The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-05
FRANK P. SARGENT
 DIES SUDDENLY Commissioner General of I'm migration Dead in Wash
 ington from Bright's /. Disease.
LONG A LABOR LEADER
Former Grand Master of Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen One of Labor's Most Forcefnl
 Characters.

Washington, Sept. 4.--Frank Pierce Sargent, commissioner general of im- migration, for over sixteen years Grand Master of the Brotherhood of Loco motive Bremen, and one of the most forceful characters In the field of la bor, Immigration and allied questions, in the country, died at his apartments at the Manor House in this city today. He was 54 years old For many weeks paralytic, the result of fall while visiting in Shepherdstown, Va. in July, he had shown much improvement until Wednesday evening last when a sinking spell set in from which he never rallied. In accordance with his expressed wish his body will be ere mated by local undertaken following brief funeral service next Sunday af- ternoon. Rev. Charles Holmead, as- sistant rector of St. Pauls church will officiate.
 The death of the former leader and friend of organized labor, or whom 1t was said that no railroad magnate ever refused to see him while he was at the head. of the brotherhood was sur prise to the department of commerce and labor officials although they knew he had been seriously ill., Secretary straus was much affected and took im- mediate steps for appropriate respects for the death of his former bureau head. Assistant Commissioner Larned will continue as acting commissioner general until permanent appointment Is made. While Mir. Sargent had sus- tained three attacks of paralysis he had suffered from Bright's disease and stomach trouble and the former Is given as the immediate cause of death. His fall and accompanying paralytic stroke at Shepherdstown occurred dur ing a vacation visit to his family there.
 He soon recovered sufficiently to come to this city, but had been all most steadily confined to his bed since. A sinking spell two nights ago caused the gravest concern and a con- sultation of three physicians was held. Slowly what little strength was left was sappped away and the end came at 8 o'clock this morning. At the bed side were his wife. formerly Miss Georgie N. McCulloch of saugus, Mass, his only daughter, Miss Mabel, and sister, Mrs. D. L Wagner of Philadelphia.
 MT. Sargent was a native of East Orange, Vt. He worked for while in New England mills and then, be- cause of impaired health, went to Ari- zona, where as United States caval- lyman he participated in the Apache Indian campaign and later began his railroad career as an engine wiper on the Southern Pacific railway. For five years he fired engines on that sys- tenn. In 1885 he began his tenure of office as head of the Order of Loco- motive Bremen. He exerted every in fluerlce to avoid strikes and won the faith of both the railroad officials and the men of his own organization. Pres fient Mckinley twice offered him of flee first as a member of the In dustrlal commission and later as di- rector of the bureau of engraving and printing, but he declined both ten. ders. He had served as the head ot the government immigration servict since 1902 under appointment from President Roosevelt and he showed ar enthusiastic, sympathetic interest ir the1many problems arising in tha work
 Mir. Sargent was a republican, member of the Episcopal church ant belonged to the Masonic order, tn, Knights of Pythlas the Elks and tn, Ancient Order United Workmen. H. weighed close to 250 pounds and l; 1ovial disposition was one of hi marked characteristics.