The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-07-07
CONGRESSMAN FRANCIS w.
cUsHMAN OF TACOMA, WASH.
iNGToN, PASSES AWAY.
PNEUMON|ACAUSESDEATH
Operation Submitted to by Statesman
IN New York Is Followed by the
Development of PIeural Trouble
Which Proves Fatal-Remains Will
Be Shipped to His Home State.

New York. July 6.-Francis W.
Cushman, representative in congress
from Tacoma, Wash, died at s o'clock
this morning at Roosevelt hospital
the time We're, besides the doctors and
nurses, United States Senator Samuel
Pyles of Washington and Andrew S.
Burlegh of this city, a life long
friends.
Representative Cushman underwent
ar operation short time ago ana
pneumonia resulted
Senator Pyles and Mr. Burleigh. who
have been with the patient almost
constantly since his condition became
serious said they would make ar
rangements for the sending of the
body to Washington
While Representative Cushman pos
sessed unchallenged the title Of the
"house humorist,' he was universally
regarded as far more than that His
high ability was recognized by
Speaker Cannon in committee APP
pointments particularly in his selec-
tion to fill a vacancy on the ways ana
means committee at a time when a
great tariff bill was to be reported
to the house for consideration.
With a Purpose.
One striking thing about Represen-
tative Cushman was that lie never
displayed his gift of humor to the
| house for it's amusement, but always
| with View of impressing his view
more forcibly upon that body In
contrast with hLmorists who have
passed into history. his fame does not
rest on single speech. His maiden
effort in the house attracted so much
/ attention to him that ever thereafter
he gained hearing as soon as he
| arose. His style of expression and his
homely appearance had quite as much
to do with the effect az his humorous
remarks.
One of his first speeches to attract
attention touched on the effect of the
/ panic of 1893 In describing the i'm
poverished condition to which his
constituents were reduced. he said
they We're forced to live on CLAIMS,
washed ashore by the incoming tide.
/ Their stomachs.'' he concluded, rose
and fell with the rising and falling
of the tide" He will probably be
long remembered by reason of the ef
fectiveness of his humor in the de-
bates on the Payne tariff bill in the
house. His speech in defense of re-
tanning the duty on lumber secured
several additional votes on the sched-
ule. Cushman's acquiescing to a rule
for vote on the Payne bill, with
reduced rates on lumber assured its
passage In describing to the house
his feelings he likened them to those
of COW puncher in Wyoming whose
ability to raise 1000 cattle iii one
summer with one COW as a starter,
caused q rope to be placed around his
neck by a vigilance committee.
"They asked Bill what he had to
say" explained Mr.. Cushman. Old
\ Bill rolled his quid into the other
| cheek and said: We'll. gentlemen, [
1 suppose / got more interest in this
performance than any other gentle
man has, but l am the least enthus-
iastic over the program
The Washington congressman Was
said to have looked more like Lincoln
than any other public man of recent
| years.
I In summing UP his career once, he
said he had been q waterboy, section
\ hand, cowboy. schoolmaster, lawyer
and congressman. He was i'll con-
/ gresS more than 10 years.
Mr. Cushmans body wrapped ia an
! American flag, will be put aboard the
/ Chicago Limited of the Pennsylvania
road tomorrow and will be taken di~
rect to Tacoma in charge of Frederick
NJ Weber. deputy sergeant-at- arms.
The congressional delegation OF SIX
members which will escort the body
/ to its destination, will board the train
at Pittsburg.
q