The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-14
CONSPICUOUS
FIGURE REMOVED
From Political Life BY Death Of
Senator n. J. MeLaurin-Mem'
Der of Noted Family.

| Special 10 the Neps
JACKSON, Miss, October 14.-In
the death of former State Senator II.
J. McLaurin, of Rolling Fork brother
Of United States Senator A. J. Me-
Laurin, whose funeral occurred yes
terday, a CONSPICUOUS figure has been
removed from the political life of the
commonwealth.
| Mr.. McLaurin was one of the eight
celebrated brothers Of that name, al!
of whom have exerted a marked in
fluence on political affairs in Missis-
sippi during the past twenty years,
and only four of whom are now living.
The death toll in the family has
been exceedingly heavy, and while it
has not diminished the wonderful Nc
Laurin influence, the passing away
of the brothers has not only caused
the deepest sorrow among their
thousands of friends and followers,
but occasions sincere regret in cir
cles not affected by their influence.
The three brothers who passed
away prior to the death of Hon. H.
J. McLaurin were Walter, Sylvester
ant Wallace, whose reaths have oc-
Cured within the past two years, and
in the order named The four broth
ers who survive are State Senator w
X. McLaurin, DR.. Albert G. McLaurin,
Hon. Sydney McLaurin and United
States Senator A. J. McLaurin. The
three last named reside at the old
family home in Brandon. Hon. w. X.
McLaurin is a member of the Vicks-
burg bar.
1t is a coincidence that in each in
stance the death of the McLaurin
brothers has been sudden and almost
wholly unexpected. Walter McLau-
rim, who had but sort tine before
retired from the office of warden of
the penitentiary, while Senator Me-
Laurin was holding the Governors
chair, was i'll but few days. His
death was attributed to pneumonia
contracted while experimenting the
state farms in the delta. Sylvester
McLaurin was holding the office Of
District Attorney of the eighth dis
trict at the time of his death, and was
sick but a short time. Wallace Nc
Laurin was serving as private secre-
tary to Senator A. J. McLaurin, and
also had a brief illness. H. J. McLau-
rim succumbed to a stroke of Apo
plexy, being i'll but few hours.
In political circles it was generally
recognized that Walter and H. J. Nc
Laurin were the ablest lieutenants OF
their gifted brother who now repre-
sents Mississippi in the United States
Senate. They were natural politi-
clans, endowed with exceptional gifts,
shrewd and resourceful, and We'd with
their brother in personal popularity.
While neither of the eight brothers
ever accumulated great personal
wealth, Hon H J McLaurin was re-
garded as the best business man OF
the family, and this judgement was
justified by the success he achieved
At the time of his death he owned
several of the best plantations in the
delta, among them being the famous
Sandy Bayou place, for many years
tenanted by the state convicts, and
recognized as one of the most pro-
ductive plantations in the far-famed
delta. Although good portion Of
his time had been devoted to plant.
ing interests in recent years, he was
lawyer of good attainments, and,
had he seen fit to do so, could have
built up large practice. He welded
a strong political influence throughout
the delta, especially in Sharkey coun-
ty, and twice represented his district
in the state senate, taking a promi-
nent part in framing the laws en-.
acted during the McLaurin and Yard
aman administrations.