment of the excitement amid which his vote
was cast He said that the anxiety and ner-
yousness Of his patient undoubtedly had re-
tarded his recovery but admitted that he was
better this afternoon than he was this morning
and expressed the belief that while the ordeal
had been very trying Senator Foelker had not
been permanently injured by his experience.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune.I
Albany. June n-Senator Foelker, the man
whose p1ucky struggle against death that he might
fulfil his duty has attracted widespread attention
in the last few days, reached In that fight the
climax of what has been almost literally life of
struggles and difficulties. He is now
in early middle life, a man of some education. a
member of the bar. and. thanks to his courageous
action to-day, probably well on the road toward a
prosperous business career. where a few years
ago he was almost friendless literally penniless
ard compelled to sleep in lodging houses and live
on erusts.
This man. whose dominant trait is bulldog
perseverance, was an Immigrant from Germany
an orphan ignorant of the English language
He wandered from New York to Troy, where he
became apprenticed to a baker. In odd moments
he went to school, studying hard until he had
learned the English language. Then, still working
as a baker, he took up the study of law. Later he
moved to Brooklyn and got a clerkship In a law
yer's office. going to law school at nights. Hard
work and constant struggles for livelihood
marked this period of his life
Meanwhile he entered politics, working in the
old 5th Assembly District and finally elected
TO the Assembly, where he served two terms His
services never distinguished by brilIiance; he
was what the legislators term "plusger.' He
kept close track of legislation and committee work,
casionally showing an independence which
unexpected by Timothy L, Woodruff, the party
leader. of Brooklyn. One of Mr.. Foelkers most
notable bits of work his bitter opposition to
the Niagara power grab bills and his passage of a
bill to protect the falls from further encroachnent
Two years ago this autumn he elected to
the Senate. There he has continued his record
work. He has kept UP his law studies in con-
nection with legislative duties. and Just a short
time before he taken Ill with appendicitis was
admitted the bar.
Personally he is well liked here, jolly. demo-
cratic sort of person. who makes friends readily
and keeps them. His action to-day is the more
notable because every sort of pressure from offers
of large to threats defeat for renonlina-
ton, has been put on him. His district is such
that political opposition from Republican leaders
there easily could cost him the denomination, but
the opinion now is that in view of his action to-
day such a thing hardly Will be attempted.
y