Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-03-06
SEN. PROCTOR DIES.
Attack OF Grip, with Complies-
tions, Causes Death Of ver-
mont's Fore m ost Man.

monts Fore m oSt Man.
Washington, March 4.-United States
Senator Redfield Proctor of Vermont died
in his apartments at the Champlain here
this afternoon as the result of a brief ill.
ness following an attack of the grip, re-
sulting in complications which weakened
his heart. At the bedside When the end
came were the wife and Gov. Fletcher D.
Proctor of Vermont, son of the aged
Senator, who had been summoned here
when his fathers condition became criti.
cal.
While definite funeral arrangements
have not been announced. Senator Proc
tors body probably will be sent to Proc
tor, VT, tomorrow evening for burial on
Friday. When the two houses of Con-
gress meet tomorrow at noon, official an
nouncement will be made of Senator
Proctor's death and adjournment will be
taken as mark of respect. The Vice
President and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives will tomorrow ap-
point committees to accompany the body
to Vermont.
HIS INFLUENCE WIDE ONE.
Senator Proctor had been conspicuous
and influential factor in national and
Vermont State politics for many years.
He shared with Senator Crane of Massa-
chusetts the distinction among their fel-
low members of being the most effective
manipulation in smoothing down those
obstacles which usually arise in the rou-
tine of legislation.
The Senator's most widely known work
in national politics was as chairman of
the Senate committee on agriculture. i'm
which he did much for the farming inter-
ests of the country. He succeeded in
putting through the oleomargarine bill,
for which Congressman Grout had fought
many years unsuccessfully. Senator
Proctor was an expert on military affairs
through his work with the Senate COM
mittee on military affairs. His last con-
spicuous public act was to give the State
of Vermont the $3.50, ,000 Sanatorium for
tuberculosis patients at Pittsford.
Senator Proctor had been ill and con.
fined to his room at the Champlain apart
ment in this city for about a week. His
allment was diagnosed as the grip, which
later developed into pleurisy, with pneu-
mOnic complications which affected the
heart, and which, in his enfeebled condi-
tion, proved too much for his powers of
resistance. Besides his son, Gov. Proc
tor, the Governors wife and several init
mate friends were at the bedside when
death occurred.
The Senator had been in feeble health
ever since the assembling of Congress.
His condition became alarming today and
the members of his family were notified
that the end was near.
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT THURSDAY.
The news of his sad death reached the
Senate a few minutes after 5 o'clock
Senator Warren, chairman of the COM
mittee on military affairs, was then
urging the passage of bill to increase
the pay of the army, which is a meas
ure that for many years has attracted
| the interest of the late Vermont Sen
| ator. He had advocated putting the
army on an equality with the navy as
| regar''s the pay Of enlisted men for
many years. No announcement of the
death was made to the Senate. The in
formation was communicated to Vice
President Fairbanks, who immediately
advised Senator Warren. Mr.. Warren
asked that the pending bill be laid aside
for the day. The Senate then adjourned.
1t was not desired to formally announce
the death, for the reason that it was
thought best to lay aside business for an
entire day in respect to the Senator's
memory. Therefore, the official an.
nouncement will be made tomorrow by
Senator Dillingham;, Mr.. Proctor's col.
league from Vermont.
Senator Proctor's death occurred at
4:5O o'clock this afternoon. Among the
first to call to pay their respects were
Vice President Fairbanks and Senator
Scott of West Virginia.
Senator Proctor is survived by his wife
two sons, Fletcher d. Proctor, Governor
of Vermont, and Redfield Proctor, Jr.,
ami daughter, Miss Emily ID. Proctor
The congressional committee of fifteen
left Washington last evening with the
remains of Senator Proctor and are ex.
pected to arrive in Proctor at p. m.
today-Friday. The funeral will be held
at the Onion church at Proctor at
O'Clock.
The news of the death of Senator Proc.
| tor will be received with great sorrow nv