The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
Career of Able and EStimable
Nan Is Ended.
KNOWN as BRILLIANT WRITER
Friead and c6nndant of Presidents
and Statesmen, and Recognized as
being in the Foremost Ranks as a
JOarnalist-Active as a Politician.
stanch Friend of w. J. Bryan.


States Senate. died st the family resi-
dence, 1853 Q street northwest, early
Yesterday morning. after an Illness OF
tour days Brights disease was the
immediate cause OF death.
For more than a year. Mr.. Gorham was
in III health. but managed 70 attend TO
his business until four days ago, when
he suffered an acute attack Of Bright 5
disease Physicians were called and the
sick man was ordered to bed. de grew
steadily weaker. and al 5.S9 O'Clock yes
terday morning dropped into gentle
sleep, from which he never awakened
Friend and confdant Of Presidents and
statesmen, there were few men better
known nationally than M Gorham.
Always taking an active interest n
politics. Mr. GOrham began writing al
an early age and his wide experience ana
keen insight into national affairs soon
placed him in the foremost ranks OF
editorial and political writers Of the
country.
Praised by Wr. Dana
His editorials showed deep thought and
study and the clear. logical manner IN
which he placed his ideas before the pub
lie called from Charles A. Dana the
statement that he was the ablest editorial
writer America had ever. produced
From boyhOod aIr. Gorham was a Re
publican. holding al his Offices under that
party. and when he went over TO the
Democratic party in 1876 and became an
ardent supporter and admirer Of William
Jennings Bryan. it caused much comment
among politicians re supported the
Peerless Leader every time he was a
candidate for the Presidency
Born in GreenpOrt. y. Y. IN 1S2 Mr..
Gorham went through the grammar
schools and when still Young emigra1ed
10 California. making the trip in a small
bark, starting from New London. Conn.
where his parents, George GoTham and
Martha COngdon Gorham. lived
Arriving IN California in 1Sf4 Ar. Cor
ham came in contact with the thousands
OF GOld-seekers then flooding the State.
lie did not fall a victim TO the gold
hunting fever, instead starting a mer-
camille business, which he successfully
conducted for a short time. In 1870 he
was appointed clerk to Stephen J. Field.
who was then alcalde of Marysville, bat
who later became a justice Ct the United
States supreme Court.
Justice Field and GoTham became firm
esteem surviving the years until the
time CT Justice Fields death, a few years
ago. The warm friendship existing be
tween the two men caused them 10 be
widely known as Damon and Pythias."
Elected TO office
From the time OF his meeting with and
employment under Justice Field, young
Gorham took an active interest in politics.
and ran for and was elected 10 many
ofices. He became city clerk Of the town
OF Msrysville, resigning 10 become private
secretary 10 tie governor Of the state.
Later he became clerk Of the United
States Circuit Court for the California
district
His activity in the field Of politics
won for Mr.. Gorham a reputation thet
was known not only in his own State,
hut all over the country. From time to
time, while not holding Office. he was
known "a be one Of the silent factors ia
California politics, and about 1853 ran
as Republican candidate for the COVER
norship. being defeated BY less than SO
votes After his defeat Mr. Gorham
held minor Offices for time.
Always a stelwsrt Republican OF
great executive ability. possessing many
friends and having already gained dis
tinction as a writer. Mr.. Gorham was ap-
preached by members Ct his party n
1858 and rendered the Secretarvship Of
the Senate He served in this Office until
1873. when a political upheaval caused
him to be replaced.
While holding Office in the Senate. Mr..
Gorham widened his large circle OF
friends and was a familiar figure al
public gatherings. and attained fame as
an after-dinner speaker. He welded
strong influence. and was in the close
confidence OF men of national affairs
Edited National Republican.
One year after leaving the Senate. Mr..
Gorhsm became editor-in-cflief OF the
National Republican. at that time the
principal daily newspaper OF the National
Capital re held this position until 1854
While editor OF the Republican Mr.
Gorham made the paper known through
out the United States by his mastery
editorials His views on public questions
were taken as law By thousands Of per
sons. and the great statesgQen or the
day looked to him as an authority on
national politics.
After leaving the Republican Mr. Cor
ham for years continued to write edi-
toTiaIs. although It was not generally
known that he was Their author.
IN 1879 Mr. Gorham finished his bioz-
raphy Of the life Of Edwin II. Stanton.
Secretary Of War under President lin
coin. This work brought Mr.. Gorham
further fame and later was adopted as
enc OF the textbooks on biography in the
principal colleges and schools through
out the country About the same time
he published a biography OF Judge
Stephen J. Field, which had a vide cir
culation- Other biographies Of lesser i'm
portance were produced from time "a
time.
Mr.. Gorham was known as an unfirins
worker, and when engaged IN literary
pursuits turned out pTOdigious amount.
OF work TO the time Of his death ID
was engaged more or less actively ir
writing. IN late years. however. he actef
as counsel for the American Cotton Seed
COMPANY
Nj G0rhaT was an intimate friend q,
President Grant. Roscoe Conklinz. Sena-
tor from New York; Alexander Shepherd
President Garfield, and others sistin.
guished as statesmen. politicians. anS
men Of action
From early 6oyhood Mr. Gorhzm va.
stanch Republican He never wavereC
in his allegiance TO the party. until 1895
WREN he voted for William Jenning.
Bryan He worked actively in the sup
port Of the Nebrasksn. and in $50 wrote
the Democratic campaign book He wrote